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I worked at a Raleigh bicycle dealer here in Utah in the US during the 1970s and remember assembling a Raleigh with rod actuated brakes. Very cool. I'd love to find one to recondition and ride
This is a lovely chat through! This was a little before my time, but I do remember the lovely Raleigh and Dawes calalongies one the 80s where 'British Craftsmanship' was prized and a selling point... Thanks for this! It is among we desire a new old-bike!
That was the time when these bikes were first being sold in the U.S. As a mechanic I worked on so many Raleigh bikes from the '60, but very few from the '50s. Our shop imported some models from Canada when we couldn't get them through the U.S. distributor. We had all the catalogs dating back to the early '70s. It's great to see the British catalog.
In Late 50's 60's I had an Raleigh Lento grand Prix 10 Gears with two gear Wheel gears ' Pedal Gear changer with an leaver down . you had bend down to change it while cycling Love it cycled total of thousand of miles more over years loved it until 1970 when I started working away from home so sold it "Err.... as usual I Wish I hadn't thank you
I have the very same picture, a framed poster on my wall. Sadly a reproduction. I love it because I had one around that time and seeing it reminds me of the days when I could ride for hours without fatigue.
Okay! This was instructional. From watching this, I think my bike is a Dawn Tourist, EXCEPT, it doesnt have a three speed. It must have failed and someone stuck a single speed aluminum hub on it. I have a three speed hub which I am going to change it back to the original. Dawn Tourist. Good to finally know.
You mentioned replacement saddlebags & how difficult they are to obtain for these.The closest I've come is 'Carradice' brand -not exact though.Any better ideas?
I bought a bike like this a few days ago for 20 euros, the frame is in good condition (but the rear wheel is no longer original and neither is the lighting). How can I find out which model it is?
I grew up in Nottingham and well remember having to cycle past the Raleigh factory to work every day on my BSA Tour of Britain 10 speed bike to my workplace in the Lenton area of Nottingham. The Lenton area of Nottingham is a bit of a distance from the actual river Trent and Lenton Boulevard is where the Raleigh head offices used to be. The factory itself was just down the road on Faraday Road but backed on to the head office building. These days Raleigh bikes are made in Taiwan but their design office is still on Faraday Road in Nottingham so they can still claim to be designed in Nottingham!
For most of their models I bet design amounts to sending an email to Taiwan saying "in blue next time please". Awful lot of awful raleighs in halfords last time I looked.
@@kyle8952 The site where the Raleigh factory used to be is now student accommodation for the various Nottingham University campuses around the city. Nottingham is very much a young persons city these days, all of the old manufacturing companies that existed when I grew up there are now gone and the buildings have been either demolished, converted to city apartments or student accommodation.
@@unbalancedcrank Absolutely, all those names are familiar to me as well. I still own a 1994 model Raleigh Randonneur touring bike that was made at their special products division in Worksop Nottinghamshire, a top of the line touring bike in its day. Sadly life has overtaken me and it has been languishing in my garage waiting for its turn to be refurbished and ridden out in the sun again.
hi nice vid, in 1964 i got a Raleigh racing bike 10 gears ITALIAN plus other big named parts it also had rear forks that went from the wheel axle up to the saddle part of the frame and wrapped around and came back the other side of the axle. Do you know this model and if so can you tell me about it. thanks
That’s a wrapover seatstsy, a signature of the Raleigh sporty frames and previously a Carlton feature. Even my 1975 Raleigh Tourist has that frame (strangely!). Lots of models used the frame so it’s impossible to guess what your bike was.
