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A heads up on a local Southampton Heritage group on facebook made me take a trip out to the old Rotrax shop in Shirley last week. The previous tennants had moved on, taking their cheap plastic shop sign with them, revealing an old sign underneath.
I was surprised to see there was no hint of a Rotrax sign though? And who was 'W. HARVELL.' ??

Some googling refreshed my memory. Bill Harvell was a lightweight cycle specialist from the 30’s through to the 60’s. He had a couple of shops, one in Hillsea, Portsmouth, and this one in Shirley, Southampton. After the war ended he sold this to the recently RAF demobbed Freddie Prince. (Freddie and Bill raced and time trialed together before the war)
Freddie then set up Rotrax Cycles here. (So this shop sign is from the 1930's!)
Bill carried on with his small but popular cycle shop in Hillsea.

Bill had an outstanding career as a cyclist, competing at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1934 Empire Games in Manchester, winning bronze medals in each.

For more info on Bill there are a couple of excellent online articles I recommend you read -

www.missmargueritewilson.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR1lwkHe4CJuVS...

www.classiclightweights.co.uk/harvell-watts-reminiscences...

1932 Los Angeles Olympics by Mike, on Flickr

Bill Harvell, cycle shop sign reveal by Mike, on Flickr

Bill Harvell, cycle shop sign reveal by Mike, on Flickr

Great project bike! Always admired Gillotts but never owned one.

Good to hear from you James, and another Jim Guard owner!
I do not know the Baylis brothers, but found this on a quick search on google, so educating myself!

SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTHAMPTON
July 2010
By Tony Taylor
The long established Southampton Wheelers
produced two top post war time trialists - Ken
Whitmarsh and Jon Baylis. After the last war
Ken Whitmarsh had recorded times for 25, 50,
and 100 miles, of 58min 54sec, 2hr lmin 6sec
and 4hr l0min 0sec. He clocked 4:18:53 to win
the National 100 mile TT Championship in
1952, while Jon Baylis took the same title in
1961 with a time of 4:11:54. The Southampton
Wheelers, including his brother David Baylis
and Pete Betteridge were also the winning team.
That year, Jon Baylis recorded a 4:02:42 in the
prestigious Bath Road 100, but was beaten into
2nd place, as was Pete Betteridge in
the same event the following year,
when he recorded 4:03:46. Jon
Baylis recorded a 1:55:42 in the last
50 mile TT of the season to clinch
the runner's up position in the 1960
British Best All Rounder (BBAR) the
third Southampton Wheeler to have
done so, after Johnny Potter and
Ken Whitnarsh.
1961 proved to be the club's
most successful year, with the Baylis
brothers and Betteridge winning the
team prize in the National 12 Hour
Championship. Jon Baylis was again runner
up in the BBAR, and the team of Jon Baylis,
Pete Betteridge and Ray Holt were runners
up in the BBAR team award. The Baylis's
grandfather Alfred, was a founder member of
the Southampton Wheelers, and their uncle was
the club's best pre-war rider.
In the 1955 Womens' National 10 mile TT
Championship, the Wheelers team of Anne
Mounsey, Pat Clark and Olive Guard won the
team award with a competition record.
Another outstanding time trialist was
Glen Longland (Antelope RT). He broke the
competition record for 12 hours in 1983,
1986 and again in 1991, breaking the 300
mile barrier. Longland later turned his efforts
to three wheels, and between 1989 and 1992,
broke the tricycle competition record at 10, 25
and 50 miles. The Antelope RT broke the team
record on all these occasions, with R.Dadswell,
T. Dadswell and N. Stroud. R. Dadswell also
broke the 12 hour tricycle record in 1993.
The Achilles VC was the first to affiliate to
the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC) in
1944, to cater for road racing. An early success
was the 3rd place by Ron Filsell in the first ever
stage race in Britain, the 3-Day Southern Grand
Prix, held that year. This club was superseded
in the early 1950s by the Orion RC, later by
the Test RC, and eventually the GS Europa.
The leading road-men from these clubs in
the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were Brian Packer,
John Parfitt, Mike Lewis, Pete Glasspool, Colin
Ayley and Derek Witt, who was
tragically killed by a drunk driver
in 2008.
Southampton had its own
cycle track at the Southampton
Sports Centre, with regular
meetings under the auspices of the
Southampton Cycle Track League.
Competitors were mainly from
neighbouring Portsmouth/Gosport
and Bournemouth/Poole area.
In 1945 Freddie Prince bought
a cycle shop in Shirley Road,
Southampton, and started to build
racing frames, giving them the brand name
Rotrax (his shortened version of road and
tracks). The business proved very successful,
until mass production proved too much for
specialist frame builders. For the 1950 season
Brian Packer rode as an Independent (semi-
professional) for Rotrax Cvcles.
Another business in Southampton was
Jim Guard Cycles. Jim Guard was himself a
racing man in the Southampton Wheelers, and
for seasons 1960 and 1961 he sponsored as
lndependents, Test RC members Mike Lewis
and Pete Glasspool.
Over the years there have been many local
cycling clubs in the area most of which had
racing traditions in time trials, the majority
have since disappeared. Some familiar names
were - Crabwood CC Erramus CC, Southern
Paragon CC and Solent & District RC,
although the Sotonia CC still survives.

