Introducing the 1930’s Bicycle: Hetchins Club Racer!

This vintage gem brings back the charm and grace of cycling from a bygone era. With its timeless design and smooth performance, it’s the perfect ride for those who appreciate the classics. Get ready to turn heads as you cruise around town on this iconic piece of cycling history.

HETCHINS CLUB RACER

This weeks “Bicycle of the Week” is a 1930’s Hetchins Club Racer bicycle. Renowned for their distinctive wavy tubing, Hetchins bicycles of the 1930s provided a smooth and comfortable ride on rugged roads. A notable touch on this particular bicycle, is the incorporation of the shield of London city in its design. Unlike the customary lacey lugs found on other Hetchins models, this bicycle showcases a departure from that norm. However, this absence was soon rectified, as the intricate tubing joints would later become a standard feature on Hetchins frames about a decade afterward.

Hyram “Harry” Hetchins and his collaborator Jack Denny cultivated a dedicated following at their bike emporium in North London. Moreover, their innovations extended beyond the unique curved tubes and intricate lugwork. It was said that they drew inspiration from the world of music to craft their exceptional creations.

The seat tube was designed to position the rear wheel further forward. As a result, it shortened the wheelbase for enhanced agility in handling. Parallel to the flowing contours of the tubing, was a dimpled tube. initially, it was built for track racing great, Tony Merkins. Subsequently, this evolved into a regular fixture on Hetchins bicycles made available to the general public.

Categorized as a “club” racer, this bike was built for speed and adaptability. This is no bicycle for the common tourists. For instance, there is no three speed hub or luggage rack. Noteworthy utility elements include fender mounts and a light bracket. As a nod to its British heritage, the light bracket is positioned on the right side of the bicycle.

A UNIQUE BICYCLE REAR DERAILLEUR

A noteworthy innovation on this bike is the Conloy Osgear rear derailleur, characterized by its contemporary parallelogram design and single shift wire. For example, even though it was limited to a single pulley, it still offered a gear difference of six teeth.  Equally important, the shift cable traverses the top tube, culminating in a conveniently placed lever that ensures efficient gear changes.

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