1928-1934 Sunbeam Road Racer ‘Model B’

1928-1934 Sunbeam Road Racer ‘Model B’

21″ Frame. 26″ Wheels

Superb Original Condition & Ready to Ride

I couldn’t resist taking photos of this wonderfully original Sunbeam Road Racer outside the Sunbeam Cafe when I visited Brooklands Museum for this year’s Cycle Day.

I’m not sure of the year of this bicycle. The seller told me that it’s 1928-1930. But the information in the Sunbeam Cycles book is ambiguous. I’ve contacted the marque specialist and I’ll update this page when he replies.

THE ‘MODEL B’

According to the book Sunbeam Cycles the ‘B’ series is dated 1934.

This bike is so original that I’m loathe to rub off the paint. But you can compare the frame number ‘B.471.0’ with the date in the book, below.

BROOKLANDS MUSEUM

BROOKLANDS MUSEUM: Start of The Bicycle 100km race on July 24, 1937

Constructed in 1907, Brooklands was the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit. As well as motor-racing and its aviation history, it has many cycling connections too. According to Brooklands Museum, the world’s first massed start took place on the race track in September 1907, while many cyclists from the 1936 Olympic Games were regular racers at the famous banked circuit.

In 1933 a 100 kilometre Championship Trial Road Race was held at Brooklands, promoted by the Charlotteville Cycling Club. The event was used to select a team for the World Championships at Montlhéry. The track continued as a regular venue for cycle races throughout the 1930s. In 1939 alone 19 races were held between April and August.

Brooklands Cycle Festival on Sunday 18th September 2011 was well-attended and a very enjoyable event. The museum is a fabulous place, hosting the renowned Raleigh Collection, and well worth a visit.

We had the opportunity to take our vintage machines for a spin around the track – but, although the museum welcomed our displays of vintage bicycles, the track is owned by Mercedes, and the track staff gave the impression from their offhand manner and bureaucracy that they really did not want us anywhere near it. It’s perhaps rather ironic given that the airfield was used during WW2 to defend Britain, and is now owned by Mercedes, a German company.

BROOKS B15 CHAMPION SADDLE