http://www.yeovilcc.com/YCC%20content/YCC%20newsletters/Pedaller%200710.pdf

Jim's old bike lives!
https://www.strava.com/activities/1723984085

Thanks for the positive comments. It's good to keep a little bit of local cycling heritage alive.

First ride was uncomfortable. I used my old method of raising the saddle an inch, whether it needed it or not, jumping on and hoping for the best. Saddle still felt a little low, and too far forward. I was perched on the back. Hopefully raising it a touch more will help for the return trip when I finish work tonight. Couldn't get top gear either, but that took two turns with a screwdriver once I got in. It's low geared, and they are very close ratio gears. You can tell Jim wasn't a great fan of wide ratio and double chain rings!
My usual average speed commuting into work is 13/14 mph at the moment, on the 1948 Rotrax with a low geared 4 speed SA hub. My uncles 1955 Cliff Peters with 10 speed and a Campy Record derailleur is nippier, and I get 14/15 average on that. Even taking it steady, on a bike that didn't fit me properly, with no top gear, I got 15.5 on this ...

Anyone have an old bike computer that will fit this? Anyone recognise it?? Many thanks!

And here is Jim Guards last machine, from the late 70's. He used this as a daily hack, and for doing the occasional 100 miles on his birthdays!
I've no idea on the maker. The only transfer is Jim Guards own name badge on the top tube. It's super light and feels like it should go like stink ... close ratio gears, narrow tyres, narrow saddle ... The saddle looks like Jim has swapped it over from bike to bike, and must be decades older than this machine. I wonder what mileage it has on it!
Feel very honoured to be this bikes custodian, and to keep alive the memory of Jim Guard some way through it. Not entirely sure how yet, but sharing it here is a start. As with Olives bike, an clean and overhaul to get it back on the road, and maybe it will hit the mean streets of Southampton again ...

Cheeky little overnighter on Chiselbury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort on top of Fovant Down, famous for its Great War regimental cap badges carved into its 30° chalk slopes.
It's 40 miles from me. I left after tea, cutting it fine to make it there to see the sun go down. I rode along the old cattle drove that runs from Salisbury to Shaftesbury, picking it up at Salisbury Racecourse. My map reading skills failed me though and in the dusk, and more worried about staying upright on a top heavy loaded bike on loose gravel and ruts, I rode past the fort and on another couple of miles! I retraced my steps and set up camp at 10.30.
It was a fantastic night! No moon and really clear, I had a wonderful view of the Milky Way.
Up with the sunrise for a quick mooch around a couple of the restored badges, then back on the road before it got too warm, cycling back mainly along Cycle Route 24, back to town.

