Ron Cooper (bicycle framebuilder)
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Ron Cooper is a noted English bicycle framebuilder.
[edit] Background
Ron Cooper has been building frames since he was fifteen years old, starting in 1947 when he began a full apprenticeship at A.S. Gillott Cycles, London, England. He learned his craft from frame builders in England, most notably Jim Collier. He was an avid racing cyclist; he was selected for the National Cycling Team, The R.A.F. Cycling Team, and later, for the London Center Team in the 1952 Tour of Britain (Milk Race).
In 1967, Ron left A.S. Gillott to build frames under his own name, and by 1970, he set up a small shop in Honor Oak Park, S.East London. Ron continues to work today in Dartford, about 20 minutes from his old shop in Honor Oak Park. This is a single-person business, making steel frames using the traditional method of free hand brazing rather than using jigs. Ron avoids modern materials such as aluminium and composites.
