Monday, October 22, 2018

I Like Alf...New Alf Engers book

I have just finished reading  'I Like Alf' the new
book out of the life and cycling career of 'King' Alf Engers.
(available here), what a great read, if you wern't a fan of Alf 
before reading this book, you will be by the end. Alf is really 
from the old school of top level amateur racing cyclist's.
Ton's of natural talent for sure, but probably more importantly 
an iron will to compete and be the best that drives him to
 overcome even the most adverse hurdles.
 I can thoroughly recommend it.
 (and that's not just because I am a fan boy!)

As anyone who has read my blog over the years will
know, I have long had a strong interest in the UK time trial
scene, from the early fixed wheel years through to the
radical low pros in of the early to mid nineties.
So I am of course a huge King Alf fan, and was really
looking forward to this book coming out.
Out of the blue a couple of months ago, I received an 
email from the author Paul Jones, asking if he could use
a couple of photos of my homage bike to Alf Engers and 
Alan Shorter in his soon to be released book. I was more than 
pleased to oblige, but I did have one request.
Alf Enger/Shorter replica (more a homage) in the book.

I asked Paul if I could send him a piece of clear sign writers 
vinyl to him in the UK, and ask Alf if he would sign it 
for the top tube of the Shorter, he was happy too.
Alf Engers signature on clear vinyl.
What can I say, Alf's signature on the top tube of the Shorter I 
built as a homage to him (and Alan), it doesn't get much 
better than this when you are a collector/restorer.

Some more photos of the Shorter on Classic Lightweights here