I used to live in North Wales in the 60s and started dabbling in 10 mile TTs. My brothers' old Falcon that I was using weighed half a ton so with my first few months wages I treated myself to a bespoke frame made by R J Quinn. Sadly, we parted company when I left N Wales to seek my fortune (in the RAF!). Almost half a decade later, I decided to recapture my youth and start a project. Via eBay, I purchased this old warhorse last winter:
It was being used by a chap in Liverpool as an all-weather somewhat battered and unloved commuter. Nevertheless, a starting point. So I ditched the various bolt-ons that were different to my original and did my best from memory to replicate them, including the colour scheme. I don’t remember RJ giving me a choice……it was blue and white. Was he a toffee supporter? I seem to remember brother Harry’s bikes were often red. Is this why they fell out? I digress.
So here is the ‘copy', having finished it last month.
I took up cycling again on early retirement 2 years ago and have really embraced it with a couple of modern carbon bikes to help get me up the hills (I live in the Chilterns). I took the beautifully running (if I say so myself) R J Quinn out last week with my usual club, in a mid-stream group I usually have no problem staying with. My goodness me: what a salutary lesson as to how far bikes have come in that time. To the uninitiated, a ‘racing bike’ (as we used to call road bikes) looks just like any other. The basic triangle with a wheel at each end and a pair of pedals in the middle. So what’s new? But I had to work so very hard on the Mighty Quinn to try and stay with these carbon/alloy/titanium-mounted guys. I still love it though.
When I research online, I seem to be able to find a fair amount of info about brother Harry’s bikes, but little about the Edge Lane faction. Any RJQ tit-bits from your readership would be useful.
Regards
Vaughan War
Happy Owner - Amersham Road Cycling Club
So any more info on RJ Quinn. Contact us at merseysidebicycles@gmail.com
Have a similar bike is it worth anything
ReplyDeleteI bought an R J Quinn of a workmate in 1968 it was purple with chrome forks 531 tube with campag lugs Gran Sport 5 spoke chain set and deraileur campag small flange hubs and Mafac centre pull brakes
ReplyDeleteI used it to commute from old swan to Aintree and later from New Brighton to Aintree I still have the bike it was sprayed red by my son about five years ago but it is still roadworthy . Be interesting to see what you think it might be worth