EN
88
O P ED IA
W.R. PASHLEY LTD nce upon a time, in the irreverent swinging sixties, Dr Alex Moulton introduced a bicycle which challenged the very basics of conventional cycle design. The Moulton's small wheels and suspension system caught the spirit of the time, were a great popular success, and made Moulton bicycles the second largest frame builder in Britain. A rash of cheap and nasty 'me-too' small-wheeled bikes, with sluggish fat tyres, muddied the market, and, for this and other reasons, Moulton production ceased. The ever inventive Alex Moulton returned to cyclemaking in the late 1980s, with a striking space-frame design, still based on the concept of (relatively!) small wheels and suspension. (The AM Jubilee is featured in the Classics section of this Encycleopedia, where we cover many further Moulton design points). The AM range is popular with connoisseurs, but is not intended for the kind of volume sales which Moulton enjoyed in the 60s. Now, however, the Moulton All-Purpose Bike, sharing characteristics of the noble AM machines, is being built under licence from Alex Moulton by the long established British firm of WR. Pashley, at a price which attracts a wide range of users.
The Moulton APB has, like the AM range, a distinctive, strong and rigid latticed frame, which splits into two parts for storage or transport. The wheels are bigger, at 20". This size is appropriate to a bicycle designed for multi-purpose use, and 20" wheels and tyres are readily available. The stainless steel leading-link front suspension is adjustable for riders' weight and damping prefer ence. The pivoted rear triangle has a bonded-rubber
cone spring which suits a wide load range. The APB was first produced, like Ford motor cars, in black, with a choice of hub or derailleur gears. This year there has been an explosion of colours and specifications. There is a three-speed version with calliper brakes; there's a Sachs 14-speed, a Shimano 14-Speed or a SunTour 16-speed, all with cantilever brakes, in colours such as bright red, brilliant blue, cerise, aquamarine or gunmetal. This policy of offering machines equipped with groups of components from different manufacturers is an important means of preserving consumer choice. The SunTour and Sachs machines have the majority of components sourced from the respective manufacturer. Optional extras on all machines include front and rear carriers, mudguards and transport bags. Nigel Sadler is editor of the Moultoneer, the magazine of the Moulton Bicycle Club. He uses an APB for 99.9% of his cycling. He chose the 5-speed version, considering it the best option for London riding. He feels that it lives up to its name as an All Purpose Bicycle, and its sturdiness gives him confidence: "I have ridden down a flight of steps on it, something I would never have dreamt of doing on any of my other Moultons." The Moulton bicycle of the 1960s was an immediate success and brought new thinking to a wide market. Its attractive descendant is set to make a similar impact.
portable
KINGDOM
MOULTON
LAPB 3
Above: Leading-link
front suspension
Left: Front and rear carriers are optional Below: When fully dismantled the APB fits into two travel-bags