Sad news.. Ron Cooper passed away
12-12-12, 05:30 AM
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Sad news.. Ron Cooper passed away
Just in from CR
"Ron Cooper passed away this morning. He was 82 I believe. He was
apprenticed to Gillotts aged 17 in 1947. He had been involved in a car
accident on his way to work at Colourtech in Crayford, Kent some weeks ago
but was back in hospital for further tests when a lump was found on his
groin. I have no further details.
Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland"
may he rest in peace.
"Ron Cooper passed away this morning. He was 82 I believe. He was
apprenticed to Gillotts aged 17 in 1947. He had been involved in a car
accident on his way to work at Colourtech in Crayford, Kent some weeks ago
but was back in hospital for further tests when a lump was found on his
groin. I have no further details.
Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland"
may he rest in peace.
12-12-12, 05:43 AM
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There seems to have been a spate of recent passings. This one is also quite sad.
12-12-12, 06:52 AM
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Wow. Very sad. Thanks for sharing.
12-12-12, 07:13 AM
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Sad times, so many of the great names passing away in a short period this year. Godspeed, Ron.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
12-12-12, 12:30 PM
#5
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A nice interview available here
https://thebikeshow.net/ron-cooper-on-ron-cooper/
Ron Cooper is a legend in frame-building. He started as a fifteen-year-old apprentice with A.S. Gillott, and his frames have come to define the very best of the British lightweight style. He talks about the early days learning from master frame-builders like Jim Collier and Bill Philbrook, his own racing career and his commercial success in the US in the 1970s. Along the way he explains the technique and motivation needed to hand build more than 7,000 racing frames. Having turned 79 in June this year, Ron Cooper is still building three mornings a week.
[Sadly no more]
Look out for the cover story in Rouleur 19 on Ron Cooper, with photos (including the above) by Nadav Kander.
https://www.rouleur.cc/issue-19?gallery=0
https://thebikeshow.net/ron-cooper-on-ron-cooper/
Ron Cooper is a legend in frame-building. He started as a fifteen-year-old apprentice with A.S. Gillott, and his frames have come to define the very best of the British lightweight style. He talks about the early days learning from master frame-builders like Jim Collier and Bill Philbrook, his own racing career and his commercial success in the US in the 1970s. Along the way he explains the technique and motivation needed to hand build more than 7,000 racing frames. Having turned 79 in June this year, Ron Cooper is still building three mornings a week.
[Sadly no more]
Look out for the cover story in Rouleur 19 on Ron Cooper, with photos (including the above) by Nadav Kander.
https://www.rouleur.cc/issue-19?gallery=0
12-12-12, 12:32 PM
#6
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
This has been a very very bad week... Moulton, Shankar, and now Cooper.
12-12-12, 12:41 PM
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82, on his way to work, I hope to be so useful at that age.
12-12-12, 01:42 PM
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Sad news indeed. I was not aware of Ron Cooper or his frames until I saw some examples posted here on this forum. Those that I've seen are some of the finest looking frames on BF. (DMNHCAGrandPrix's Ron Cooper is particularly stunning.) May he rest in peace.
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'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
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12-12-12, 04:04 PM
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12-12-12, 05:02 PM
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Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I know that he had cut back to working 3-4 days a week and had hired an assistant to help with some of the work... his output was astonishing in one respect but in another... was was truly a master of his craft and I regarded him as the greatest living frame builder.
And I hang out in some good company.
I feel very lucky to own a Ron Cooper, it is without a doubt the finest bicycle I have ever owned and will never part with it.
And I hang out in some good company.
I feel very lucky to own a Ron Cooper, it is without a doubt the finest bicycle I have ever owned and will never part with it.
12-12-12, 06:48 PM
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He will be remembered by all the frames with his name on , a fitting tribute ! RIP Ron.
12-13-12, 11:14 AM
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He was a master of his craft.
I just saw these two listed for sale b4 I read this.
https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3468263631.html
12-13-12, 12:49 PM
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I've always wanted a Cooper. In 1981 I bought a Gordon because Ron Cooper had such a long lead time for his frames. I'd buy the one in Austin above if I was in the area to pick it up. Bravo, Ron Cooper, bravo!!!
12-13-12, 06:42 PM
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There is a very nice looking Ron Cooper on Seattle CL for sale. It's located in Salem, OR and is 53cm size.
12-13-12, 08:43 PM
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Sad indeed. I snagged a super clean Trek with campy bits all over it which was way too small for me so I sold the frame and fork for what I bought the whole bike for and now have everything to build my cooper up to make it legit. I do need to paint it as the decals are gone and the paint is pretty scratched up but all and all the frame is nice, paint is too where not scratched. I ordered decals and just need to take it off to the painter. Ron cooper frames are by far a total work of art. Just about every one I have seen is different from the other, some in a lot of ways others in minor ways but I have never seen two exactly alike. Not saying there aren't any but everyone I have personally seen was different in some way or another but awesome by all means. I snagged mine off Craigslist by accident for $70 and didn't even know who he was at the time and that's how I found out about him. Mine has the C surrounded by a diamond on the down tube. I sold about $150 worth of parts off of it so am into it and the campy stuff for about -$30 or -$40 or so. how sweet is that? After I build up the campy hubs on new rims and spokes, the brooks saddle, decals and paint I should have about $300 to $400 in it total but I figure it will be worth a good $1200 to $2000 give or take. I have actually owned the bike for about 2 years now and it rides sweet!
12-13-12, 09:32 PM
#16
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
We had a beautiful Ron Cooper donated to our local co-op... it dates to '76-77 and has all first year Dura Ace bits save for a Cyclone rear d and would say it is far nicer then my own condition wise... think it is 57-58cm square.
If people are interested they should pm me and I will facilitate as it is not mine to sell, but it needs a good home where it will be appreciated.
I was rather stunned when I saw that this bike had been donated but we have had some pretty stellar bicycles come in... this would be the nicest of them all.
If people are interested they should pm me and I will facilitate as it is not mine to sell, but it needs a good home where it will be appreciated.
I was rather stunned when I saw that this bike had been donated but we have had some pretty stellar bicycles come in... this would be the nicest of them all.
12-13-12, 09:35 PM
#17
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
A friend of mine here is a collector of old CCM bicycles and picked up an un-built Reynold's 531 (CCM) frame set and sent it to England to have his friend Ron build up the bike for him.
It has to be the nicest CCM on the planet.
It has to be the nicest CCM on the planet.
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