After a couple of years of intermitent email correspondance, I finally got to meet up with Jim and Olives son, Tim, recently. Tim and his partner made me feel very welcome in their stunning converted threshing barn and immaculate gardens and we had a great chat over lunch.
Following his mothers death at the end of 2016 Tim has been sorting through her effects. There is still a way to go, but there are a couple of boxes that contain cycling memorabilia - photos, medals and trophys. We have made a plan to go through and document and record these over the winter somewhen. Olive was a serious competitive cyclist in her day, winning the prestigious Womens BBAR in 1955 probably the pinnacle of her racing achievements. I can't wait to go through them! Until then, I really need to make time to go through what records the the library here keep on the Southampton Wheelers. As already mentioned in this thread, Olive and Jim met in the club, and were married shortly after in Jan 1949, while Jim was the president I think.

The main reason for the visit was to take custodianship of two old bikes in Olives shed. These were the last bikes of Jim and Olive, and I had no idea what to expect. Jim and Olive were both diehard cyclists, touring long distances in Europe in their younger days, cycling to work every day, and home for lunch. Jim was even in the habit of cycling 100 miles every birthday, well into his 80's!
Both bikes understandably had a fair amount of shed dust on them, and a very similar frame size, so when we wheeled out the first slightly larger frame we mistakenly thought it was Jims, but there on the top tube, faded but unmistakable, was OLIVE GUARD. And what a lovely machine it was, even under a layer dust. I'm assuming it's a Fred Dean frame, and from the 1950's? The wheels and gearing have been upgraded over the years, I assume the chainset as well. My plans are to clean and overhaul it, but not to alter it at all. I would like to leave it exactly as Olive left it on her last ride. My dilema then is if it hangs up in the back of my bike shed mothballed/preserved, who actually enjoys this peice of local Southampton cycling heritage? I'd love to take it out on a few local VCC rides, on roads Olive would have ridden, and with other riders who may remember her and the bike ...
Anyway, here it is pretty much as found.

Check out the toe straps!

Just going through this thread again, and noticed that Jim ad Olives daughter Sue mentioned her mother may have been on the winning BBAR team one year, but she wasn't sure. A quick google confirms it, in 1955!

https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/articles/view/155

Former Winners of The British Best All-Rounder Competition (Ladies)
1955
A Mounsey
P Clark
O M Guard
Southampton Wheelers
21.427

Any film lovers here? Just uploaded a few 35mm shots I took on an old Voigtlander VitoB rangefinder.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/albums/72157697651460234/with/43046765982/

A few shots from the 160km ride on Sunday. I didn't get much chance to take snaps, I'm not a quick rider and we wanted to try and get around before 5.00. In the end we rolled in at 5.10!
Well organised and clearly signposted, with plenty of marshals, and good food stops. It was a great day, but I found it tiring in the afternoon heat. I've never drank so much before, but none of it made it to my bladder ... I sweated buckets!
Total mileage for the day was 124.5 miles, including our ride in and out of town. Lots of cobbles and gravel sections too! Rotrax went like a dream over it all.
Ride was €40, which seemed really good value, but I was very surprised there was no goodie bag at all when you registered, you just got your race number and a few pins, and a small sticker at the end of it. I assumed you always got a feed bag at least, and it's a great bit of advertising for the event when you use it on other rides? That was the only disappointment about the event though. (I used my bag from the first Eroica Britannia, which is still going strong despite years of abuse)

https://www.strava.com/activities/1630215528

The Rotrax post ride ...

Saturday in Oudenaarde for the Retro Ronde. We had signed up for the 25km Paterberg & Koppenberg ride (it was only an extra €3).

I'm totally ignorant, my knowledge of Flanders cycling is nil, so I had no idea what the Paterberg and Koppenberg actually where ...

Graham nailing it on his single speed 1923 Automoto ...

The start of our Retro Ronde weekend. We parked up in Dover and rode down to the port, and boarded a ferry for Dunkirk as cycle tourists. Behind the Rotrax is Ben's lovely original 1939 Claud Butler.

Apart from the usual running adjustments this was the only issue we had the whole trip, one flint puncture!

Our ferry didn't get in until 3.30, and we had to try and reach our accomodation 80 miles away by 9.00, so we didn't have time for any sightseeing, but we did pay our respects at the Menin Gate in Ypres, conveniently halfway en route.

