Coventry Bicycle Shops

Can I come in and ride on the back of this topic and ask if anyone has any memories of either Godiva Cycle Club (aka Coventry Godiva Harriers Cycling Sections) or the Godiva Road and Path Club which was born out of the former when the athletic and cycling governing bodies fell out over amateurism in both sports? Dates of the former, up to 1952 and of the latter 1952 until 1966 when it folded.

Rob, I think you mean on the corner of Torcross Avenue and Sewall Highway, trading as Ron Shepherd Cycles. It was mainly mopeds but did sell bikes as well, but also did motorbike MOTs. It was Ron's son Brian that ran the shop. He later had the garage opposite selling petrol and second hand cars.

There was also Walkers Cycle Shop on the Walsgrave Rd at the bottom of Briton Rd next to the Pet Shop.

There was a bike shop on Station Street East at the junction with the Stoney Stanton Road called Lole's where I got my first bike in 1959. Later owned by a Bailey (sorry don't know first name) who, according to my dad, was a well-known motorcyclist.

Norman Cycles (next to the Gaumont cinema) sold mostly bikes, including my my first bike. They also sold mopeds and mechanical toys. The Enterprise Variety Stores (opposite the Paris cinema) had a unit which sold a mixture of bikes and plastic models. There was also Tom Bromwich, specialist bike dealer near the bottom of Far Gosford Street. I went to school with his son, also called "Tom".

Bill Bailey owns/owned a motor cycle shop in Silvertown Way, London. Also a competitor for a number of years. But that was back in the 50s.

There was also a cycle shop on the Butts just round the corner from Gordon Street next door to Haydn's the newsagent. I bought my only two bikes from them (up until school leaving age) but can't remember the name. They had a rack of them on the pavement outside. I part exchanged my first one for the second (racer)! I 'google street mapped' it earlier today and both premises seem to be a 'Nisa' store now.

Ah yes, what a nit I am - I often transpose Hipswell and Sewall! Thanks for the information anyway - let's hope it's also useful to the original poster. One of my memories of Pollard's on Binley Road was taking a wheel there to be straightened after finding Eric Booth's place in Copperfield Road closed. All that happened was that I had to wait an extra couple of days to get it back, because meanwhile, they took it to him to do, then charged me an extra couple of quid for the privilege. Cheek!

Re Post 19 - the shop on the corner of Station Street East and Stoney Stanton Rd was run by Len BAYLISS not BAILEY. He was a well known motorcycle racer.

Known as ELBEE.

I lived in Burns Road throughout the sixties so 'Pollards' was my local cycle shop. I remember at the time that they would fleece you given half the chance, so my pocket money didn't last too long in their premises! I couldn't wait to turn 17 and purchase a motorbike from ' Albany Motorcycles' next door!!

Interesting, I remember Pollard's in Bedworth but I didn't know there was also a bike shop of that name in Coventry - W & E Pollard.

Another bicycle shop for the records - I remember my mother telling me my great grandfather John Hitchins ran a shop with his son Alfred in the early 1900s. The shop was situated in 107 Lower Ford Street. Sorry I have no more information, it was a little before my time

When I first came to Coventry in the 60s, I had the flat above Dodds' bicycle shop. Fresh mushrooms picked for breakfast each morning in the winter!!!

They didn't just sell bikes, I believe there was a workshop round the back which actually made them! I remember another bike shop in Queen Victoria Road by the entrance to the City Arcade but can't remember the period when it was open.