Birth of Shimano

I remember buying my first road bike. I bought it second-hand in 1973 for £5. I had no idea of the make as it had been hand-painted red by my friend. It was at least 20 years old then, and only five-speed. But it was a racer with a derailleur.

After riding the bike for about two weeks, the old trusty Huret derailleur fell apart. (My son looks at me in utter disbelief when I tell him you had to pedal backwards to change gear.) My friend’s dad tried to repair it but said, “Sorry son, you need a new derailleur.”

So off went my friend and I to the local bike shop. The man in the shop said he did not sell Huret derailleurs any more, but he had a Shimano one which cost £3.

“Sounds Japanese,” I said. “Are they any good?” I had never heard of them. He said, “It is Japanese, and they are very good.” I think he might have been right.

Steve Goodyer, email