Beautiful Bicycles My Bikes

The Surprising 1981 Jack Taylor Sports

I’ll admit that my initial attraction to Jack Taylor bicycles was superficial. I loved the flamboyant paint, the box striping, and the mid-century modern logo. After a few years of searching, I finally found a Jack Taylor frame in my size in Macon, Georgia. It was a “Sports” model from 1981, and I bought it as a frame and fork. I knew the Taylor would be pretty—white and blue with box white box-lining and the “Mondrian” style downtube logos—but its wonderful performance on the road was unexpected.

The high quality paint and finish work on Jack Taylor bikes was no accident. Although in many ways, the French inspired them, the Taylor brothers weren’t impressed with French finishes. In an interview with Jack, Peggy, and Ken Taylor in the summer 2009 issue of Bicycle Quarterly, Ken says, “The French were good at designing bicycles and making them, but they were hopeless on finish. No matter what you bought in France, the finish was atrocious.” The Taylor bikes have a luminous finish from baking or “stoving” enamel paint. And the demanding pinstriping (or box-striping) was done by Jack Taylor, by hand.

In the Bicycle Quarterly interview mentioned above, I learned about the Taylors’ close ties with American shops and cyclists. In fact, a young American couple, David and Audrey Radmore, played a large role in establishing the Jack Taylor brand in the states. The couple from Stockton, California, had come to Britain on their honeymoon in 1956 with the intention of bicycle touring around Europe. They were directed to the Taylor brother’s works to have a tandem built, and were so taken with the process, that they came the works everyday to watch their bike get built. Audrey ended up designing the iconic “Mondrian” style Jack Taylor logo.  

My 1981 Taylor “Sports”, built relatively late in the Taylor works timeline, exhibits several Taylor trademarks: filet brazing, 73 degree headtube angle with 2.5” of fork rake. After years riding their own bikes, and building bikes with head angles between 72-74 degrees, they had settled on 73 degrees as best for most of the bikes they built. In the Jack Taylor brochure, the Sports model is described as a bike good for “fast club riding and hilly tours.” I’m not sure what I was expecting in the ride of my frame, but I have to say that it completely surprised and delighted me. As many of the Taylor models were aimed at touring and club riders, I expected something comfortable, stout, and perhaps a bit ponderous. What I got was nimble, with a light feeling front end, thin fork blades that seemed to gobble up bad pavement, and a bike I could ride no-handed for extended periods with ease. It lived up to its name, as it was indeed, sporty. Reading about the popularity of British club cycling in the 50s and 60s makes me nostalgic. This British Transport Films production shows the fun and ease of combining a bike outing with a train ride in 1955: 

Another surprise for me, were 27” wheels. I came into road cycling when 27” wheels were deeply out-of-fashion among road riders and in the shop I worked at, I only seemed to encounter them in the form of heavy steel-rimmed department store bikes with equally heavy and poor quality tires. When I got my Taylor frame and unboxed it, I put on a pair of 700c wheels, and sure enough, the brake reach was massive, and the 700c wheels just looked a little small on the bike. I did have a set of nutted modern dual-pivot Tektro brakes that would reach, but they also looked wrong. I remembered that I had a nice set of 27” wheels with red-label Normandy Luxe Competition hubs laced to silver Mavic MA2 rims. I took those wheels and put on a set of tan sidewall Panaracer Pasela 1 1/8” tires I had on hand, and tried them on the Taylor. They looked much better—like they were made for the bike. The big clearances on the Taylor—even with the 27” tires—would make a few frame builders I’ve met cringe. But in riding my Jack Taylor. I learned that the larger clearances don’t negatively affect performance and that big 27” wheels will roll over almost anything. More so than any of my other bikes, my Jack Taylor rewards effort and it has a magic carpet ride quality. In fact, it is so fun and fast feeling that I’m wondering if I should change the build to a racier less tourist configuration?

