mtb-timeline

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
saracen:start

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
saracen:start [2021/11/30 09:24] – gchandlersaracen:start [2021/12/12 20:40] (current) – gchandler
Line 7: Line 7:
 [Bike building] progressed to mountain bikes when we moved to Warwick. The first mountain bike with a Saracen name on it was actually a stripped down and repainted bike from Japan. [Bike building] progressed to mountain bikes when we moved to Warwick. The first mountain bike with a Saracen name on it was actually a stripped down and repainted bike from Japan.
 <cite> <cite>
-Elaine (Staples) Dunn, daughter of Biran Staples, [[https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/wolverhamptonknight-cycles/|classiclightweights]]+Elaine (Staples) Dunn, daughter of Brian Staples, [[https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/wolverhamptonknight-cycles/|classiclightweights]]
 </cite> </cite>
 </blockquote>)) </blockquote>))
-((Knight Saracens were sold only to Staples, often with a small Knight sticker.))((Perhaps a few months later (in 1983) Knight' Saracens were resold and re-badged by [[evans:start|F. W. Evans]] - perhaps after the Bluemels acquisition.))+(("This model was in fact to a specification supplied only to Staples. " See: [[https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/wolverhamptonknight-cycles/|link]]))((Perhaps a few months later (in 1984) Knight' Saracens were resold and re-badged by [[evans:start|F. W. Evans]] - perhaps after the Bluemels acquisition.))
 \\ \\
  
 Early Knight built Saracens are easily spotted by both their Knight decal, and unusual rear brake bridge and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_Technology|Reynolds 501]] tubing. Early Knight built Saracens are easily spotted by both their Knight decal, and unusual rear brake bridge and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_Technology|Reynolds 501]] tubing.
-Almost immediately after introducing the first British made mountain bikes, Staples sold his business to Bluemel's Cycles (in 1983?,) who then moved manufacturing to Wolston.+Almost immediately after introducing the first British made mountain bikes, Staples sold his business to Bluemel's Cycles (in late 1983?((This date likely occurred before by Bluemels adverts published in 1984 and F. W. Evans shipping re-badged Saracens ordered from Bluemels in 1983.  The first F. W. Evans Saracen appeared in 1984.  See discussion: [[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/first-uk-production-mtb-a-ridgeback.260739/page-11#post-3197508|retrobike]])),) who then moved manufacturing to Wolston.
 ((The Bluemel's Cycle brand continues to exist today as a brand of fenders: [[https://www.sks-germany.com/en/productcategories/bluemels-en/|sks-germany]])) ((The Bluemel's Cycle brand continues to exist today as a brand of fenders: [[https://www.sks-germany.com/en/productcategories/bluemels-en/|sks-germany]]))
 Soon after, in 1986, it was purchased Paul and Rick Stanforth, who gradually moved production to Asia.  (("The Stanforth brothers sold nearly one million mountain bikes while they owned the company. Paul and Rick now sell the [[http://www.ebco-ebikes.co.uk/|Ebco]] brand of e-bike." [[https://www.bikebiz.com/paul-stanforths-son-creates-stanforth-bikes/|bikebiz]])) Soon after, in 1986, it was purchased Paul and Rick Stanforth, who gradually moved production to Asia.  (("The Stanforth brothers sold nearly one million mountain bikes while they owned the company. Paul and Rick now sell the [[http://www.ebco-ebikes.co.uk/|Ebco]] brand of e-bike." [[https://www.bikebiz.com/paul-stanforths-son-creates-stanforth-bikes/|bikebiz]]))
Line 42: Line 42:
 ===== 1983 Saracen ===== ===== 1983 Saracen =====
  
-Knight Cycles logo, lugged frame, black paint, Reynolds 501 tubing, SunTour aRX (1981-1983), over built brake bridge. +No provable 1983 pictures can be found.  Saracen claims to have built bikes in [[https://www.saracen.co.uk/pages/about|1983]] and various internet sources hint at this.  However, all example pictures are not consistent with a 1983 timeline.  For now, this will be left blank, with some confidence that the 1983 starting date is accurate and that corroborating evidence will appear.
-\\ +
- +
-The model name was "Saracen," and the //Saracen brand// would appear a year or so later, under new ownership.  No early Japanese Saracens appear to have survived or been identified. +
  
  
Line 53: Line 49:
  
 <div column 45%> <div column 45%>
-{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Saracen}}+{{blank.jpg?300|TBD}}
 \\ \\
-1983 Saracen +Picture needed! 
-[[https://imgur.com/gallery/yFTZTO2|imgur]]+
 \\ \\
  
Line 65: Line 61:
 ---- ----
  
-===== 1984 Saracen ===== +===== 1984 ATB =====
- +
-Knight Cycles logo, no model name, black paint, 600EX road Biopace cranks, XT derailleurs, Reynolds 531, with a standard brake bridge.+
  
 +Knight Cycles logo, lugged frame, black paint, Reynolds 501 tubing (1984+), SunTour aRX (1981-1983), over built brake bridge.
 +\\
  
 +{{sad2.jpg?200|Jan. 1985 ad}}
 +\\
 +Jan. 1985 advert.  Note that the name is simply "All-Terrain Bikes"
 +[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/early-saracen-lovers-anonymous.40984/page-84|retrobike]]
  
 </div> </div>
  
 <div column 45%> <div column 45%>
-{{1984b.jpg?300|1984 Saracen }}+{{1983.jpg?300|1984 Saracen }}
 \\ \\
 1984 Saracen 1984 Saracen
-[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/saracen-conquest-gate.429108/page-2|retrobike]]+[[https://imgur.com/gallery/yFTZTO2|imgur]]
  
  
Line 120: Line 120:
  
  
-Knight Cycles logo, "Conquest" Brooks saddle, standard brake bridge, Reynlods 501 tubing and SunTour MounTech front derailleur, with a likely replacement rear derailleur.+Knight Cycles logo, "Conquest" Brooks saddle, standard brake bridge, Reynolds 501 tubing and SunTour MounTech front derailleur, with a likely replacement rear derailleur.
  
  
saracen/start.1638293069.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/11/30 09:24 by gchandler