Silk Hope & McLean Bicycle Serial Number Registry

Updated 9.16.2025      
For the full story, visit the Classic Rendezvous Silk Hope/McLean page

     In 1972, Mclean (1953-1983) travelled to Holdsworth in the UK & learned to build frames. He returned to North Carolina and set up his shop by late 1973. His brand was named after the rural farming town of Silk Hope, NC. He lived nearby in similar small community of Saxapahaw. In the late 1970s, he decided to have a second brand, McLean, which he would offer with fewer custom details and offer for a slightly better price. Within a very short time, he realized he was spending as much time on the new brand, so he just retired the Silk Hope designation.

Frame sizes are as-provided by owner or submitter.
McLean used "center-to-top" seat tube measurements ("British style.")

                interpreting the 5 digit serial numbers:
   M prefix = McLean (not Silk Hope & therefore 1979 or later.)
   1st two digits = day of the month completed
   2nd set of two digits = month "
   Last digit = last number of year (1976 would be "6")
         (Special thanks to With Sherman Coventry)
 

Owner

Description, special features

Serial number

Estimated year of manufacture
1 Henry Fonvielle "McLean’s first frame (I think).  He made it for himself but when he made himself a new one he gave it to me." (Henry is McLean's younger brother) 0265
(Doesn't fit later pattern)		  1972?
2 Nick Ozerov Bought from son of orig owner (now deceased) for whom McLean made it as a custom touring. Solidly built but not as sophisticated in detail as later models. This is a very, very early frame set. None The orig owners son thought 1972?
3 McLean's sister "Silk Hope never built up! This frame belongs to McLean's sister, a friend of mine who received the frame just after he died. She thought McLean had bartered the frame to Alan Taylor, a graphic artist who had done work for McLean." Jim Mincher  Pictures 2810
(Doesn't fit later pattern)		 1973?
4 Mike Dayton "Perfect Pleasure" 57.5 x 57.5 cm. Original owner, Dan Borden 402 9081
(Doesn't fit pattern)		 1974?
5 Dale Brown "Perfect Pleasure"  57 x 57.  1511
(Doesn't fit pattern)		 1974?
6 Sam Eckhardt Built in 1974. "Delivered to me in March of 1975 1212(4?)
(Doesn't fit later pattern)		 1974?
7 Nancy Ross Williams Touring, orig owner who was McLean's girl friend at time. 28025  Feb 28, 1975
8 John Poplett Road, burgundy. Purchased at Turin bicycle shop, downtown Chicago 21035 Mar 21, 1975
9 Cy Hogue Road racing. Said by the owner to be the 1st racing frame; McLean had made only touring models before.  Pictures 02055 May 2, 1975
10 Richard McGough Road, orig owner "... made it for me in June of 1975." 10065 June 10, 1975
11 Bill Johnson   0235? 1975?
12 Diane Davis Road, midnight blue Silk Hope. Bought used 1977 08315
(thought to have first 4 digits transposed from later pattern?)		 Aug 31, 1975?
13 David Frederiksen Road 22095 Sept 17, 1975
14 Dale Brown Racing, Orig. owner, fastback stays w blind binder bolt, DuBois lugs. Pictures 17105 Oct 17, 1975
15 Karen Rawls Road, 53 cm seat tube, 56 cm top 18016 Jan 18, 1976
16 David Mills Road racing 01026 Feb 1, 1976
17 Tom Mills Road racing 02026 Feb 2,1976
18 Rance Singleton Road, 54.5 x 55.5 road Pictures 18066  June 18, 1976
19 Sherman Coventry "Perfect Pleasure", Mack truck green 63 cm 15076 July 15, 1976
20 Bill Remillard
Road, 59cm, Ascot Blue originally for Lawrence Killingsworth at $416.68  from the The Clean Machine in Chapel Hill, NC
 01116 Nov 1, 1976
21 Phil Wintermute Road, "Petty blue", from Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro 09116 Nov 9, 1976
22 Paul Normandin   22116 Nov 22, 1975
23 Jack Gabus Perfect Pleasure w Dubois lugs, Wagner crown, Campagnolo 1010A dropouts, Reynolds 531 db. 54.5 cm seat tube (c-to-top) x 56 cm top tube. Orig owner Chuck Cotter via Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro  Pictures 23037 Mar 23, 1977
24       ? Tandem with double tubes connecting bottom brackets. One of the 3 tandems McLean made. Pictures   23047 April 23, 1977
25 Chuck Lewis Road frame used for many years as a commuter Pictures 27067 June 6, 1977
26 Dale Brown Touring, Nervex Series Legere lugs. Via Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC. Orig. owner.  Pictures 19087  Aug 19, 1977
27 Thomas Adams Touring 531, 63 cm c-to-t (McLean decals added) Pictures 12097 Sept 12, 1977
28 Todd Jenkins Original owner, white Pictures 11117 Nov 11, 1977
29 Bill Kloos Perfect Pleasure 60 cm x 60 cm 01038 March 1, 1978
31 Ken Toda Road, w fastback seat stays & full sloping fork crown Pictures 21038 March 21, 1978
32 Pete McKay 2nd owner, sold by cycles de ORO in 1993. 59.5 silver blue  Pictures 0629250
(Doesn't fit pattern)		 ?
33       ? From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M23038  Mar 23, 1978
34 Tim McDonald  Road, light blue  Picture M21048 April 21, 1978
35 David Goldman Road, blue, w Campy headset, SR bar and stem, Suntour ft. der, Shimano rear, DiaCompe brake set. M22048 April 22,1978
36 Mike Dayton Road, original for Richard Lawrence. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC  Pictures 28048  April 28, 1978
37 Jack Gabus Resurrected after found totally crashed. Reynolds 531 Cinelli lugs.  From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M07058 May 7, 1978
38 Jack Mitchell From Toga Bike Shop  Greensboro, NC 15058

