In the UK from the 1940s to the 70s, a plethora of frame builders brazed together countless bikes of varying quality. The work of Les Ephgrave was amongst the highest and are now highly collectable — this tourer is now in the hands of Isambard’s Cycles.
Sarah and Tim run Isambard’s Cycles from their home in West Wales — on the southern edge of the magical Snowdonia region — and are quickly establishing themselves as the premier source for practically restored classic lightweights.
Their Ephgrave came to them as part of a job lot from a house clearance along with a Ti Raleigh and a Carlton. It was primed but otherwise unmarked, but it obviously came from the hands of a master builder. The primer was stripped back to reveal L. E.
Ephgrave’s lugged frames were known as ‘The No. 1’, ‘The No. 1 Super’ and ‘The No.2’, dependent on the level of lug filing and customisation — collectors are fanatical about maintaining a fastidious record of the patterns he used.
Tim was able to cross-reference the lug pattern and frame number to confirm the frame was a 1953 No. 2 Ephgrave. Having a penchant for Ephgrave’s work, he was pleased to discover that it could also clear 42mm tyres on 650 wheels with mudguards.
Once in a ridable state, he took it for a 24 hour London to Paris lap. Back home, cable stops were added to improve routing, as were decaleur tabs and braze-ons for centre pull brakes that would give the stopping power and modulation that was currently lacking.
While it was being painted, Tim laced a pair of Grand Bois rims to Maxi-car hubs. Stronglight cranks were sourced and polished along with Suntour Cyclone derailleurs and GB Super Hood levers, which were paired with 650B-specific Mafac Raid brakes.
Once finally assembled by the middle of summer and settled in, Tim rode it with Sarah and some other friends at summer’s end from Rome to Barcelona. It’s now his go-to bike: “Superbly comfortable with wonderful handling” even when loaded with panniers.
Inevidently it flexes a bit with 30kg of luggage and Tim aboard but the only time he felt he was pushing it too far was on a black run at a trail centre he’d inadvertently strayed onto. “I got off and walked a while. It wouldn’t have been fair on a 65-year-old.”
Massive thanks to Sarah and Tim for the photos and story. See more of their magnificent machines on their website.
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