Author Topic: Went to the bicycle museum and managed to come home with this!! (Read 3496 times)

factory pilot · « **on:** May 01, 2016, 07:13 PM »

Had an amazing day yesterday.
As part of my birthday surprises Jo told me I was off to the Bicycle Museum in Warrington.
We'd seen this place on Drew Pritchard's Salvage Hunters and I've always wanted to take a squint.

I didn't expect to see anything BMX related but from the TV it looked like it would be a cool place to visit anyway.

Anyway we rocked up to see a group of Roadies leaving who told us that the place was ace.

With in a few minutes we had the great honour to meet the owner of the museum Paul Adams.

The man was a legend! A true gent and a scholar and a lovable English eccentric with a passion for all things bike related.

We were lucky enough to be taken on a personal tour....

We got on like a house on fire and Paul asked if we'd like to see his storage rooms that weren't open to the public ....

The man himself... What a legend!

This was a completely plastic bike made by Volvo in the 1970s

Paul told us that he'd got this from the Raleigh factory in Nottingham when it closed down. They'd apparently been experimenting with a new laser cutter.

To cut a long story Spen we got on so well I ended up with the privilege of being able to buy this from one of his store rooms. I couldn't believe it! I think he was so impressed with my reaction when I saw it....

I was absolutely stunned ... I completely love it!
So if you are reading this Paul thank you so much again. I feel very honoured sir!

To complete the day I saw this shelf trim out the corner of my eye and Paul said he had a couple of these so I could have that too to go with my sign!

One amazing day all round and all totally unexpected!

oldschoolace · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2016, 07:24 PM »

I remember seeing that episode and the plastic frame on there. Thought to myself, gotta be worth a day out

Glad to see bmx made it into his museum

deeman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2016, 07:40 PM »

Looks sweet Ant. a great piece !

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2016, 07:40 PM »

That's amazing Ant. I can't believe you managed to get that sign. And it works!! Top stuff indeed

oldscool · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2016, 10:17 PM »

Great story

senzo milano · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2016, 11:17 PM »

griff · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2016, 11:23 PM »

Great stuff Ant
Think that was my favourite Salvage Hunters episode

Should have asked him along to MK

factory pilot · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2016, 11:31 PM »

Quote from: griff on May 01, 2016, 11:23 PM

Great stuff Ant
Think that was my favourite Salvage Hunters episode

Should have asked him along to MK

That's a great idea mate ... Maybe I will

NORTY40 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2016, 01:00 AM »

Wow ! That's cool Ant

deeman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2016, 01:16 AM »

Do you think he would sell the plastic Volvo bike Ant??! $:-\$

nosepickben · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2016, 02:42 AM »

That's a great account of your day, I'm pleased for you that you came away with something you'll treasure.

factory pilot · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2016, 08:47 AM »

Quote from: deeman on May 02, 2016, 01:16 AM

Do you think he would sell the plastic Volvo bike Ant??! $:-\$

No... I don't think he'd ever sell that ... Certain things he was very enthusiastic about ... I think I was very lucky to get what I did ... He liked me straight away for some reason ... He said I had an honest face!

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2016, 08:54 AM »

Fooking hell Ant, get the duster out you slacker, some of your bikes are on par with that Grifter.

Only joking pal, cool score, great thread.

CustardLips · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2016, 08:56 AM »

Cool sign Ant... bet the Burnerboys would kill for that.

insectbones · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2016, 10:49 AM »

That little bike that looks like a Vespa is ace, I'd have loved that for my daughter when she was little

Looked like a day well spent

deeman · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2016, 11:12 AM »

Quote from: factory pilot on May 02, 2016, 08:47 AM

Quote from: deeman on May 02, 2016, 01:16 AM
Do you think he would sell the plastic Volvo bike Ant??! $:-\$

No... I don't think he'd ever sell that ... Certain things he was very enthusiastic about ... I think I was very lucky to get what I did ... He liked me straight away for some reason ... He said I had an honest face!

I did a bit of digging on them....'like riding a piece of overcooked pasta' and ' like riding drunk without the expense of alcohol!' were the 2 quotes which stuck in my head!! $:-\$ They made about 30,000 of them but was not a success! Mick Jagger was quoted as saying 'That's the ugliest fooking bike I have ever seen...I have to have one!'

factory pilot · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2016, 01:43 PM »

Love it.. Top research

factory pilot · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2016, 01:45 PM »

Quote from: insectbones on May 02, 2016, 10:49 AM

That little bike that looks like a Vespa is ace, I'd have loved that for my daughter when she was little

Looked like a day well spent

There's a good story about that scooter... If anyone's interested come chew my ear on one of the rides

MartyC · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2016, 02:14 PM »

Love it, looks like a great place with some real gems in there.

I used to have that end cycling jersey back in the 80s, the Fagor one; Stephen Roche rode for that team after he won the treble, the Tour, the Giro and the World Road champs. Little bit of road trivia...

insectbones · « **Reply #19 on:** May 02, 2016, 05:09 PM »

Quote from: factory pilot on May 02, 2016, 01:45 PM

Quote from: insectbones on May 02, 2016, 10:49 AM
That little bike that looks like a Vespa is ace, I'd have loved that for my daughter when she was little

Looked like a day well spent
There's a good story about that scooter... If anyone's interested come chew my ear on one of the rides

I'll be hunting you down at MK.......

factory pilot · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2016, 07:50 PM »

Quote from: insectbones on May 02, 2016, 05:09 PM

Quote from: factory pilot on May 02, 2016, 01:45 PM
Quote from: insectbones on May 02, 2016, 10:49 AM
That little bike that looks like a Vespa is ace, I'd have loved that for my daughter when she was little

Looked like a day well spent
There's a good story about that scooter... If anyone's interested come chew my ear on one of the rides

I'll be hunting you down at MK.......

Nice one fella!