E.G.Bates Cycles

This family business started in 1926 as Bates Brothers Cycles. They were famous for their custom made cycles using their Patented 'Cantiflex' Reynolds 531 Tubing and 'Diadrent' front Forks. After the business split EG Bates continued hand building bicycles and selling bikes for all the family. His son, Alan Bates continued the family tradition for his entire working life and was joined by his wife Jill. They finally retired in 2002. EG Bates' grandson, Clive, also worked at the business for seven years until 1990 and was taught by his grandfather, known affectionately as 'EG', how to build custom lightweight cycle frames. As the family had been at the Barking Road location since 1935, they would sometimes hear a grandfather outside with his grandchild saying, "when I was a boy, my father bought me a bike from this shop and now I am going to by a bike for you, from here, too."