First Ever Steel/Other Bike Owned

[N-plus-one]

Pretty sure we invented the continent; along with everything else.

there's a strong argument to support this, as an unintended consequence post act of Union was that the Scottish intelligentsia (whose looked down at political expediency) devoted themselves to the renaissance and enlightenment. During these periods, they did pretty much invent nearly everything (but lost the financial benefits because Whitehall "relieved them of that burden"). Funny old world, how the focus shifts!

 

[Old Ned]

After buying a Raleigh from guy in the local club (it was OK but nothing special, at least it got me started) I persuaded my Dad to 'lend' me the cash to buy a Viking Grand Tour from the local shop (Bill Hughes Cycles in Wrexham). It was in a lovely red flamboyant with black head tube and seat tube panel. Fitted with a a pair of Harden/Conloy sprints and a pair of heavy Michelin tubulars, Benelux rear mech, mismatched brakes and a (very!) cheap 'Swallow' saddle it got me into club membership (Wrexham Wheelers) in 1961 aged 14. I rode it in my first race, a club 25, in June that year and a week later I punctured one of the tubulars and had to 'retire' for a while until it got mended and I had saved up for a new one. Eventually I sold the frame to a school friend so I could buy a James Fothergill frame from a lad in the village who had also joined the club and had bought a new Eddie Soens - which I ultimately also acquired when he decided cycling was to hard and interfered with girls and beer. The rest is history.................

 

[Nob]

As a Christmas present from my parents a second hand 1976 Raleigh Europa 5speed size 231/2” which later I converted to a 10speed.

 

[KenP]

My first bike was a Raleigh Record, shortly to be replaced by a Raleigh Record Ace when I was sixteen years old.
I loved the RRA and put many thousands of miles on it. IIRC I paid £220 for it in 1981 from Lawes Cycles in Northampton, sadly I don't still have the original one but do have one exactly the same I renovated a few years ago and still love the bike!.
I changed the chainset for a Stronglight 99 52/36 and went touring all over the UK on it.
Here's a pic of myself (right) and my friend Mark when we went from Northampton, round central Wales to Aberystwyth and back in 1981.



You at the back .... stop laughing!! That's how we wore shorts in those days!

 

[Canuk]

When I was 12 my cousin Johnny got a brand new Raleigh Arena for Xmas with the Bluemels shortie aluminium mudguards. I remember being very jealous, and the 'wow' contrast of the metallic blue against the gloss black. Probably the first proper bike I ever got a chance to ride, aside from my Chopper 3 speed in baby blue. 5 speed.... Phwoarrrr!

 

[Mandobob]

First bike was a Raleigh Lanton with 4-speed Sturmey Archer. £7.

 

[Mandobob]

Taleigh Lenton!

 

[Mandobob]

Raleigh Lenton!!!!!

 

[quintilation]

i bought a carlton (unknown model) which was in a mates shed fir £10 in about 1979. weinman 730s, brooks b5n lace up saddle, GB maes bars and stem, simplex 5 gears.

someone had drilled a rear dropout for the anti rotation screw on the steel derailleur hanger. one day a mechanical problem with the gears caused the dropout to tear in half.

RIP carlton.

it was replaced by a Toledo cycles 531 plain gauge frame my brother in law pulled from a skip. that one was stolen from my 6th from college.

sorrt for listing 2.

-Steve