Cycling back to BSA and the Camelbak links to missiles...

If you were to head down the Kingsway in Dundee you may notice a shop catering for anglers at one of the roundabouts, and for many years (it may still be there), on its shopfront sign was the Shimano branding.

The Japanese company, known by cyclists around the world as a producer of cycling components, has its fingers in other pies. Until relatively recently, it also produced golf supplies and snow boarding gear, but now focuses on cycling, fishing tackle and rowing equipment. In fact, many companies we recognise as “cycling” brands either produce or started up with products far removed from bicycles.

The Birmingham Small Arms company, better known to cyclists of a certain vintage as BSA, was a company that initially started out in 1861 making machine guns.

It wasn’t until 1880 that they branched out into making bicycles and their individual components, and the machinery they used for the guns proved remarkably adaptable to the manufacture and machining of bicycle parts in large quantities at low prices.

By 1887, bicycle production ceased, but they continued to make parts until 1936. It wasn’t until 1941 that BSA was approached to produce a folding, lightweight bicycle, named the Parachute Bicycle, that the Airborne Division could utilise in the Second World War.

The first clipless pedal was invented by Charles Hanson in 1895, and 1971, Cino Cinelli designed a more modern clipless pedal, the M71, nicknamed the death cleat. But it was not until the French ski-binding company Look adapted their ski binding technology to bicycle pedals that the clipless pedal became more widely used.

The endorsement of Bernard Hinault using them in his 1985 Tour de France victory sealed the deal and the clipless pedal became accepted in the world of road cycling.

Many other companies diversified from their original product into the world of cycling. For some it wasn’t such a great leap – Fenwicks, who make bike cleaning and lubrication products, started out as a company making cleaning products for caravans.

Others, such as Hamax, are not so obvious – they started out making sledges and mini-skis before adding a hugely popular line of child seats and trailers for carrying children on bikes.

Sometimes the product links can be more contrived and are as a result of corporate consolidation. Selle Royal famed for their saddles, bought Technogel Sleeping who manufacture mattresses, pillows and sleeping mats using the same patented gel as they do in their saddles – they also own Fizik saddles.

The waters can get even murkier and, taking us back full circle to BSA, hydration pack manufacturer Camelbak is owned by Vista Outdoor which is a spin-off from Orbital ATK who make the rocket motor and warhead for the Maverick guided missile.

Join the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at: www.strava.com/clubs/ BlazingSaddlesWeekendCourier Where to ride: Dunkeld Enduro 2020 When: Saturday June 13 2020 Description: Now in its eighth year, the Dunkeld Enduro is a hugely popular downhill mountain bike event that shows off the best of the single track trails in the Dunkeld area.

Highland Perthshire is home to a large community of mountain bikers, many of whom who help out and make this event happen.

Entries for 2020 are opening soon, but if you don’t fancy riding, the organisers are always on the lookout for volunteers to help out on the day.

You can keep track of the details on Facebook @DunkeldEnduro

All downhill from here... Scot descends Birnam Hill, near Dunkeld.