July 2008 – Moulton Bicycle Club

Bath Chronicle: Jobs Boost In Pipeline For Bradford On Avon

New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers. Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in...

New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers.

Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in the town 50 years ago, has joined forces with Stratford on Avon bike builder Pashley Cycles to form The Moulton Bicycle Company.

The new firm will produce and market the ranges of both its founding partners with a combined staff of more than 50 people.

Moulton and Pashley have collaborated for the past 12 years with Pashley building and marketing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.

Dr Alex Moulton, who founded the Bradford-based business in 1958, said the new venture would establish a solid base for the future growth of the Moulton bicycle business.

"This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times," he said.

"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small-wheel bicycle revolution."

More than half of Moulton's output is exported to Japan and the Far East from its base at Holt Road in Bradford.

Manufacturing will remain in the town, and the company hopes to generate more jobs. However, no figure has been put on the number of posts that could be created.

Pashley Cycles managing director Adrian Williams said the new company had already developed a substantial order book with a waiting list of 15 months for its most popular models.

Mr Williams said: "The task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much-admired worldwide."

Power Assisted TSR

Electric bikes aren't my thing, but that's just a personal opinion, and they are becoming more popular.

Here's a converted TSR...

I found this video, from 1971, quite by accident. It's a film made for the Department of the Environment, to promote the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme. There are a few Moultons to be seen, with children from both groups riding them.

Experts will be able to identify the exact Moulton models, and spot a few Moulton suspended cars, apart from the obvious Mini Moke!

My observations:

Pity the Moultons weren't more central to the plot, but it was nice to see the Chopper (or at least its rider) being taught a lesson or two.
It was nice to see the "prize" was a sporty, but also functional bike. It had mudguards, mudflap, lights, bell, etc.
I was struck by how calm the streets were. The traffic was relatively light and moderate in speed, very few parked cars, and no inappropriately over-sized vehicles.

If that's got you in the mood for some nostalgia, have another look at these old CTC videos

Britain's Most Beautiful Canal Scenery

The route to Bradford-on-Avon, home of the Moulton Bicycle, from Bath, along the Kennet & Avon Canal, is featured in a new book entitled 50 Quirky Bike Rides.