Hercules 24 inch – or it might have been a Smiths…
I was about ten years old at the time so the bike was probably built in the 1950s. I remember it had a dark, probably black, frame. I managed to bend the front forks running into the back of a Hillman Minx (I ended up on the boot) in a hail storm. I was following the kerb and forgot about parked cars… The replacement forks were slightly too short so I could never get the headset lock nut on. Still managed quite a few miles on this one. I think we’ll just call this Hercules.

Raleigh Yellow racer
The first of many Raleighs. Hand painted and just had five high maintenance gears – but it only cost a fiver. Used for running up and down Maidstone Road from the school campus to home in Bredhurst Road, Wigmore. I don’t remember what happened to this one nor does it have a name.

Raleigh RSW 16
Retrospectively named Cyril after my granddad to whom the machine belonged until he gave it to me (he got himself a Raleigh Wisp…). The white balloon tyres were rubbish so were soon replaced with Wisp tyres. Did many miles on this (including over to and around the Isle of Sheppey from the Medway towns) even though there only three Sturmey Archer gears, but it did have a tatty shopping bag and built in hub dynamo lights. Last seen in a wood on the North Downs…

Raleigh Red Racer
Similar to the yellow Raleigh. I think I got this from a friend in Newcastle (perhaps we should call it Ron) where it was used quite a lot and then down in Worthing and Cheltenham. In other words it travelled with me on a number of different work contracts.

Black Mountain bike…
I can’t remember what make this was but I left it in car park in Bristol one night. It was well mangled when I got to it the following the day. I had to throw it away.

Raleigh Quasar 
This one was purchased in Ashford so may be incorrectly sequenced here. A nice bike, but the frame was always a bit too large. I did a number of miles on this – all around Kent , Holland and the London to Brighton twice. I still see it occasionally as I sold it to a friend in Bath. This one should have a name..

Raleigh X1 – retrospectively named Walter

A very nice bike stolen from outside my gym – including my well honed Brookes saddle.  Partly my fault as I only used one lock – a cheap one at that. It had just been well serviced as well. He had big pedals very near the ground. It was necessary to be careful taking corners at speed.

Apollo Cafe 1 – aka Ol’ Reccy
A cheap bike (£80) from Halfords circa 2005 that did many rides and bicycle beanos before Morg came along. It was set up in an outhouse on a stationery trainer, but has since disappeared from there…

Electric City Hopper – aka Leccy

Given to a fellow cyclist friend as I couldn’t justify two leccy bikes. I never went far on this (12 mile range) but not bad for the money and it was easy to get on and fold up.

Whyte Malvern – aka Morg
My general purpose hybrid which, amongst others, has done Whitehaven/Tynemouth(C2C) and Barnstaple/Plymouth as mentioned elsewhere in these pages. It needed a major rear wheel repair on the the C2C (thank you Dave at Nenthead >> North Pennine Cycles) and the original tyres have both been replaced with Schwalbe Rocket Rons. Morg is in front in the picture below with the yellow pannier.

Ridgeback – aka Reggie
Reggie was given to me by my dearly beloved better half, but she has since taken it back… I rejigged the pedals and handlebars and fitted a new bottom crank. Reggie has done LeJog.

Volt Pulse X – aka Bernie

My first expensive Ebike acquisition. After a major rear wheel rebuild Bernie got me round the Isle of Wight quite happily – including 45 miles in one go – and then an accumulation of a  number of significant rides including trips to Clevedon, Bath, Bitton and a “local” trip to Slimbridge and back of 55 miles. Stolen from garage…

Cube Kathmandu – aka Sir Edmund

An acquisition to replace the stolen Bernie.”Sir Ed” knocks spots off Bernie!! 30 miles of Route 10 accomplished on Sunday 12th July 2020. Unfortunately fell off(over) July last (2024) and broke a wrist! It is now for sale as we’ve decided it’s too big for me.

Mirider One – aka Marmalade

For trotting around town and putting in the car

Raleigh Motus Grand Tour Low Step

Step thru ebike to replace the Cube. Seems very Dutch with built in lock, hub gears, etc.
Not much done on this while I run in my new hip!