  May 15,  1978
39   Road, orig. for Syndee Lowdermilk. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M19068 June 19, 1978
40 Eddie Herndon Perfect Pleasure. From  Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M21068  June 21, 1978
41 Diego Antonio Moore Road 55 x 55 , Columbus tubing w fastback stays. Orig for John Kraus. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC Pictures 28068.0  June 28, 1978
42

"AK"

 Perfect Pleasure blue metallic. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC Pictures M26088 Aug 26, 1978
43 Jack Tharp Tandem, "mocca-reddish" M22098 Sept 22, 1978
44 Doug Stephens Road racing 23108 Oct 23, 1978
45 Bill Eberle Probably "Perfect Pleasure", Blue 23-1/2" M09118 Nov 9, 1978
46 Scott Swimmer

Perfect Pleasure design. The last "Silk Hope" made. Note unique serial number.  Scott, being a close friend, had a hand in it's finishing.  Pictures

  SLS•121 Winter of 1979
47 John DeLapp "I was a graduate student at Duke and was hit as I was biking home. My skull was fractured and the bike frame and wheels were trashed. ... into a shop (Clean Machine in Carrboro) looking to buy... there was this really nice guy (McLean Fonvielle) who quietly said “I can make you a frame”. I ended up at his shop drinking cider and getting measured for a new frame. I took the bike with me when I moved to Alaska in the early 1980s." M23019 Jan 23, 1979
48 Pat & Dot Pattison Tandem, white. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC.
Now in the NC Transportation Museum  Pictures		 M31019

Jan 31, 1979
49 Tom Hailey III Burgundy  M21039 Mar 21, 1979
50 Stewart Leonard Perfect Pleasure, Ascot blue, 53 cm. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M03049

 April 3, 1979
51 Terry Miller Touring in light blue M04049 April 4, 1979
52 Mike Dayton Touring 531 , white From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC Pictures M12049  April 12, 1979.
53 Patrick Craft Racing, Columbus superlight KL tubing. originally ordered by Robert Kraus, Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC  Pictures M20049.0  April 20, 1979
54 Roman Stankus Bought from McLean in Chapel Hill Pictures TBA 1979
55 Dave Boston Criterium 5 speed. "Picked it up at McLean's" M26049

