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Overbury's Cycles

Overbury's was a humble single shop producing custom MTBs of superior quality out of Bristol, UK. Their hand crafted MTB frames have developed an enthusiastic following. Most MTBs were built by Andy Powell, the son of the owners Enid and Arthur Powell. The shop operated from ca. 1900 → 2011 and made mountain bikes from 1984 → 1992.

Overbury’s premises, in Ashley Road, can scarcely be described as being at 'the better end' of Bristol; in fact Bristol has no better end. The more enviable parts are perched high above the city at the top of impossibly steep hills or on huge cliffs above the Avon Gorge, from both of which eyries the inhabitants look down with Olympian detachment on those less fortunate mortals below. Overbury’s, which is run by Andy Powell and his mother, Enid, is about the size of an average newsagent’s and is crammed with bikes that are either beautiful or sophisticated, or both, and all the complex bits and pieces that go to make them up. What space remains is taken up by machines in various states of malfunction or collapse awaiting attention. Eric Newby, 1985, in Round Ireland in Low Gear

Sources:

• https://www.retrobike.co.uk/wiki/Overbury%27s
• https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/my-overburys-pioneer.356703/
• https://www.facebook.com/overburysbicycles/
• https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/overburys-documents-prices-1985-6.261595/
• https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/overburys-pioneer.416074/

Overbury's Cycle Shop, Bristol retrobike

1984 Andy Powell

Overbury's decals on head and seat tube. Reynolds 501 all-terrain tubing. Lugged frame. Shimano Deore XT v1 (1982-84)

1984 Andy Powell retrobike

1985 Peak Finder

Reynolds 531 lugged frame. Shimano Deore XT v1 (1982-84)

1985 Peak Finder facebook

1986 Pioneer XC

Probably a SunTour XC family derailleur (1984-87). TIG? welded?

1986 Pioneer XC retrobike

1988 Pioneer

Campagnolo Themis (1990-91). Fillet brazed frame.

1988 Pioneer mtbr

1989 Pioneer

Shimano Deore MT62 (1989-90). Fillet brazed frame.

1989 Pioneer retrobike

1990 E-stay

Elevated chainstay. Shimano XT rear - perhaps a M732 (1989) - but not an exact match. SPD pedals (1990), SRAM grip shifts - all perhaps added later. Other Overbury's E-stay bikes are also dated 1990-91.

1990 E-Stay retrobike

1991 Pioneer

Campagnolo Centaur (1990-92). Fillet brazed frame.

1991 Pioneer flickr

1992 Pioneer

Possibly a 1991 - but it's too pretty to exclude from the timeline. Shimano Deore DX derailleur (1991-94), XT M732 brakes (1989-92). Columbus tubing, fillet brazed frame.

1992 Pioneer ebay