One last thing that endears me to Jack Taylor bicycles is that several of the Taylor owners I know ride the heck out of them. Here in Tucson, Craig Montgomery, veteran rider of dirt roads in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise County, loads his Taylor up like a pack mule and pedals as far as New Mexico. I also got the pleasure of briefly meeting a silver bearded Holland Jones at Eroica 2016, in April. He was pushing around two very used and beautiful Jack Taylor bikes. Later, reading that Bicycle Quarterly interview, I realized that Holland was one of the first U.S. Taylor importers. By sheer chance, the Taylor Brothers were in San Francisco visiting the Radmores, when they met Holland Jones’ wife (who was out cycling with her baby) on the Golden Gate Bridge. When she found out they made bikes, she said, “will you come home and meet my husband, he’s got a bike shop and he can’t get any?” Holland became a lifelong proponent of Jack Taylor bicycles. He passed away earlier this year; happy pedaling Holland Jones. I think about you when I swing a leg over my JT. Thanks for bringing so many excellent British bicycles to America.

Like the very best of my bikes, riding the Taylor makes you grateful. Grateful to be alive and on a bike, grateful for people like the Taylor brothers who cared to make these lightweight bikes by hand. When I ride my Taylor, I can look down and watch the pencil-skinny fork blades moving–soaking up the bumps and rough spots on the tarmac. It is a svelte and wonderful machine. 

You Might Also Like

17 Comments

  • Reply
    Andy Antipas
    January 1, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    Nice article Scott. I would love a Jack Taylor in my stable!

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      January 2, 2017 at 9:34 am

      I can tell you from experience that if you look long enough, you’ll find one.

  • Reply
    Dennis Johnson
    January 1, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Wonderful post Scott! I saw your Sportsman and Bici Classica (thanks again BTW!) and it was “a beaut”. I also have a Sportsman that I haven’t ridden enough lately as I decided to reinvent it yet again some time ago and got distracted. Holland Jones’ passing, and now your post have convinced me to rebuild it to as close to how it was when I purchased in circa 1972. You see, I and my friends in Stockton CA were students of the Radmores. (A correction, it is Dave and Audrey Radmore). He taught high school, she taught middle school. When my Varsity was stolen – the bicycle that I rode with Dave on longish hilly rides – he and I decided I needed a new bike. We drove to San Francisco to visit his friend, Holland Jones who sold me his own personal “Sportsman” model. Philippe bar and stem, TA crank, Mafac brakes, and Simplex derailleur (I think those may have been a swap out, as was the saddle, a new Brooks). It was my first true lightweight bicycle and it still rides like a dream! If it’s done in time I’ll probably ride it at Eroica California to honor Holland Jones and Fulton Street Cyclery. (By the way, Dave and Audrey are still doing well – relatively – for their ages and health. They always greet us with a smile and warm hug and ask if we’ve been riding. Expect to see them this month when we meet for an annual ride. Dave no longer rides bicycles, however, last year he motorpaced us on his Piaggio 250)

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      January 2, 2017 at 9:32 am

      Thanks for the thoughtful comments Dennis. And, thanks the correction regarding Dave Radmore’s name–I made the correction in the post. I’m curious about you referring to my Taylor model as a “Sportsman”. I’m calling mine a “Sports” just based on the Jack Taylor literature I see on the Taylor serial number registry (blackbirdsf.org).

      How great to have high school teachers who were also cycling enthusiasts and who helped you acquire a special bicycle. I would love to interview the Dave and Audrey about their cyclotouring in the UK and Europe, as well as the scene in California.

  • Reply
    Kenneth Taylor.
    January 2, 2017 at 1:00 pm

    I enjoyed your article on riding a Jack Taylor Cycle, and I am pleased that you had a comfortable ride on the bicycle.
    It is always nice to see people enjoying a good ride on a bicycle all these years after they where built and giving
    good service,
    “Have a Nice Ride” Ken Taylor. B.L.R.C.

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      January 2, 2017 at 3:48 pm

      Thank you Ken. I feel honored to have you comment about my post. Nearly 40 years after you and your brothers made my bike, it still carries me down the road with uncommon comfort and style several times a week.