Riding along quiet rivers and canals from Menin to Oudenaarde.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1625725075

Yes I do! The shockstops work great on my Jim Guard Philip. Not sure they will fit on the Rotrax in it's current set up, but the cable ties are a great idea.

Not done Eroica for a couple of years now, got a bit too big for me. (And expensive - our 50's campervan took a while to get there, and cost a bomb in petrol, then add the Eroica camping costs to that it smarts) Happy trying a few of the European rides. La Savoureuse last year was good, Retro Ronde this year, Anjou Vintage Velo next year.

Here's that hub. What a star it has been, love it. Wisest £41 I think I've spent.

And an old John Bull rubber cable tie. I didn't trust myself to not break it by putting it on properly.

A few shots of the prep for the Retro Ronde ride at the weekend. Please excuse my poor grammer and lack of usual good humour and bonhomie, I'm flagging a bit after tackling some big rides for me!

Handlebar tape - luckily I only wanted to do half of the bars, as I only bought one roll. I didn't realise that would only do one full bar! I just cut it in half and got it as far round as I could.

No, I didn't dampen it. I will try that next time though.

SA trigger and bell went back on exactly where they were before. The trigger works well there, but I did skin my thumb on it when I had to do an emergency stop in town when someone tried to T bone me. Bell is awkward, as you can't rest your hands on top of the levers with it there. I prefer it on the stem, like I've done on the Jim Guard.

Bluemel Olympics picked up from the first Eroica Britannia for £15. (Rain is forecast for the weekend ... ) The Olympics have really weird stay attachments and I'm not sure how they are supposed to work. I've just cut down some stays and shoved them in. (And no, that didn't work well.)

I'll post some photos from the trip next ...

And where to go on its first test ride today? How about 132 Shirley Road, where it was built in 1948!
Everything seems to be behaving itself so far. Gears adjusted and all engaging properly and not slipping. Now I'm happy with where the brakes and SA lever are on the 'bars, I'll add the cotton tape tonight. Not sure I'll keep that saddle on there, I have a honey coloured B17 on another bike I might swap over.

Parts delivered, now to put it all together!
In the end I decided on burnt orange, to match the downtube transfer. Heaviliy influenced by Big Blocks lovely Hobbs with yellow details.
Rear wheel is a 1950 4 speed Alloy case SA hub, spokes tied and soldered, on a Dunlop Special Lightweight rim. I was rather pleased to pick it up for £41. Need to find a matching front wheel rim now, which I would like to lace onto that original Reynolds(?) large flange front hub you can see in the box.
Rusty 1948 Rotrax build by Mike, on Flickr

Newbaums tape - £8
Brake blocks - £4
Brake and gear cable set - £5
SA gear cable - £2
Rear wheel - £41
Azumi chain - £11

Signed up for the Retro Ronde this weekend, so decided to build the Rotrax up for it!
Test fit with a couple of wheels robbed from the stable.
I was trying to decide what brake and gear cable colour to go for at this point, and also handlebar tape ...

Ha! Thank you, but seriously, I've barely tickled it, and just with stuff found under the kitchen sink. There is a long way to go on this ...
Tonight I tried wheels on the frame, to see what I needed. The 27" Alumlite fit, but there isn't much room between the tyre and the bridge, and I don't think the brake calipers will touch the rims. I'm fairly sure now it'll take 26" rims, so the search is on for something suitable. (And affordable!) I've already been offered an alloy Sturmey Archer cage, as I'd like to keep the SA 3/4 speed.

Yes, using an oil or grease gun. There is also a grease nipple on the head tube as well.

After a couple of evenings gentle scrubbing.

I only discovered recently Weinmann rims were available in the UK from the late 40's.

This is from the Holdsworth catalogue 1949, that Big_Block shared with me.

http://threespeedhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Holdsworth-Aids-to-Happy-Cycling-1949-UK.pdf

There are a few early post war Hobbs on here, so interesting to make comparisons with them. I have a '46 Raceweight, and that looks very pre war in appearance, with the big drop handlebars.
I'm not sure how much of mine is original either!