‘Nostalgia does not pay wages’ – true, but are we really ready to say goodbye to Raleigh?
We sit back in the banana seat saddle, stick a card in the spokes and pedal back through the decades to revisit the British brand’s most iconic bikes
The Raleigh Bicycle Company, founded in 1887, once held the title of the biggest name in the cycling game. Its instantly recognizable big-R heron-topped logo still evokes nostalgia for many riders. However, the future of Raleigh now appears uncertain, as the Dutch company Accell Group, which owns Raleigh, has declared bankruptcy. Despite its rich history and iconic models like the Raleigh Chopper, Grifter, Burner BMX, Vektar, and Bomber, Raleigh seems poised to say goodbye to its legacy.
Tim Bright, who rode Britain's coastline on a Raleigh Chopper, expresses sadness at the brand's decline. He recalls the company's impact on British craftspeople and engineers, highlighting the quality of its products. Raleigh's iconic Chopper, with its high-rise bars, banana-seat, and muscle bike profile, was particularly memorable.
Although its heavy-duty frame and chunky tyres made it indestructible, the three-speed Sturmey Archer hub gear system was often a source of annoyance, shifting gears uncontrollably during wheelies and causing discomfort to riders.
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