<\/p>\nIt\u2019s debatable whether any of these innovations enhanced performance or merely served as effective marketing USPs, particularly in the 1930s, when displaying brand logos on frames was prohibited for certain races.<\/p>\n
Latest Videos From![](\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/4av7rcsjyn1645111080.svg\")
![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5ETHhmpBMY6t5NHM3sXnFD.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Richard Hoddinott is one of the UK’s foremost collectors of British and European bikes from before and after WW2. His collection includes multiple French machines as well as bikes ridden by some of the biggest names in British cycling from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Hoddinott keeps all these bikes in their original conditions, and still rides many of them. <\/p>\n
This particular Bates, dating from 1938, is a range-topping Volante in track guise; a rare one at that. \u201cIt\u2019s exceptional because it hasn\u2019t been drilled for brakes,\u201d confirms current owner Richard Hoddinott of vintage specialists Velo Pages.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite being intended for the track, almost all of them were. The serial number is also unusual because it\u2019s simply 257. Usually, the numbers are preceded by two letters, which makes me wonder whether this frame was specially made for a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n
You may like<\/p>\n
\n
![\"Bates](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/nBJsXg4TJhXcmA4iDWK5AC.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n
The Cantiflex tubing was exclusively produced for Bates by Reynolds. Examine the image and you\u2019ll notice that the primary tubes swell in the centre before tapering gently towards the lugs. Similar to Reynolds\u2019 double-butted tubing, the walls are thicker at the ends as well. Bates claimed that this unique profile enhanced strength and rigidity, \u2018entirely eliminating whip\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n
![\"Bates](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/maMuNhccsqmTAmm9tNg57C.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n
The flamboyant Diadrant forks are a delight. According to Hoddinott, they\u2019re better at absorbing the hit from rough surfaces and even potholes (unlikely on a track, I know), enabling composed riders to deliver more power.<\/p>\n
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n
The wheels aren\u2019t original, but they are stunning, period-correct pieces. \u201cThey\u2019re laminated maple rims from Constrictor, made by Fairbanks Boston of Paris,\u201d says Hoddinott. \u201cThe large flange hubs are from BH Airlite, who, interestingly, would attach large steel flanges to small flange hubs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While the diamond-shaped frame steered bicycle design on a fairly straight course from the 1880s, its invention arguably…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":694531,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-694530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-cycling","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=694530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/694531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Bates](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d3p2YiuFhiJrPvBF4caFAC.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n