Coventry Bicycle Shops

I can remember the shop. It was run in later years by a tall fellow that lived in Woodway Lane, close to the Jolly Colliers. He sold it on to John Cresswell who then opened a shop opposite the Old Clarence, Earlsdon Ave. The last time I saw John he was retired and living in a mobile home at Long Itchington. My first tricycle was a child's bike with big blow up tyres, the envy of all the kids. It was from Shepherds in Bishop St. For my 15th birthday my aunt bought me a Hercules Kestrel in polychromatic gold with Reynolds 531 tubing, from Brandish, Whitefriars St, for the princely sum of £14 5s.

I remember Barnetts in Cedars Ave. I lived at 34 Cedars Ave.

LesMac, hi. Yes I know my father had one of those carbide lamps early on, but by the time I needed a lamp it was Ever-Ready Batteries, and then to the dynamo. But one thing leads to another for me. I'm going to switch to 'Our Kaga'.

Hi Harrier. No, the cycle shop I referred to was definitely near the corner of Gordon Street and the Butts. St Thomas's Church was on the other corner at the time.

Could the cycle shop have been Kennedy's?

I remember that same shop Wearethemods. In early 1955 my mum bought my first bicycle from there - a sit up and beg Raleigh, very similar to the Rudge my grandfather used.

Anyone remember Forey's bike shop on Foleshill Road, not far from the General Wolf? When first married I sold my Lambretta scooter and we both had new Raleigh bikes from there just before leaving Coventry to live (for five years) in East Yorkshire.

If you enter "Forey" in the search box (top left hand corner) and press 'Go' you will find several references to the shop in the 'Coventry Ironmongers' thread

Prof. Could you be thinking of Swifts cycle shop?

I think LesMac may be right. Swifts was on the opposite side to the Wolfe. I had all my childhood bikes from there, as my father had been a customer of theirs for years. Forey's was on the corner of Park Street, opposite corner to Lloyds Bank. When I worked at Weights & Measures in Livingstone Road we had an account there and we were regulars. I don't recall them selling cycles. Forey's was a typical old-fashioned ironmongers with that distinctive smell of paraffin, oil and wood. It was the place we used to send new recruits for spurious items, such as a left handed screwdriver, elbow grease, a glass spanner, or (a particular favourite) a long weight. The staff were always happy to play along!

The shop in the Butts by Gordon St was Kirby cycles. I bought my first Raleigh bike in 1956 from the Midland Cycle Co in Ford St at the junction with Priory St. Also Bob Edmonds Cycles was in Primrose Hill St opposite where the night club is now. Ted Airey ran this shop in the 60s. He also had a Cotton motor cycle. What was the name of the cycle shop on Stoney Stanton Rd. just past Broad St and next to what was Elbe motor cycles? Anyone remember Harry Tennant's motor cycle shop in Jesson St?

The name of the cycle shop on the corner of Paradise Street and Stoney Stanton Road was Lole's. I spent hours looking at all the cycles in his shop on my way to school. Like all school kids you were very lucky if you had a new bike in the 1940s or 50s. My grandfather had a shed full of cycle frames and wheels etc so I could build my own secondhand one with his help.

I found this article I submitted to the Telegraph the year Ron Shepherd passed away. I thought it might be of interest to the forum members. Ron Shepherd Cycles. I started working for Ron Shepherd as a Saturday lad back in 1964. I was an apprentice at Bristol Siddeley Engines and needed the extra money. I had found out that he was the former Works Manager at Flavell's Gas Fires etc and the prospect of applying for a job was a bit daunting to say the least. Anyway after "sussing" me out, he took me on. It transpired that Ron was the "gentleman trader" on Ball Hill, selling all types of cycles and back then, the full range of Raleigh mopeds. He was always smartly dressed in a suit and behind the dapper appearance, a brilliant engineer. Most days he would also spend some time in the workshop, sleeves rolled up repairing cycles, truing wheels, rebuilding engines. He would then wash his hands, put his suit jacket back on and go "front of house" back in the shop, in selling mode. I worked as a mechanic servicing the cycles, mopeds and all types of small motor bikes & scooters. After sales service was a big thing with Ron Shepherd Cycles. It was a family business and son Bryan was the main man in the workshop at that time. Mrs Shep (Edna) was also there most days, doing the admin side and keeping the men in check! She was a lovely lady but didn't tolerate fools lightly. There was a real family team spirit and I felt genuinely accepted as part of the family. I especially remember the annual "Santa Claus" free Christmas Eve delivery of bikes for unsuspecting kids, ready for Xmas Day. It was by Ford Cortina Estate though, not a sleigh! It was a real privilege to work for Ron and as a young motor cycle enthusiast myself, I couldn't believe my luck at landing this part time job. I used to really enjoy going in on Saturdays. So much so, I carried on working there after I finished my 5 year apprenticeship. I think I completed 9 years and only retired when my family came along. During those 9 years, Ron's products changed to selling Laverda scooters and motorbikes and the full Puch moped range. I also remember short periods selling Vespa scooters and the odd BSA Bantams. Even with all these changes, Ron, the business, never lost sight of the original theme of the business, "cycles". Right up until he retired from Ball Hill, you could always get any cycle repaired no matter what the fault was. He was renowned for this and attracted customers from all over the city and local towns. A wonderful man, I learned a lot from him and you could always rely on his help and support whatever the problem Ric Osborne Saturday Lad (retired)

I remember well dear Alf Simpson's bicycle shop in King Edward Road, Hillfields, back in the 50's & 60's. I think it was still going in 70's. I used to get paraffin for our heater from there too in winter. He sold all sorts of bicycles AND repaired them, like punctures, etc. He used to have a big old coal fire you could warm your backside by whilst he was filling your paraffin can, or serving some driver with petrol outside at the smallest space you can imagine. Room only for one car at a time.

Does anyone remember a cycle shop on Paynes Lane somewhere between Oxford Street and the Far Gosford Street junction? I have only just found out about it as it was run by one of my dad's uncles, Ade Yardley. He was also very much in to motorbikes apparently and worked on the TT races as a mechanic.