Raleigh: The Great British Bicycle Company
- Thread starter Canuk
- Start date
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
Design work on the new RRA was sufficiently advanced during the War so that within weeks of V-E Day, a prototype had been built. Recognising that there would be a huge pent-up demand for sports cycling and club machines as millions of Britons of prime club cycling age were "demobbed" in coming months, Raleigh organised an extensive promotional tour of the new machine and other post-war innovations.
This featured the famous Raleigh record breaker Bert James who had ridden a RRA to four British Road Record Association records 1937-39 and still held the 100-mile record of 3 hrs. 45 mins at an average speed of 27 mph. This nationwide tour began in June 1945 and included visits to Raleigh dealers, cycle clubs and sports events with James riding the new model throughout much of the country. The tour also promoted the first prototype of the new Sturmey-Archer ASC three-speed fixed-gear rear hub.
28 June 1945 Suffolk & Essex Free Press
As reported in the press, the prototype's specifications were:
Frame: Reynolds 531 main triangle, back stays and forks
Wheels: double-butted spokes, Constrictor alloy hollow rims, Dunlop road racing tyres
Mudguards: white celluloid
Gears: Sturmey-Archer AF four-speed close-ratio hub gear with trigger control
Cranks: special octagonal cranks and light chainwheel, Raleigh quill pedals
Handlebars: alloy 'bars
Brakes: Raleigh calipers in alloy
Saddle: Brooks B39
Braze-ons: mudguard eyes and pump pegs
Finish: flamboyant blue with red lines and panels
This featured the famous Raleigh record breaker Bert James who had ridden a RRA to four British Road Record Association records 1937-39 and still held the 100-mile record of 3 hrs. 45 mins at an average speed of 27 mph. This nationwide tour began in June 1945 and included visits to Raleigh dealers, cycle clubs and sports events with James riding the new model throughout much of the country. The tour also promoted the first prototype of the new Sturmey-Archer ASC three-speed fixed-gear rear hub.
28 June 1945 Suffolk & Essex Free Press
As reported in the press, the prototype's specifications were:
Frame: Reynolds 531 main triangle, back stays and forks
Wheels: double-butted spokes, Constrictor alloy hollow rims, Dunlop road racing tyres
Mudguards: white celluloid
Gears: Sturmey-Archer AF four-speed close-ratio hub gear with trigger control
Cranks: special octagonal cranks and light chainwheel, Raleigh quill pedals
Handlebars: alloy 'bars
Brakes: Raleigh calipers in alloy
Saddle: Brooks B39
Braze-ons: mudguard eyes and pump pegs
Finish: flamboyant blue with red lines and panels
Sadly not. But it, like dad’s 1936 Andy Bone Paragon, are still around and both still roadworthy.
As and when I get the chance to visit my brother, I’ll get some snaps.
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
The Raleigh Professional was the top of the line among Raleigh's production bikes. It was in many ways a tribute to the Italian designs of the era, with its elegantly simple lugwork and Cinelli-style sloping fork crown.
The "fastback" seat cluster was a hallmark of the earlier Professional.
The Raleigh Professional was one of the first bikes to come with Campagnolo brakes, and was also one of the first to feature a 6 speed freewheel.
The "fastback" seat cluster was a hallmark of the earlier Professional.
The Raleigh Professional was one of the first bikes to come with Campagnolo brakes, and was also one of the first to feature a 6 speed freewheel.
