Raleigh: The Great British Bicycle Company
- Thread starter Canuk
- Start date
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
The new machine was the star attraction at the Raleigh Industries Fair at Marylebone, London and subject of an article in Cycling 26 November 1947 by its famous reviewer "Nimrod":
Perhaps the most interesting exhibit is the long-awaited Raleigh R.R.A. Record Ace machine, which is a truly outstanding example of the results obtained when a large manufacturing concern uses its resources to compete in the lightweight market with a hand-built racing model. With 73-degree head and 71-degree seat angles, the R.R.A. is built throughout with Reynolds 531 tubing, and at a glance it is plain this a bicycle that looks good and is good.
In stripped condition for road racing, with 27-in. Conloy rims, tubular tyres, two brakes and a bell, the machine weighs only 20.5 lbs complete, and when equipped with Sturmey-Archer hub gear, mudguards, rubber pedals, lamp brackets, etc., ready for touring purposes, the weight is 27.5 lb
It is not difficult to prophesy a keen market both at home and overseas for a machine of this class, since no small detail has been overlooked. Pressure lubrication nipples are fitted to both head races, and to the bottom bracket, while alloy has been employed for such fittings as pedals, bars, handlebar stem, brakes and mudguard fittings. Chain wheel and cranks of special lightweight design, the cranks being made from nickel chrome steel, with forged solid arms on the right-hand crank to give direct drive to the chain wheel. The specification is an elastic one to permit a choice of fittings, but the basic price of the machine will be £32 (plus purchase tax)
Perhaps the most interesting exhibit is the long-awaited Raleigh R.R.A. Record Ace machine, which is a truly outstanding example of the results obtained when a large manufacturing concern uses its resources to compete in the lightweight market with a hand-built racing model. With 73-degree head and 71-degree seat angles, the R.R.A. is built throughout with Reynolds 531 tubing, and at a glance it is plain this a bicycle that looks good and is good.
In stripped condition for road racing, with 27-in. Conloy rims, tubular tyres, two brakes and a bell, the machine weighs only 20.5 lbs complete, and when equipped with Sturmey-Archer hub gear, mudguards, rubber pedals, lamp brackets, etc., ready for touring purposes, the weight is 27.5 lb
It is not difficult to prophesy a keen market both at home and overseas for a machine of this class, since no small detail has been overlooked. Pressure lubrication nipples are fitted to both head races, and to the bottom bracket, while alloy has been employed for such fittings as pedals, bars, handlebar stem, brakes and mudguard fittings. Chain wheel and cranks of special lightweight design, the cranks being made from nickel chrome steel, with forged solid arms on the right-hand crank to give direct drive to the chain wheel. The specification is an elastic one to permit a choice of fittings, but the basic price of the machine will be £32 (plus purchase tax)
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
In production for only four years, the Clubman range represented the final heyday of that most characteristic and classic British sports cycle. Budget wise it was a middle of the range offering and well within the pocket of the average working man.
Those fortunate to own and ride these machines today can still relish the delights of the characteristic slow "click" of an AM hub, the creamy brittleness of Britannia celluloid mudguards and the warm glow of a fork-mounted DynoHub lamp on a late summer's eve.
Those fortunate to own and ride these machines today can still relish the delights of the characteristic slow "click" of an AM hub, the creamy brittleness of Britannia celluloid mudguards and the warm glow of a fork-mounted DynoHub lamp on a late summer's eve.
