Ron Cooper (bicycle framebuilder)

Ron Cooper (7 July 1931 – 12 December 2012)^[1] was a noted^[2][3] British "master" bicycle frame builder.

Ron Cooper
Cooper brazing a frame in 2006
Born	(1931-07-07)7 July 1931 Stockwell, London, England
Died	12 December 2012(2012-12-12) (aged 80)

Career

Cooper began building frames when he was 15,^[4] starting in 1947^[5] when he began a full apprenticeship at A.S. Gillott Cycles, London, England.^[6] He learned his craft from frame builders in England, most notably Jim Collier and Bill Philbrook.^[6] He was a racing cyclist selected for the national team, the R.A.F., the Brighton-Glasgow and the London Centre in the 1952 Tour of Britain (Milk Race), before an accident forced him to retire from competition.^[7]

In 1967, Cooper left A.S. Gillott to build frames under his own name, and by 1970 set up a small shop in Honor Oak Park, South East London.^[8] Cooper then worked in Dartford, approx 18 km (11 miles) from his old shop in Honor Oak Park as sole fabricator, making bespoke^[8] steel frames using the traditional method of free hand brazing rather than jigs, in order to avoid stresses to be built into the frame,^[9] which calls for careful mitering and took about two days to make.^[7] Some reviews claim Cooper's frame builds provide more stability, neutrality of handling, and responsiveness.^[10]

See also

• Roberts Cycles
• Witcomb Cycles