This is a page devoted to your anecdotes and memories of, or related to, Viking bicycles – in effect the human history of Viking which I thought was well worth preserving. Please send me yours to add. Writers are only identified by their initials. Let me know if you would like your full name included or, conversely, if you would like me to remove anything you wrote that you do not want published:
First of all, great website! I have reacquired my Viking Hosteller from my Dad’s loft. I last rode it approx. 35 years ago. It was originally my Dad’s, who bought it second-hand during the late 1960s when we were stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. For some unbeknown reason, he decided to respray it in the early 70s. There remains a small amount of the original paint colour around the original Tour of Britain transfer which was retained. The Tour win dates are 1951, 1955, 1958 and 1959. At the moment I’m trying to get hold of a copy of a photograph of the bike as it was when my Dad bought it. The frame number is stamped on the left dropout and appears to be H13819. The frame size is 22”. It appears to have some form of Nervex lugs, though I can’t find a match on any images I’ve encountered. The saddle is a Brooks B17 Swallow, though I think my brother swapped his saddle for mine at some point before he went on to sell his earlier Viking bike some 30 years ago.I am going to try and restore it to something like it’s former glory, though I appreciate it will be quite difficult to obtain authentic parts. I wondered in the first instance if there was any way of trying to find the colours that were used for Viking bikes of this period, and if there are any modern equivalents. I have taken some photos of the bike bits I have at present (my Dad is still trying to locate the rear wheel and Benelux gears in his loft at the moment!), and will upload them for your consideration and records within the next few days. -I.K.
I have been looking at your site a lot lately and maybe able to share some info.I bought my TOB Clubmaster in 1956 I was 16. It was 10spd, front c/ring changer was on seat tube. Cyclo B No.on rear dropout appears to be P080. I had it sprayed a few years ago so lost the tranfers. However a few months later I bought a track frame Clubmaster? on which the transfers are still readable and I am fairly sure they were the same, the only No. I see on this one under the bottom b. is 73 and 72 on the trackend is 27 or Z7 .I did have the option when I bought it, for £1 more I could change 2 things , I asked for the B/B to be 0.5 inch higher and switched the colours. it cost me £18 – W.C.