Chris Walker's 1991 Milk Race-winning Banana Falcon

Retro revamp proves steel’s still got it

- Andy Jones

It’s 30 years since Chris Walker won the Milk Race in dominant style on this elegant-looking steel race bike. Afterwards, it was sold to Dave Marsh at the Universal Cycle Centre in Maltby, South Yorkshire, where it has been on display ever since.

Recently, Walker, now 56, decided to give it a new lease of life, so he bought it back, had it resprayed and rebuilt it as faithfully as possible so that he and his son Joey, who is the national criterium champion, could enjoy it all over again as a cafe racer with a big backstory.

The respray work was done by Jon Lightfoot of J&R Bodyworks – who normally has the likes of Aston Martins and Porsches in his workshop. A keen cyclist himself, Lightfoot said it was “an honour” to take the job.

The Falcon team frame is made from Reynolds 753 tubing – even in 1991 this was the best tubing there was. And after spending 30 years indoors, it was of course still in great condition.