If Indiana Jones was more into bikes than crystal skulls, arks of the covenant or dials of destiny, then Golden Age Cycles in Oxfordshire is where you'd find him.
The shop's warehouse is a literal treasure trove, packed to the rafters with bikes from across the ages, all with their own little quirks and stories to tell.
There are bikes from a bygone age, the sort you'd see being ridden in a costume drama, as well as elite-level machines that wouldn't have looked out of place starring in some of cycle racing's most celebrated moments.
All of this is the work of an Oxfordshire-based teacher, Brian Reid (who does not wear a fedora), who summed up his raft of experience in all things two-wheels perfectly when Cycling Weekly arrived on site. "I'm warning you, once I get started on bikes I can't stop," he jokes. "You'll have me here for hours."
Five minutes with Reid shows you that he clearly knows his stuff, something Chris Hoy no doubt discovered when he got hold of a bike through the Golden Age Cycles owner last year. Reid explains that it was a 1959 Condor, belonging to his father, which first drew him to vintage bicycles in what would become a lifelong love affair.
"My father had this beautiful 1959 Condor, which lived in the hall. It had this superb lug work which I passed every day from the moment I was born," Reid says. "I always thought it was lovely. I've been teaching now for 25 years and have always wondered whether there's something else out there for me. So I thought why not? Took a year out of work, bought a few second-hand bikes and went from there.
This story is from the January 26, 2023 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 26, 2023 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Claud Butler Criterium
A classic British brand ridden by beginners and Olympians alike
Dr Hutch
At what point does a bold show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...CBD
From reducing pain to promoting relaxation and sleep, myriad are the claims made for cannabidiol but do they stack up? Rob Kemp finds out
Van Rysel D900
Andy Turner discovers whether Decathlon's high-spec, low-price smart trainer can compete with the likes of Wahoo, Tacx and Elite
What prep does my bike need for summer?
Pro bike mechanic Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
2024 GIRO D'ITALIA
Attention turns to Italy and 21 days of Grand Tour action
Pogačar's dominance at the Giro could be dull
While I may have been a little young to understand the full romance of the Tour de France during the Armstrong era, I never understood the sentiment that it was boring just because of Lance's dominance.
Team GB's Paris Olympics track bike launched
BC reveals the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer
Romandie victory marks Ineos return to stage race success
Carlos Rodríguez wins British team's first WorldTour stage race since 2022, writes Adam Becket
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.