Hello, I have a few 1950s raleigh bicycles I acquired during CovidI am short of time but I want to restore one for my daughter . The frame in in perfect condition but some chrome are a bit pitted and I can taje parts from the other bikes. Do you know of anybody restoring the chrome parts, any contacts? Thanks for any help. Jack
@@unbalancedcrank How can i work out, the correct wheel type for a 1955 Superb, ive just won a lovely clean frame on ebay, looks like rods have never been fitted, so im assuming (dangerous to do so) it should be 28" wheels on cable brakes. i dont want to go rods, had one 30 years ago and rods not good the hills around here :)
By that time, everyone was going cheap to undercut Raleigh, but Raleigh had the volume and had pioneered so many production methods that they were untouchable. Wisely they decided to keep the brand “premium”, and used ifs cheaper brands to compete with Hopper, Hercules etc. During that era Raleigh were also acquiring the other manufacturers as they struggled. Only when they had eliminated the competition did they let qualify slip. To me, the 1950s were peak Raleigh
Watching this at work on a break, what a joy to watch.
Your regular reminder that Rowan needs our help if this channel is to continue.
Please become a Velocipedian to thank him and allow him to continue sharing his knowledge and passion with us.
What a great little booklet to get hold of Rowan pity we can't get to hold of that quality new today
I worked at a Raleigh bicycle dealer here in Utah in the US during the 1970s and remember assembling a Raleigh with rod actuated brakes. Very cool. I'd love to find one to recondition and ride
Great video...very informative as usual...keep up the good work
Love these old catalogues.
This is a lovely chat through!
This was a little before my time, but I do remember the lovely Raleigh and Dawes calalongies one the 80s where 'British Craftsmanship' was prized and a selling point... Thanks for this! It is among we desire a new old-bike!
That was the time when these bikes were first being sold in the U.S. As a mechanic I worked on so many Raleigh bikes from the '60, but very few from the '50s. Our shop imported some models from Canada when we couldn't get them through the U.S. distributor. We had all the catalogs dating back to the early '70s. It's great to see the British catalog.
Superb! Pardon the pun. I've always hankerd after a Lenton. Great video!
As always a very enjoyable read keep up the excellent work.
Really enjoyed this. I think you may have hit on a great idea for content in the future! Would love to see more of this style of content.
ruclips.net/video/HzJBOMcK4W8/видео.html
Wow the fork crown lock👍🏻
Great video, some gorgeous bikes.
In Late 50's 60's I had an Raleigh Lento grand Prix 10 Gears with two gear Wheel gears ' Pedal Gear changer with an leaver down . you had bend down to change it while cycling Love it cycled total of thousand of miles more over years loved it until 1970 when I started working away from home so sold it "Err.... as usual I Wish I hadn't thank you
A fascinating browse! It would be interesting to see what the production numbers for each model or frame size were.
My 58 catalogue has the same cover as yours, the 57 is poster style and monochrome, and slightly different.
I have the very same picture, a framed poster on my wall. Sadly a reproduction.
I love it because I had one around that time and seeing it reminds me of the days when I could ride for hours without fatigue.
thanks for posting that!!
Okay! This was instructional. From watching this, I think my bike is a Dawn Tourist, EXCEPT, it doesnt have a three speed. It must have failed and someone stuck a single speed aluminum hub on it. I have a three speed hub which I am going to change it back to the original. Dawn Tourist. Good to finally know.
I am currently making a film about the Raleigh Trent Sport being pedalled by my Father in Law in 1958.
I hope you have seen my video of a few days ago, with my new one from 1958
@@unbalancedcrank actually I have not! Which one is it?
Just a few days ago. Also featuring on today’s video and the next one coming on Tuesday
5 vintage Raleigh bicycles rescued. Bike 2 revealed. Rare Raleigh Trent Tourist, original survivor.
ruclips.net/video/8R0Zr5ITPio/видео.html
That was great. Of course they then had all their export models, no doubt with catalogues to suit specific foreign territories.
You mentioned replacement saddlebags & how difficult they are to obtain for these.The closest I've come is 'Carradice' brand -not exact though.Any better ideas?
I have many Carradice bags. Made close to home.
