NonbikerBen

Most recent activity

• Vic Lyons cycles wandsworth

  in Bikes & Bits • 12 years, 2 months

  

  I came across the LFGSS forum when Googling Lyons Bikes. A 2009 posting by PatChurch refers to finding "Vic Lyons cycles Wandsworth" on the steerer of an old bike.
  My grandfather bought a bike in from a maker called Lyons in London in 1897. It seems possible - even likely - that this is the same maker (possibly Vic Lyons' father?). My grandfather's diary entry does not give the full address of the shop. It reads "Went to Baker Street by bus and managed to find Lyons, East Road fairly easily". (The shop was still open at 8 o'clock on Christmas Eve!).
  Baker Street is not near Wandsworth, and the nearest East Road I can find is 3-4 miles from Baker Street.
  The bike was made for him. He specified Fleuss tyres. He seems to have had considerable problems with it. Not long after he had it, the rear frame collapsed. He was understandably upset about this. However, he seems to have got over his ensuing threat never to have anything further to do with Lyons, as the bike was rebuilt. He had further problems with the chain among other things when he took it to Ripon. It is interesting to note that he was able to get new parts sent within a day or two, even back in 1898. I have further anecdotes gleaned from his diary if anyone is interested. I would myself be interested if anyone can let me have any more info about Lyons.
  Incidentally, he and his brother were keen cyclists. The diary records that they rode from Ramsbury to Bristol (and back) to visit an aunt, and his brother cycled both ways between London & Ramsbury, London & Torquay, and London & Cambridge to visit my grandfather. (No smooth surfaced roads in those days). My own cycling days effectively ended when I left school.