My Claud Butler Dalesman is the first bike I ever truly loved.
I’ve been a saddle-fan since I was very young, and I’ve enjoyed every bike I’ve ever owned (or restored) but this Claud Butler Dalesman is the first bike that truly won my heart. I bought this Dalesman from The Bike Doctor in Ipswich for what I considered to be a very reasonable price, considering that The Bike Doctor appeared to have restored the bike and checked / fixed it mechanically.
Before becoming the new custodian of this lovely old Claud Butler I had never ridden a ‘proper’ road bike, preferring (like all kids who grew up in the late 80s / early 90s) rough and tumble mountain bikes. After a few years break from regular cycling I got back into cycling in a big way and committed to a 100 mile charity ride. When ‘training’ for this ride it became clear that if I attempted to cycle 100 miles on my current mountain bike my knees, hips and thighs would likely explode. The test ride was a total revelation, apart from anything else I was now able to cycle up hills!
I now cycle to work every day, and am fairly sure this Dalesman will be a gateway drug leading to a road bike / racer, or at least it will when I get some cash together. My brother in law recently had his Claud Butler Explorer stolen so I thought I ought to make a note somewhere of the serial number of my own bike, and make a photographic record, just in case, so this blog seemed like as good a place as any to do just that.
Last Updated on February 18, 2023
Nice!