British Eagle (bicycle company)

British Eagle was a cycle manufacturer, initially based in Mochdre near Newtown, Powys, that previously closed in the mid-1990s. At some point it received financial support from the Development Board for Rural Wales. [1] UK Companies house shows British Eagle Cycles Limited was dissolved on 5 July 1994. A similarly named "British Eagle Cycle Company Limited" was registered in Peterborough on 11 July 1989 and dissolved on 29 June 2004. It seems to have been associated with Falcon Cycles and Coventry Eagle. Recently in 2020 "British Eagle" registered with Brothers Bike Co INDIA.

For British Eagle International Airlines, see British Eagle.

British Eagle cycle company logo from 1989 catalogue

Professional cyclist Barry Hoban was the company's marketing manager.[2]

A touring frame, named Touristique, made from 531ST Reynolds steel with Shimano 500LX groupset including Biopace chainring appears the most remembered model.

British Eagle Touristique from 1989 catalogue

The company may have also produced competition frames, the Campionissimo and Primavera. [3]

The 1989 catalogue lists seven mountain-bikes: Volcanic, Fireball, Shadow, Summit, Inferno, Fuego, Capri; one tourer, the Touristique, and a road bike, Competition.[4]

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

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

References
  1. "Hansard record - 16th Feb 1996". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 16 February 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". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. 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.
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