I bought a bike like this a few days ago for 20 euros, the frame is in good condition (but the rear wheel is no longer original and neither is the lighting). How can I find out which model it is?
Join the Raleigh Roadster Club group on Facebook and post photos asking for identification. Also the frame number.
I grew up in Nottingham and well remember having to cycle past the Raleigh factory to work every day on my BSA Tour of Britain 10 speed bike to my workplace in the Lenton area of Nottingham. The Lenton area of Nottingham is a bit of a distance from the actual river Trent and Lenton Boulevard is where the Raleigh head offices used to be. The factory itself was just down the road on Faraday Road but backed on to the head office building. These days Raleigh bikes are made in Taiwan but their design office is still on Faraday Road in Nottingham so they can still claim to be designed in Nottingham!
For most of their models I bet design amounts to sending an email to Taiwan saying "in blue next time please". Awful lot of awful raleighs in halfords last time I looked.
However, your first point could be translated from 1960s Nottingham. I give you Wayfarer, Esquire, Traveller etc etc.
@@kyle8952 The site where the Raleigh factory used to be is now student accommodation for the various Nottingham University campuses around the city. Nottingham is very much a young persons city these days, all of the old manufacturing companies that existed when I grew up there are now gone and the buildings have been either demolished, converted to city apartments or student accommodation.
@@unbalancedcrank Absolutely, all those names are familiar to me as well. I still own a 1994 model Raleigh Randonneur touring bike that was made at their special products division in Worksop Nottinghamshire, a top of the line touring bike in its day. Sadly life has overtaken me and it has been languishing in my garage waiting for its turn to be refurbished and ridden out in the sun again.
I had a beautiful Rando until not long before I started doing RUclips properly. There might be evidence of it in my very early videos.
hi nice vid, in 1964 i got a Raleigh racing bike 10 gears ITALIAN plus other big named parts it also had rear forks that went from the wheel axle up to the saddle part of the frame and wrapped around and came back the other side of the axle. Do you know this model and if so can you tell me about it. thanks
That’s a wrapover seatstsy, a signature of the Raleigh sporty frames and previously a Carlton feature. Even my 1975 Raleigh Tourist has that frame (strangely!). Lots of models used the frame so it’s impossible to guess what your bike was.
@@unbalancedcrank hi thanks for info, do you have a 1964 catalogue of Raleigh's on you tube
Hello, I have a few 1950s raleigh bicycles I acquired during CovidI am short of time but I want to restore one for my daughter . The frame in in perfect condition but some chrome are a bit pitted and I can taje parts from the other bikes. Do you know of anybody restoring the chrome parts, any contacts?
Thanks for any help. Jack
Did you play with your Winkie often? :)
Really?🤨
@@unbalancedcrank ha ha ha lol :) you started it ;) lol
@@unbalancedcrank How can i work out, the correct wheel type for a 1955 Superb, ive just won a lovely clean frame on ebay, looks like rods have never been fitted, so im assuming (dangerous to do so) it should be 28" wheels on cable brakes. i dont want to go rods, had one 30 years ago and rods not good the hills around here :)
I will not be a 7 year old and laugh at "butt leather" saddles. No, I absolutely won't do that.
Excuse me, I need to leave the room for a moment... 🙂
And no mention of the Winkie!
To my knowledge nothing matches the Raleigh s quality and ride in entire world during my school days of 60s and 70s especially English makes.
By that time, everyone was going cheap to undercut Raleigh, but Raleigh had the volume and had pioneered so many production methods that they were untouchable. Wisely they decided to keep the brand “premium”, and used ifs cheaper brands to compete with Hopper, Hercules etc. During that era Raleigh were also acquiring the other manufacturers as they struggled.
Only when they had eliminated the competition did they let qualify slip.
To me, the 1950s were peak Raleigh
Using an online inflation calculator, 24 quid in 1957 is now 460 quid. bargain
Interesting. It seems like a £1200 bike to me. A bargain indeed