  • Reply
    Preston Grant
    January 3, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    Scott, Thanks for the fine review of the Jack Taylor Sports. I currently own, and ride, a 1978 Tour of Britain, a 1974 Clubman, and a 1978 tandem. My first Jack Taylor was 1963 touring tandem, which my wife and I picked up at the factory in Stockton on Tees, and the Taylors showed us the same wonderful hospitality that Dave and Audrey experienced a few years earlier. I am really pleased to hear your words of praise for the Sports model that you acquired more for esthetic/appearance reasons than for riding qualities.

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      January 22, 2017 at 9:03 am

      Preston, Thanks for adding your comment. How wonderful that you were able to visit the works in Stockton on Tees when the operation was in full swing. I find the warm relations that the Taylors have maintained with their American customers one of the attractive aspects of their brand.

      All best,
      Scott

  • Reply
    Ian Bradshaw
    March 30, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    I too am looking…

  • Reply
    Pete T
    March 4, 2018 at 11:47 am

    Great article, thanks. Although I have been riding seriously for 3 decades I am only a recent fan of Jack Taylor. I grew up in Stockton-On-Tees but was a non cyclist and was unaware of them. As my bike collection has grown so too has my appreciation of true quality and last year I was fortunate enough to gain ownership of a Taylor tandem frame. It is truly special and admired daily but, alas, until i can find enough space to do so there are no plans to build it up as a full cycle.
    On the strength of its workmanship I am now on the hunt for a solo frame.

  • Reply
    david slaer
    August 8, 2018 at 3:46 am

    Hi all
    there is a JT meet at Swainby, North Yorkshire
    http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/calendar.html
    25/27 August 2018. Ken will be there to start the rides.

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      August 8, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks for the notice David. I wish I could attend.

      Scott

  • Reply
    Grant Hildebrand
    April 25, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    I had a Jack Taylor for many years, built 1983, serial 8034, a “Tour of Britain” model. I had had two Bob Jacksons, delightful bikes, very responsive, and an Erickson, custom made, likewise a very fine cycle. The Jack Taylor was a surprise in combining the Bob Jacksons’ responsiveness with a remarkable comfort. It was uniquely satisfying, and became my favorite of all the many bicycles I’ve owned. I became paralyzed below the waist five years ago, and gave the Jack Taylor to a local museum, but I keep the Carradice seat bag that carried so many lunches, so many cameras, so many sweaters. It’s said that money can’t buy happiness, but the dollars paid for that bicycle brought me a lot of it. Grant Hildebrand Seattle.

    • Reply
      The Beautiful Bicycle
      April 25, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      Grant, thanks for your thoughtful comment and for sharing your impressions. For me too, a good bicycle can bring a lot of happiness per dollar spent. The trips, and the memories, are worth every cent in my book. Which museum has your Jack Taylor? I’d like to see it if I’m up in Seattle.

  • Reply
    Steve Lewis
    June 11, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    I purchased two Jack Taylor’s from Holland Jones in the late 1970s when he ran the Fulton Street Cyclery in San Francisco. One is a curved tube and the other a touring model. I still have — and ride — them both . Holland and his wife were very knowledgeable and a pleasure to do business with.

  • Reply
    Grant Hildebrand
    August 17, 2020 at 11:12 am

    I’m terribly late in replying re the museum that now has my Jack Taylor. It’s the Velo shop here in Seattle, Lloyd Tamura is the owner, a fine person with a fine shop. I’d be pleased to send a photo if there is a convenient way to do so. Grant Hildebrand Seattle

  • Reply
    Max
    August 22, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    Nice write up and interesting comments as well. I’m eyeing a Jack Taylor in my size (~60-62, depending on the method), but as I want this to be my daily driver (I’m trying to stick with 150-200 mi/wk), I am somewhat apprehensive about the 27” wheels (good tire availability) and the rather large asking price, for the paint is not original on that example, which makes me wonder about what structural or other gremlins may have lead to that repaint, assuming it’s a Taylor and not some ‘70s Mirage painted to look like one. Anyone have any words of advice?

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.