My SBDU Collection… What’s Been Happening Recently?

It’s always nice to sit down and have a think about where my SBDU collection is and to plan where it is heading. That might sound ridiculous as these are only old steel bike frames, but writing about them does keep me on track and helps me to focus, so I only add frames that I really want, rather than simply accumulating quantities. Regularly writing about them has helped me to review what I have, hold back, rationalise and put valid reasons to any potential new addition I see.

My method of regularly reviewing what I have has had a massive impact over the last two years. The amount of new additions has drastically fallen off as the gaps I’ve identified in my collection have become much more specific.

The Reason for My Collection

That heading, “The Reason for My Collection“, keeps me on track – having a reason gives the collection a meaning. I never had a reason for my collection when I started. That was because I never intended to have a collection when I started my first renovation, I was buying any random frames that I could afford. It was my blogging and a growing appreciation for these frames that planted the seed of starting a collection. And then receiving an increasing amount of requests for information created my resolve to focus on the detail of the collection. The reason then started to develop. It is much more clearly defined now…

The main reason for my SBDU collection is to showcase the work of the Specialist Bicycle Development Unit. I collect SB numbered frames so I can research, document and demonstrate the range of frame styles, design features and colours they used over time. Additionally, I want to preserve originality and be able to record that originality as a reference for others.

My TI-Raleigh SBDU Collection

It’s clearly a big task that I’ve given myself. To be able to show as many features as possible over the time that SB numbers were in use means that I need to focus and aim to have frames that not only fit the many different frame types, but also have as many of the different features that were in use spanning that range of years.

That is where my random collecting wasn’t working. A few years ago I only wanted to buy, buy, buy. I demonstrated that ‘buy anything’ mentality back in 2017 when I bought a total of 14 frames. They were all very random additions, with lots of duplicates and repainted frames and although they are nice to have, and there were a few amazing frames, the majority of them didn’t add much value to the collection of the work I wanted to do.

Turning a Corner

2018

2018 was the year my collection received the focus it needed and grew up. There were only 6 new arrivals but each one added a worthwhile dimension. In order of arrival, they were…

These additions included lots of originality, combined with new frame types such as low profile road and track, together with a frame that filled a gap in my year timeline for 1986. And then at the end of the year came such a rare frame, a Motor Paced Stayer built by Jan le Grand, possibly built for TI-Raleigh rider René Pijnen.

2019

I’ve continued the focused approach in 2019, and the year has had an excellent start. I’ve added three beautiful examples to the collection. Two with original paint but all three with SBDU paint!

Wow, three excellent frames. And what do I mean with that conundrum of two out of the three frames with original paint but all three with SBDU paint? Well that is SB1995 which is the frame built in 1978 but taken back to Ilkeston at the end of 1982 for renovation before being picked up and hidden away in a cupboard for 36 years. It is an SBDU time capsule! SB3235 and SB2589 are two beautiful and original examples that not only show the beauty of an original frame, they also demonstrate quite rare colours and they also bolster my 1978 timeline.

Collection Summary

Frame Types & Tubing

I have in my mind that there is a ‘core’ SBDU frame type and a similar core Reynolds tubing type used by the SBDU. Other SBDU frame types and tubing exist but you will see many more of the core type of SBDU frame such as Road, Track and TT. These will be built from the core tubing such as 753/R and 531/SL/c/P. This cross tab highlights what I consider to be the core SBDU frame types and tubing.

SBDU Ilkeston Frame Timeline

The image below shows how SB1995 and SB3235 have helped to add information to 1978. These are the main years covered by SBDU Ilkeston before the relocation to Nottingham in 1986/87. SB8790 is my first step into the frames made following that move.

Frame Overview

The list of frames is getting longer but here is a basic overview of the entire collection…

My TI-Raleigh SBDU Collection

SB Number	Year	Type	Tubing	Colour	Condition
No Number	1974/1975	Motor Paced Stayer	531DB	New Team	Repaint (SBDU)
GH6175	1974/1975	Track	531DB	New Team	Repaint (SBDU)
SB518	1976	Road	531DB	White/Blue	Repaint
SB632	1976	Track	753	Red	Repaint
SB664	1976	TT	753	Gold	Original
SB1500	1977	TT	753	Gold	Original
SH377T	1977	Track	753	Blue/Black	Original
SB1861	1977	Road	531DB	TI-Raleigh	Original
JR178T	1977/1978	Track	531DB	Yellow/Blue	Repaint
SB1995	1978	Road	753	Gold	Repaint (SBDU)
SB2589	1978	Road	753	Green	Original
SB2692	1979	TT	753	Silver	Original
SB3235	1979	Road	753	Blue/Black	Original
SB3327	1979	TT	753	New Team	Repaint
SB3505	1980	Road	753	TI-Raleigh	Original
SB3800	1980	Road	753	TI-Raleigh	Repaint
SB4059	1980	Road	753	TI-Raleigh	Repaint
SB4409	1981	Special	753 Ovoid	Blue	Repaint
SB4933	1981	Road	531SL	Blue/Chrome	Repaint
SB4944	1982	Road	531SL	Blue/White	Repaint
SB5084	1982	Cyclo Cross	531SL	TI-Raleigh	Original
SB5377	1982	Road	753	White	Repaint
SB5464	1982	TT	531SL	Gold	Original
SB5794	1983	TT	531c Metric	Red	Original
SB6398	1984	Road	753R	Black	Original
SB6560	1984	Road	531c	New Team	Repaint
SB6827	1984	Road	531c	Red	Original
SB7121	1985	TT	753T	Orange	Repaint
SB7219	1985	Road	531P	Red/Chrome	Original
SB7393	1985	TT	531P	Red/Anthracite	Original
SB7657	1985	Randonneur	753R	Black	Repaint
SB7660	1985	Randonneur	531c	Red	Original
SB8200	1986	Randonneur	531c	Yellow/Blue	Repaint
SB8790	1987	Road Low Profile	531c	New Team	Original
SB8851	1987/1988	Road	753R	Blue	Original
SB8868	1987/1988	Road	753R	Banana	Original
SB8945	1988	Road	753R	Purple/Yellow	Repaint
SB9000	1988	Track Low Profile	753R	Banana	Original
SB9529	1991/1992	Road Low Profile	2070	Purple	Original

"New Team" refers to the new team colours (Panasonic/Weinmann/Pirelli). Some of the years following relocation to Nottingham are still being researched so some of those frames are quoted with a couple of years until more reliable information comes through.

What Next?

As the collection comes together, it gets closer and closer to being *complete. The amount of new arrivals will no doubt slow down but the search for new examples or original frames goes on. I will continue to gather more frames and features to plug the shrinking gaps.

Blogging will always continue – there is still so much information to share. For example, I’m planning a blog post to highlight each SBDU frame feature, type and style in detail… and there are lots of details to cover! RGF, Cinelli CCM, Cinelli SCM, Haden, Single Taper, Double Taper, 1010, 1010/A, 1010/B, 1060, 1053, Shimano SF, Shimano UFP, Vagner, Fischer, Davis, Cinelli CC, SC, SCA, Prugnat S, S4, 62D, Carlton Capella… these are only a few examples…

* I often wonder if I’ll ever reach the point of completion – new information constantly uncovers fresh avenues to seek more frames and add more features.

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