overburys touring bikes

[cols3064]

does anyone no about overburys touring bikes

[diapason]

They used to be a bikeshop in Bristol. I think they may still be trading. I seem to remember they built their own range of MTBs - not sure about tourers.

N

[glueman]

They did make tourers. A chap had one on a 400k audax in '85.

[leftpoole]

They used to be a bikeshop in Bristol. I think they may still be trading. I seem to remember they built their own range of MTBs - not sure about tourers.

N

They are still in Bristol. In St Pauls area which is somewhat illuminating to say the least!
John.

[cols3064]

did they build there own frames

[glueman]

did they build there own frames

Don't know. They were a favourite of Bicycle or Bicycle Times or Bicycle Action or one of the magazines from that period who had an article on them. They seemed quite custom and I think the one I saw had custom racks and beefy stays and whatnot.
One day I shall liberate the old mags from the loft.

[tatanab]

did they build there own frames

Yes.
The shop isand was in St Pauls, but the frame building workshop was elsewhere in Bristol, I don't recall where. The venture was set up in teh early 80s by the son of the owners of the shop. I imagine eveything was a custom build.

[davebax]

Overbury's shop still exists: Overbury's Specialist Cycles, 138, Ashley Rd, Bristol, Avon BS6 5PA, Tel: 0117 955 7924. I don't know if bikes carrying the Overbury's name are still made, but Andy Powell bikes are really Overbury's - I think he may be the son referred to upthread, and worked in the backroom or basement of the shop when I last visited, perhaps 3 years ago, not at a separate factory.

[cols3064]

as any one owned a overburys touring bike and whats there veiws

[AndyK]

as any one owned a overburys touring bike and whats there veiws

I have one here! Vintage 1990, 531ST Overbury's Classic Tourer. Would you like to buy it? It's soon to be replaced by a shiny new Condor.

I have mixed feelings about it. I only ordered from them out of nostalgia because Overbury's had been my favourite bike shop back in the early '80s when I lived in Bristol. (The '80s were Overbury's real heyday - they were among the first to start building mountain bikes in the UK and had a successful MTB team, and they also latched on to the mini-boom in commuter cycling much faster than the other bike shops in Bristol.) The bike was months late - and then suddenly they wanted full payment BEFORE I got to see the bike - and in the end I only got it out of them by threatening legal action. To be fair they were very apologetic and delivered it to me in person (a 100-mile round trip to Swindon on a Saturday morning) with £100-worth of free upgrades.

NOTE: This took place 19 years ago, so should not be taken as a comment on the current management of the shop.

It's always been a nice enough bike to ride, but not great as a heavy-duty tourer: a bit too much shimmy from the back end when heavily laden, and less-predictable handling than the Claud Butler that preceded it. But it's lasted pretty well.

I don't think the frame was built at Overbury's shop itself, but it was built somewhere not far from there.

Shortly after I bought it, they gained permission to put the City of Bristol crest on their bikes as a head badge. I would have liked that, but by then I didn't feel much like talking to them again.

I have never seen another Overbury's tourer since I got mine. Mind you, mine was resprayed by Argos years ago so no-one would recognise it as an Overbury's either.

[cols3064]

how much do you want for it

[AndyK]

how much do you want for it

Open to offers (from anyone), bearing in mind the wheels are knackered, but perhaps I should continue this over on the "For Sale" board...

[cols3064]

can you pm me has iam having trouble sending new pm

[cols3064]

brought a overburys touring connisser today old bike ,but nice looing foward to rideing it

[niggle]

Just borrowed this from a friend with the option to buy, rode it home about 8 miles including a fairly steep climb and was very impressed with the ride, responsiveness and climbing ability, but what do I know not having had this kind of bike for 25 years, and that was the cheapest Dawes with a hi-tensile frame (Windsor) It has had very little use and all the components are tip-top, even the rims are like new though there are quite a few superficial small rust scabs on the frame and the down tube friction shifters are a bit cumbersome to use when you need to shift quickly as the terrain changes: much more of an issue here in Cornwall than it was with the Dawes in East Anglia in the good old days. The only other bike of this ilk I have ridden was another loaned by the same friend last year, which was a Basso Scout, an Italian interpretation of a touring bike, but I really did not like that one at all, finding it quite harsh in comparison to the Overbury and yet not as responsive when pushed (maybe those biopace rings on the Overbury do work , or more likely my fitness has improved). Anyway here are some pics taken a short way up a track which is one of the mineral tramways found in this area of Cornwall:
I was a little surprised to see a 531 "All terrain" sticker on it, is that normal for a tourer? Asking price is £175, anyone got an opinion on that? (Pedals are mine) It is 7-speed Shimano with Simplex friction shifters, someone else may be able to identify the actual groupset and vintage...(I hope....):