Alves frames

I happened across a tandem that looked good enough to buy so I bought it. It's an Alves. Then I did some research. This bike looks amazing and is clearly the product of a very good frame builder. I now know as much as the Web will tell me about Charles Ralph who built it. Anyone got an Alves?

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If you go over to RetroBike.co.uk and ask the same question in the 97 and post 98 forums you should get a few replies, all MTB's though, I've not seen mention over there of any road frames.

as much as the Web will tell me about Charles Ralph

Not much I guess? I've also had a look, and I did once see a road frame, on ebay I think.

In this book https://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Cycle-Crossing-Great-Divide/dp/1927330777 the author got a Charles/Charlie Ralph tourer for the trip and says he specialised in building bikes for people who were of unusual sizes, and that he is/was "exuberant".

Ha. Unusual sizes!! This tandem is built for minimum 6'4" captain and a 5'8" stoker. Fortunately my son is 6'4" and I'm 5'8" so game on!

Yes I have an Alves from 1990. See https://crankular.wordpress.com

This page has pictures of a rather pristine model which I suspect is of a similar vintage to mine. Those SunTour hubs and gears would date it quite precisely, and I think that's also a Specialized ST chainset. https://uncommonwheel.weebly.com/alves.html#

@MetalMelly

Charlie lives not far from me, a few miles from Elgin. But he's at the end of a dead end road, so I haven't passed by for a long time.
I believe he stopped building frames about 10 years ago, with a friend having one of the last frames that Charlie was planning to build.

Hi. Thanks for this. Charlie'd probably remember this tandem. It's such an odd set up. Anyway, it's good news he's alive n kicking. Cheers Mel

Hi I have an Alves Mtb Charlie did build road frames. Was in Namibia last I mailed him had been for a couple of years.Works for Oceaneering now in rov industry. Still got house ( Elgin springs, longmorn Elgin moray) Phone disconnected and old number belongs to someone else email charlie.ralph@btinternet.com was his mail address no reply last time I tried. Good luck you never know

I grew up in Elgin with the Burghead Ralphs at my school (stonemason/undertaker/Clavie Kings) and wonder if he’s related?

I have the tandem with frame number RALPH001, which I commissioned Charlie to build in 1980. At the time he was making frames at Pat Rohan Cycles in Rayners Lane, West London, and I was looking for a bespoke tandem to suit me and my partner. In discussion he said he'd been planning on making a tandem, and already had a 531 tandem tubing kit ready for it. He completed it in the spring of 1980. It cost £450. The photo shows it Versailles in February 1981. It remained our holiday transport until we had children in 1986.

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I bought an MTB from Charles in 1983. Took a year to build! Well worth the wait, I still ride it regularly. Campagnolo Euclid groupset which unfortunately was the wrong decision. Campag gave up on MTB after 3 years as their stuff was not up to it. Recently had it resprayed by Bob Jackson and had Rockshocks fitted with Shimano front brakes but otherwise as built. Cost me £1070 in 1983 and I love it! Would never sell it. If anyone's interested in pics, get in touch.
Bill Treasurer

Wow! Thanks for finding this thread. My Alves tandem lounges in the workshop. Waiting for unlockdown so that my 6'4" son/captain can join me on a pub run again. I'm working on him to ride it with me Oxford to Durham. He's a bit wary. Kids eh? I'd go tomorrow! And sleep under a hedge! Cheers Mel

I own two Alves frames. The first was a 531 designer select MTB with Campagnolo Icarus that I used for off toad hill climbs and occasional cross country races. It remains the stiffest and certainly not lighted frame I’ve owned. The second was also a 26” MTB but more suited for touring in 725 and still in use today. I also spent a week with Charlie learning some of the secrets of the trade in the early 1990’s and ended up buying his jig and a few other bits and prices a few years ago to assist in my own frame builds. I always liked his approach to frame building. Extremely accurate frames and close tolerances where used in his stress free builds. His lugged frames where always well finished and clean. Really nice bikes.

I own 1 alves frameset... 1996 853 26" tourer... after investigating I found out it was one of his first 853 frames... built custom for a guy in Glasgow... easily clears 2.5 slicks... full xt... pairs up nicely with my 98 853 dekerf!

I own a 1995 753 touring bike built for me by Charles Ralph; the best bike I have ever ridden! Charles R. also recorded the whole work from beginning ,with the showing of the 753 tubes, to the lovely frame.
A treasured video!
Daniel Bell.

Hi, I have two Alves MTBs, one built in 1990 of 531 Designer Select and the other in 1999/2000 made from flat sided teardrop 853

They are things of beauty and I still have them both, both are hanging as bare frames on a wall in the back room…

Spent a lot of time at Elgin Springs in his workshop, was there watching both of mine being built, loved every minute of it!

Mike