Restoring Mandy Bishop's world-beating bike

There are hundreds of vintage bikes, but none are more important to the history of British cycling than Mandy Bishop’s world championship-winning machine from 1982.

Mandy has kept the bike for 40 years, and it’s now undergoing a thorough restoration in the hands of Brian Digby of Classic and Vintage Cycles in Hadfield, Derbyshire.

“I gave it to Brian to restore two years ago, but Covid has delayed things. We’ve been trying to gather together all the authentic kit to go on it,” Mandy explains. “We’re getting there. It’s just a case of putting it together now.”

Fresh from being repainted and looking absolutely beautiful, the frame is ready to be built up with a new set of handbuilt wheels and period-correct components from the likes of Campagnolo and Mavic.

“Over the coming few weeks I hope to record and post a documented story of the restoration and some great information about Mandy, the world championship bike and a little background into one of the greatest cycling achievements of the of the past 40 years,” says Brian.

Although badged Falcon, the frame was made by renowned frame builder, Andy Thompson. “His wife raced, and he was very good at designing frames for women,” says Mandy. “When I started riding for Hull Thurday Road Club, which was sponsored by Falcon, he gave permission for it to be resprayed to match the team’s bikes.”

We look forward to following the bike’s restoration over the next few weeks, and seeing the finished article on the startline at Goodwood this August!