April 26, 1979

56 Gene Moninger Touring, 531. From Continental Cyclery in Wichita, KS in 1990  M21059

May 21, 1979
57 Mike Wilkinson Sport touring, 531, originally for Ann Hall Ring. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC  Pictures M15069

June 15, 1979
58 Robert Harris Perfect pleasure, Purchased from McLean when in school at UNC. M29079 July 29, 1979
59 Jeff Carr Perfect Pleasure, white. 54 cm From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M31079  July 31, 1979
60 Roger Webster Perfect Pleasure, jet black. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M17089 Aug 17, 1979
61 Catherine Vanneman Perfect Pleasure, jet black. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M07099  Sept 7, 1979
62 Jack Gabus Creamy white color, 54 x 54, cantilever brakes M14099 Sept 14, 1979
63 Kevin Kelly Custom touring. Bought in Vermont. Had been built for a bike shop owner M06109

Oct 6, 1979
64         ? Pictures M23109       Oct 23, 1970
65 Felix Mathews Perfect Pleasure. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M01119 Nov 1, 1979
66 Kim Hamorsky 38 cm mixte. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M14119 Nov 14,1979
67 Greg Krasovsky Road M12129 Dec 12,1979
68 Casey Robertson Road, was pictured with Casey riding it on the cover of Grit-CX magazine.  M18129 Dec 18, 1979
69 Ken Wallace Road w custom details. Serial number was original owners SS#! Pictures 245-86-XXXX 1979?
70       ? Dale Brown's custom track with road der hanger  Picture ? Late 1970s?
71 Paul Bauer Tandem Pictures MCLEAN1 ?
72 Tony Martin  52 cm. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC Pictures M08020 Feb 8, 1980
73 Rodney Handsfield Road racing design, Columbus SL tubing, Cinelli lugs and bbkt.  NOS. Never built up as complete bike or ridden.  Pictures M29020

 Feb 29, 1980.

74 Grady Linehan Road racing or possible a "Perfect Pleasure" model, 60 cm  Reynolds 531, full Cinelli fitments. Pictures M05030 Mar 5, 1980
75       ? Perfect Pleasure design, in dark blue   Pictures M12030 Mar 12, 1980
76 Dale Brown Racing tricycle (only trike McLean made, frame dismantled to make single speed bike, to be reconstructed) From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC. Ordered by Erwin Elber, ridden once, then rebuilt into single speed bike M17040

 April 17,1980
77 Dale Brown Road racing, 58 cm, cinnamon metallic   M17060 June 17, 1980
78 Pete McKay Perfect please model, red M14070 July 7, 1980
79       ?  Criterium, 57 cm, saddle metallic. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M22070

 July 22, 1980
80 Satoshi Suzuki Green. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M12080

 Aug 12, 1980
81 David Poole Road 531 tubing. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M27080

Aug 27, 1980
82 John Provetero Perfect pleasure Pictures M30080 Aug 30, 1980
83  Darren Ivy Road racing  Pictures M17110 Nov 17, 1980
84 Bruce Wilcox Perfect Pleasure 23 1/4" frame. Purchased new from Two Wheel Travel in Richmond, VA M10120

 Dec 10, 1980
85 John Provetero Racing design Pictures M13120 Dec 13, 1981
86 George Milewski   M04021 Feb 4, 1981
87 Joe Bender-Zanoni Orig. owner. Metallic blue Perfect Pleasure bought from Two Wheel Transit in Richmond, VA Pictures M28021 Feb 28, 1981 
88 Dale Brown Criterium. purple and silver, orig for Sally Meserole. From Two Wheeler Dealer, Wilmington, NC  M04731

Mar 4, 1981

89 Joe Bender-Zanoni Orig. owner, Perfect Pleasure. Pictures M28031 Mar 23,1981
90 Jim Mincher Perfect Pleasure/touring  blue and silver. From Two Wheeler Dealer, Wilmington, NC M24031

