osco53

BRC BIKES - From road bikes to mountain bikes, shifters to wheels, shoes to helmets, we?ll get you rolling.

1975 BRC Super MX - BMXmuseum.com

elmore leonard

boyes and rosser glidin.
chromolly frame and fork. looks like it was made in Japan.

fietsbob

No Bike company Made all the components in house , Nottingham Raleigh factory was closer than many ..

that was the 40's and 50's..

shamobius

They made mountain bikes too, real mid-level quality, but strong, and heavy too if you're into that kind of thing...

aajohnes1s

Anyone know how I might tell what year my BRC bike was manufactured?

rickpaulos

Got this bike:
BRC Gonzo. nice handmade fillet brazed cromo frame. Circa 1990 or so based on the under stay brakes.



more photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133549...57663589816116

Favouriteginger

I just scored this beaut second hand but I hardly know anything about it! The seller told me his grandpa gave it to him 20 ish years ago and as far as I know only the tires and cables have been replaced. It sports some very old and beat up cork handles, a seemingly primative gear shifter, the BRC crest logo on the front, and a rainbow decal that says "Quality from the Orient designed by BRC" and the word "cruiser" painted on the chain guard, with a very laid back cruiser style frame.
I plan on tuning it up further, making it an even more comfortable ride than it already is, and perhaps touching up the paint (I've got a friend who even does custom pinstriping if I want to throw some lines down). I would love to know if anyone could tell me what the model and year might be, I'm absolutely smitten with my new old bike and need more bragging rights!

abone

The second bike I purchased as young adult was a BRC mountain bike in 1981 or '82. Purchased new at Steveston Bike shop in Richmond B.C., owned and run by hippie brothers, in an old converted church. The building is still there as a charity thrift shop....not sure where the brothers went. It was a great shop. Can't remember what I paid, but I didn't have much money then so couldn't have been expensive. Less than $500? I do recall one of the brothers telling me it was a better buy than more expensive bikes (Apollo and whatever else was around at that time) with better components. They were correct!

Soon after buying it, I was transferred to Northern B.C. and subsequently to other locations in Western Canada. I have no idea how many km's I rode that bike but a lot. It also did double duty holding a carrier on the back for my three kids. Given I always lived on the edge of wilderness, the bike was on trails 90% of the time. Over 25 years of owning the bike I replaced the hand grips (once), added bar ends, brake pads (once), and repacked the hubs and that was it. Bottom bracket was never opened up. The bike was a beast, and a pleasure to ride. No suspension of course. All black and chrome and gorgeous. Damn I can still feel what it rode like.

Sad end to the story....we were getting ready for one of our multiple moves, and by this time I had a collection of bikes, mostly cheapies. My wife was giving some to the local firehall to repair for the needy. Went out into the garage and asked her "where's my mountain bike"...."I gave it to the firemen as we talked about". "Not that $%#%&%#!!! bike!!!" Grrrr, I'd still be riding it.

I've got some old pics around here somewhere...will have to dig them out sometime and get teary eyed.

Good thing she didn't give them my 1978 Nishiki Superbe, bought new when I was 22 and still own.

Ironically now retired we live about a km away from that old bike shop and my wife (same one) donates clothes and other odds and sods there regularly. No bikes though!!

prairiepedaler

I ride a BRC Explorer and have for about 6 years, even in a Winnipeg Winter. It's the go-to packmule bike and receives the most use. Has a healthy wheelbase with long stays. Probably was sort of mid bottom of the line.

TheRodeWarrior

I'm currently working on a BRC mountain bike at our local Bicycles for Humanity that is very similar to the Gonzo posted above. Shimano Exage derailleurs, heavy steel frame. Ladies version. Try to post a picture or two next week as we only meet Wednesdays.

bOsscO

If anyone wants a BRC Explorer mountain bike there's one for sale in Vancouver; https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds...155376800.html

Pics show it's in decent shape

prairiepedaler

For posterity, posted today locally is a Road Ace model.

Here is a made in canada road bike in decent shape - it rides and shifts well - it just need the rear brake cable replaced - it is a brand called BRC which was made in British columbia in the 70s and 80 - it has been stored inside for its life so it is in good shape - it is a very light bike - easy to haul up the stairs for apt dwellers if you google BRC bikes you will get some good information on these bikes

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-road-bike/wi...ike/1527503059

Mister Donut

Hi all,

New guy here. Came here looking for information on BRC bikes as they seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

Some incredibly detailed info here, wow. I thought they were in Richmond for some reason, I know Rocky Mountain and Brodie used to be. I met Paul Brodie once way back in the day when they were open to factory tours, and he gave be a Brodie patch. Anyway, straying off topic here.

I've had my BRC Kamikaze since grade 8, which was in 1990 I think? Bought it frame only from Tailwind Cycles because that's all I could afford at the time, and I slowly pieces it together. I got this model because it had the sloping top tube that resembled the higher end Rocky Mountain bikes of that era (which I could not afford at the time).

It needs a tune up for sure, but it still rolls, it was always kept indoors so it's not in horrible shape considering. I was going to post pics, but it seems like I need to make 10 posts first.

prairiepedaler

I just buried the BRC Explorer I rode around for 8 years due to a metal failure in the headtube, as mentioned in this thread. FYI, this frame used a 128mm axle length, 22mm stem bar (Specialized brand too) and a 26.6mm seatpost. The fork is a Tange 5F. You know, it was kind of timely because I wanted to get rid of a few bikes. But, inconvenient. And, curiously, the bottom bracket was completely pooched! After taking the cranks off I gave the spindle a spin and "crunch...grind". I think a bearing might have fractured or something. Who knows how long it was like that and how many extra watts that ate up while pedaling. Yeesh.

GoldenBC

I've got a BRC Suburban that is in desperate need for new tires but I can't figure out what tire size these are. A tape measure pulls 603mm from outside to outside (which may not be deadly accurate because of the hub). I guess the ISO standard is from bead set to bead set but I don't have the tires off at the moment. I would assume that would be 5-10mm smaller. There are a lot of obscure tire sizes in and around that size.

I kind of feel like it is a 590 iso tire > sheldonbrown. com/harris/tires/590. html

curbtender

If you have the old tires it should be stamped in the sidewall. 559 is the usual standard for 26".

Mirzaali8078

The bulk of Singletracks readers (and by rough extension, mountain bikers) are aged 24-44: 49% compared to just 30.2% of the US population at large.

BiciMan

Nice contribution, Schooner!

Sheik_Yerbouti

I found a somewhat functional BRC mountain bike for free on Kijiji a couple years ago. I cleaned everything up, removed a bunch of rust, threw on some old parts I had lying around and now I use it as beater that I can leave locked up at the bar and other sketchy places.