One careful owner and 100,000 miles on the clock: Pensioner is still peddling around on the bike he received for his 12th birthday

By
Sara Malm

14:43 EST, 1 July 2012

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14:43 EST, 1 July 2012


Brian with his trusted bike which he has ridden since he was 12 years old

Brian with his trusted bike which he has ridden since he was 12 years old

Everyone remembers their first bike, but few keeps it rolling six decades later – this one has stood by one Birmingham pensioner for 100,000 miles, equal to four and a half laps around the world.

Brian Burdett, 70, still rides the very same bike he got for his 12th birthday.

His father Les bought him the second hand Claud Butler which has been his chosen mode of transport for 58 years.

Now aged 70, Brian would never part with the Claud Butler he says is the “Rolls-Royce of bicycles”.

‘When you were a kid you only dreamed of having one of those,’ he says, beaming with pride.

‘It was so different from any other bike I’d seen. It was gleaming turquoise blue and chrome, and it was all very shiny.

‘Nobody I knew had got a bicycle like that. It was very exciting.’

Fast-forward to 2012 and the bike is still in remarkably good nick, and there’s no sign of rust.

This is largely due to the care that twice-divorced Brian has given it over the decades.

‘I’ve had this bike since I was a little lad and here we are – still together,’ he beams.

He carries out the maintenance work in a makeshift ‘workshop’ in the back room of his Erdington home.

‘When I ride it, it takes me back to being a boy. It’s as though it’s the only thing I have left of those days.

‘It’s been with me all those years. It’s taken me to school, to different jobs and seen me through several marriages.

‘Actually, it’s possibly the reason for that!

Brian still rides around in Erdington on his bike. He has five others stored at a friend's house but this one is all-time favourite

Brian still rides around in Erdington on his bike. He has five others stored at a friend’s house but this one is all-time favourite

‘Every time I ride the bike, especially
if I ride out on my own somewhere along country lanes, I think about the
number of times I’ve done this.’

Brian rode the bike every day to Slade Road Secondary School, then to his first job as an apprentice compositor.

These days his longest journey would be about 70 miles but the furthest he ever went in one day was 120 miles to Clevedon, in Somerset.

He has pedalled his way to Wales and Cornwall a few times, too.

‘One trip in particular which stands out amongst many was when myself and two friends cycled to Tintagel in Cornwall,’ he says. ‘We carried on across to Plymouth and then up the coast to Bournemouth and back home to Erdington.

The proud owner on his Claud Butler bike aged 16, around the time of his trip to Cornwall

The proud owner on his Claud Butler bike aged 16, around the time of his trip to Cornwall

‘We did it all in just ten days. We stayed overnight in youth hostels – we were 16 and 17 years old at the time.

‘I often look back wistfully to those long-gone days when we were just free-spirited kids without a care in the world.’

Just seven years ago, Brian was reunited with one of his Tintagel companions. Dennis, and the pair are back cycling together.

‘People think you’re a bit of an anorak,’ Brian admits, and adds that cycling is to him what fishing or golf is to others.

Brian reckons more and more people will soon be joining him in the saddle.

‘Bicycles are going to be the transport of the future. I can see it happening,” he says. ‘It’s so difficult for people to use cars the way they do.

‘There’s just going to be no room for them. Besides, you don’t have to worry about the cost of fuel.

‘It might not suit everyone – but it keeps you off the streets…’

Brian has five other bikes including a tandem and he keeps that at his lady friend, 65-year-old Pat’s house.

‘We very seldom ride it,’ he adds. ‘She’s not very good on it!’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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The comments below have not been moderated.

– john, herts, 02/7/2012 01:47: “Since he’s had it it’s had three new pairs of wheels, two new frames, five new seats and two new sets of gears!” Obviously you know nothing about bikes: the frame is the same, with the same front lamp mounting boss on the front fork and Claud Butler was a quality frame. I think it now has a cotterless alloy chainset since chainrings wear anyway and the chain and rear gear block wears too but replacing worn-out parts dos not make it not a 1954 bike. The man looks after his things and enjoys it as well as the exhilaration of riding a bike through the countryside.

UKIP will give everybody a free bike if you vote for them.

Since he’s had it it’s had three new pairs of wheels, two new frames, five new seats and two new sets of gears!

Although I’m not quite as old as this man is, I’m still riding the bike I got at age 12 – a blue Schwinn one-speed with coaster brakes. I never could see the need for multiple gears, and the hand brakes scared me. I figured I’d end up flying over the handlebars and landing with a thud-splat! I’ve never found a bike I liked any better, so I just keep on riding. It still has the original wheels, chain, pedals, seat, etc, and it also has its share of scratches and dents. The only things I’ve replaced are the tires. Like his, it’s a nice reminder of simple days long gone.

it was definitely not made in china then………..

I think you will find the frame was Reynolds 531 tubing – this was a Britain that could make quality goods , until Politicians collectively set out to destroy Britain , by closing down its manufacturing and replacing it with fiddling banks .

I think Brian from Barnet has been watching Only Fools and Horses with his comment that “it’s the same bike apart from the 6 new wheels,2 frames,4 seats, 5 sets of brakes ,4 bells and also not forgetting the new Handlebars”. I still love watching that episode.

A Claude Butler was a bike I would have liked , could I have afforded it .
Bob of China , what are you on about , there were heaps of bicycles with those types of handlebars .

Brilliant story!

@Bob, China
You should do a bit of research before saying that this style of bike wasn’t from the 50’s and that the racing bars didn’t come until much later. A simple search on Google found a 1954 Claud Butler catalogue to prove you so very, very wrong.

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