Mar 24, 1981

91 George Handy 48cm c-c,  531 with short-point lugs. Medium metallic blue. M28031 Mar 28, 1981
92 H Kyle Anderson  McLean  M22041 April 28, 1981
93 Dale Brown Touring, metallic green. Orig for Sally Meserole. From Two Wheeler Dealer, Wilmington, NC M11051 May 11, 1981
94 Craig Tronzo Criterium frost green, Columbus SL, sloping Cinelli fork crown. Original owner. Pictures M22051  May 22, 1981
95 Bill Funderburk 58cm red road that even toured Europe!  Pictures M03061 June 3, 1981
96 Mike Dayton Blue metallic with sew up tires M16061 June 16, 1981
97 Mike Wilkinson Pictures M30071 July 30, 1981
98 Dale Brown 21 1/2" x 21" touring, silver blue, cantilevers, Haden crown, heart cut out in lower head lug. M26081 Aug 26, 1981
99 Scott Sorbe Perfect Pleasure model, 25" Burnt orange  Pictures M28081 Aug 28, 1981
100 Dale Brown Touring, 48 cm x 50.5 cm  Pictures M02091 Sept 2, 1981
101 Billy Boden Road frame set Pictures M10101 Oct 10, 1981
102 Jim Hotelling 58cm road metallic blue Pictures M09111 Nov 11, 1981
103 Matt Lackey 65cm, Reynolds 531, dark blue.  M19012 Jan 19, 1982
104 Wayne Bingham Racing. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC Pictures M22012

 Jan 22, 1982
105 George Allen Touring with French theme! Pictures M29012 Jan 29, 1982
106 Bill Kloos Pictures M12022 Feb 12, 1982
107 Steve Meier  Silver racing design Pictures M16022 Feb 16, 1982
108 Joe Young Light touring 60 cm M05032 Mar 5, 1982
109       ? Perfect Pleasure, Columbus tube set, Campagnolo Pictures M22032   Mar 22,1982
110 eBay auction by theproscloset Road racing (no eyelets) orange. Pictures M25032   Mar 25,1982
111 Jeremy Schott Racing, full Campagnolo Pictures M29032   Mar 29,1982
112 Diane Davis Custom built (Had 2 Silk Hopes prior to this) M26042   April 26,1982
113 Perry Hurts Perfect Pleasure 54 cm red    M28042 April 28, 1982
114 Dale Brown Touring, green and white. Orig owner, Sally Meserole From Two Wheel Dealer, Wilmington, NC M11052

  May 11,1982
115 Jim Mincher Criterium red and yellow, from Two Wheel Dealer, Wilmington, NC M31052

  May 31,1982

116 Robert Brown Perfect Pleasure 61.5 cm to top, Cinelli CM lugs, Haden fork crown, concave seat stay top eyes. M16062 June 16, 1982
117 Mike Kone Perfect Pleasure Green M28062 June 28, 1982
118 Tom Ash Custom road, orig. owner in Durham Pictures M21082  Aug 21, 1982
119 Steven Petarra Orig owner picked it up at McLean’s house in Durham and road it home.    M27082 Aug 27, 1982
120 Jack Gabus Racing, heart-shaped cutout lugs  Pictures M16092 Sept 16, 1982
121 Sold on eBay 2020. Road, est. size 56 cm, Firethorn metallic. M08102 Sept 8, 1982
122 Dale Brown Road, 57 cm fastback built for a UNC woman. Custom non-conforming serial # M1083 ?
123 Ed McKee Road, Ascot Blue M26013 Jan 26, 1983
124 Joe Young 56 cm custom road for 26" or 700C wheels and used side pull  brakes or Moots mounts. "This bike was found in the bead blaster after McLean died. Could be his last frame?" M09023

Feb 9, 1983
 

Add your Silk Hope~McLean serial number to this Registry?  Contact webmaster