About Us

Simon Aske

My love of cycling began in 1990 when, not having a great deal of money, I began cycling to work. Work was 6 miles away where I started working with Carbon Fibre. It was there that I came up with the idea of a true monocoque bicycle frame.

Pictured in 1992 is the first mock up, to test the single rear arm design that simplified molding techniques. From there, the design was tidied up, and was even tested by then Olympic Champion Chris Boardman. The design worked well but to make it commercially available was proving a headache.

In 1993, Hotta Design was set up and I reverted back to a conventional rear layout that would enable any wheel to be used. The design proved a success, with myself catching Jeremy Hunt (Benesto) for 1 minute on its first outing (it was Boxing Day). With Richard Prebble winning the national 10, 25 and 50 mile distances the bike was gathering a growing reputation.

Chris Boardman was the next to jump on, which required a new fork and handlebar setup to suit his ultra low position. In the year of 1996 I was supplying forks to the Festina team including Richard Virenque, and to Motorola including Lance Armstrong wow.

While at Colin Lewis Cycles I have built bikes and wheels for renowned bike breakers Jeremy Hunt, Yanton Baker and new national Junior champion Peter Johnston.
I'm afraid my racing Palmares are nowhere near Colin's but I have had my first road race win this year here. Don't lose the enjoyment of riding a bike.


Happy riding

Simon

Colin Lewis

I started my cycling career when I was 19 years old. After two years of competing, I was selected for the 1960 'Milk Race', where I subsequently finished 7th overall. Over the following few years, I have competed as part of the Great British team in the French 'Tour de L'Avenir' and the Spanish San Sabastien World Road Championship. I reached the pinnacle of my amateur career after selection for the Tokyo Olympic Games (which I completed as the highest-ranking British rider), and the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, where I narrowly missed out on the opportunity of a medal. I turned professional in 1967, where I finished the 'Tour de France' for the British National Team in the top 100. I also remain the only professional cyclist to emerge victorious from the National Professional Road Race Championship in Essex for two consecutive years. At the end of my cycling career I managed to secure a total of 250 victories, 38 of which as a professional, including the prestigious 'Golden Wheel Trophy' and 'Linz am Rhine'. Despite my retirement, I was determined to stay affiliated with every aspect from the world of cycling, and, in 1976, I established the Colin Lewis cycle dealership. Simultaneously to my position as the shop proprietor, I was appointed as the first manager of the New Eastway Cycle Circuit in Hackney, and spent the following 7 years as Coaching Director for the South West Centre of Excellence. Today, I now spend my time concentrating on my cycle store, and serving as President of my own club, the Mid Devon Cycling club.

Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.