British Eagle (cycles)

British Eagle cycle company logo from 1989 catalogue
For British Eagle International Airlines, see British Eagle.

British Eagle was a cycle manufacturer, based in Mochdre near Newtown, Powys, that closed in the mid nineties. At some point it had received financial support from the Development Board for Rural Wales. [1] UK Companies house shows "British Eagle Cycles Limited" was dissolved 5/7/1994. Also a similarly named "British Eagle Cycle CompanyLimited" was formed in 11/07/1989 and dissolved 29/06/2004, registered in Peterborough

It seems to have been associated with, or a spin-off from Falcon Cycles and Coventry Eagle

Professional cyclist Barry Hoban may have run the company at one point.[2]

A touring frame, named Touristique, made from 531ST reynolds steel with Shimano 500LX groupset (including Biopace chainring) appears to be their most remembered model.

British Eagle Touristique from 1989 catalogue

They may have also produced two competition frames, Campionissimo and Primavera. [3]

The 1989 catalogue lists 7 mountain-bike models; Volcanic, Fireball, Shadow, Summit, Inferno, Fuego, Capri, 1 tourer (Touristique) and 1 road bike (Competition).[4]

The brand name has more recently appeared on bikes sold by supermarkets. ASDA were criticized by cycling[5] and mainstream press [6] for displaying the bike set up incorrectly, with the front forks reversed.

The brand is now owned by MV Sports & Leisure Ltd, alongside a wide range of largely children-oriented branded sports toys. MV Sports is a subsidiary of Tandem Group PLC which also owns the Dawes and Claud Butler brands under other subsidiaries.[7]

  1. ↑ "Hansard record - 16th Feb 1996". Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Davies, Robyn. "Towy rider website". Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "BikeRadar.cc forum "Barry Hoban (Coventry Eagle) bike"". Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "British Eagle Cycle Catalogue 1989, accessed online via the National Cycle Library". Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Henry, Tom. "Road.cc "ASDA pulls ad for cheap bike after front forks fiasco"". Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  6. ↑ Pidd, Helen. "Guardian: "Bikes: buy cheap, buy twice"". Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Tandem Group PLC - "About"". Retrieved 24 February 2014.