How you doing Bob? I have just discovered your swing bike page and I must congratulate you on your page content. I thought you might be intrested in our swing bike, by the serial No. it would appear to be the oldest one on your record. Shame we did the custom bit before we found your site. Here are before & after photo's, (Taken 2 days apart pretty snappy re-vamp job don't you think}.

History Of Our SwingBike

This Bike came to England in the early eighties courtesy of a local businessman who intended to import and distribute the novel bicycle. English trading standards declared these bikes illegal to ride on the public highway with the frame in the swing condition; this put paid to this venture.

The bike was then given to a friend, local builder Gerald Parsonage who's young family had several years of fun before retiring the bike to the scrap heap.

Here it lay at rest until June 2000 when we rescued it and gave it a new lease of life giving it an eighties touch of index gears and a paint job.

Only later when having a browse on the old web did we realise these bikes had such a following. Luckily we have retained all the original wheels, chainguard, fenders etc. if ever we want to restore to original condition.

Andy Sparkes
sparky_2k39@hotmail.com

Webmaster's Note: Thanks Andy for the story and pics! Don't feel bad about not returning the bike to original -- it sure looks great now! If anyone else has a Swing Bike story or pics, feel free to e-mail me.

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