BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Moulton has marked its Golden jubilee with a gathering at the UK manufacturer’s base with guests such as Sir James Dyson and Lord Norman Foster paying tribute to the bicycle.
On the 12th of November 1962, Alex Moulton unveiled his revolutionary small-wheeled, full suspension bicycle
at the Earl’s Court Cycle Show.
At the milestone event, historian Tony Hadland narrated a timeline of the evolution of the Moulton bicycle through the decades, illustrated by bicycles and appropriately-dressed models to transport the audience from the swinging sixties to the present day.
Other commentators included record-breaking cyclists David Duffield and John Woodburn – it was Duffield who proved that the Moulton was a true performance machine by breaking the Cardiff to London speed record in 1962, completing the ride of 162 miles in 6 hours 42 minutes.
Industrial designer Sir James Dyson paid a warm tribute to Dr. Moulton: “Alex came to lecture to the Dyson
engineers about ten years ago and he showed us his engineering note books. They were full of lists of empirical
testing of products, long before you actually start to engineer and design what you’re about to do. And this is
wonderful practice; it’s not old fashioned practice, it’s modern practice on how to engineer a well-engineered
product. So thank you for setting such a good example to our [Dyson] engineers."
Special ‘Moulton Jubilee’ leather saddles were presented by Richard Grigsby (ex-Moulton racer and founder
of Cyclescheme) to Dr. Alex Moulton, Sir James Dyson and Tony Hadland.
Following video salutations from bicycle dealers and distributors overseas, Shaun Moulton spoke both of the past and of the future; the recent growth and rejuvenation of the Moulton Bicycle Company; of new designs and investment in research and development.
Lord Norman Foster (via video link) provided the final words: “The fiftieth anniversary of the Moulton bike –
what an occasion, what an anniversary, what an icon. Synonymous with the Mini, the mini-skirt – the mini bike.
So, heartiest congratulations – great occasion, great bike. And also great to ride, I have to add.”
