old bike

[Tumbleweed]

came across this pic on the wires. it's a "refurbished, not restored" british hercules. the pic was taken outside the shop of "mr jalopy", who is a member of the maker movement which advocates re-using old machines.

 

 

[Guest Big H]

My first bike was a backpedal Phillips with 24 inch wheels. I then became the owner of a spanking new red Hercules. I later put a four speed Simplex derrailleur on it with drophandles. It was fitted by Hymie Ginsberg who had a small bicycle shop in Waterkloof. He later opened a supermarket in the area where Brooklynn square is now. It was stolen (it later trnaspired it was Samson our garden boy who did it) and the bike was replaced with a dukwiel black Hercules with a sidestand, three speed and drum brakes. We actually did a very primative form of mountainbiking in the spruit in Maroelana on a track we built. Great fun. This bike was stolen again in front of the OK Bazaars in 13 th Avenue in Menlopark and was replaced by a spanking new red Raleigh with chromed mudguards my dad bought from Ettienne Lewis in front of Poyntons in Pretoria CBD. This bike got the same treatment as the earlier Hercules with droppies and this time a five speed simplex derraileur. Boy what a bike. I eventually sold the bike to a girlfriend brother.

[Tumbleweed]

sheeeeeesh, hendrik! that's some memory!

[Guest Big H]

Yup..... this was circa 1969 to 1971...... a verrrrry long time ago when I was still young and handsome!!!!!!! I am only handsome now!!!!!!!!!