Built exclusively for top pros, this 1950s world title-winning pursuit bike was built by Raleigh's RP department
Norman Sheil's 'factory works' bike that delivered World Championship and Commonwealth pursuit golds.
This 1950s track bike, built by Raleigh's RP department, was created exclusively for professional cyclists. In 1958, it was ridden by Norman Sheil, a Merseyside-born cycling legend, to victory in the World Championships and the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Sheil had previously won both titles in 1954 and 1955, demonstrating his exceptional talent in track cycling.
Norman Sheil's skills extended beyond the track, as he also competed in the 1960 Tour de France. After his successful career, he transitioned into coaching, initially for the British national team and later coaching the USA and Canada national teams in North America.
The Raleigh RP frames were renowned for their exceptional quality, with only a few hundred ever produced by master frame builders Billy Blackamore and Ted Silverstone. These 'works' machines were reserved for top professionals, with occasional use by world-class amateurs like Ray Booty.
Current owner Richard Hoddinott of The Velo Pages praises the bike's flawless proportions, noting the perfect spacing between the wheels, down tube, and seat tube. Despite being a pure track frame, the fork crown is drilled for a brake, a feature that was standard for riders who often used their track bikes for road training. The components of this bike are equally impressive, featuring a steel 48t Williams chainset with 165mm fluted cranks for track clearance, and 32-spoke wheels with large flange Airlite hubs and Fiamme Sprint rims, designed to handle powerful bursts of speed.
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