Re: [CR] WHATS a Raleigh!

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:20:12 -0400
To: Crumpy6204@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] WHATS a Raleigh!
In-Reply-To: <bcc.24c6c19c.352bb369@aol.com>


At 01:27 PM 07/04/2008 EDT, Crumpy6204@aol.com wrote:
>I have been reading with interest the Raleigh build quality etc. In all the
>years that I rode and raced in Brit land I can not remember ANY mate that
>owned a Raleigh, OF COURSE Reg Harris was well know for his Raleigh track irons.
>Raleighs massed produced for the masses PROFIT the only concern. NOT the
>clubmans choice. I know this will bring lots of replys to the contrary, So lets
>hear it. YOUR opinions. this is what this CR list is for RIGHT! Cheers John
>Crump OldwishIhadaRaleighnowBrit, Parker, Co USA

I have to agree with Mr. Crump. Although I was only into serious cycling in the UK for a few years in the 1950s before emigrating, I don't remember Raleigh as being a lightweight bike clubmen would ride. These would be in a class with Hercules, Phillips, BSA and Royal Enfield, etc. Sure, there were pros riding bikes with these names on the downtube, but we all knew those were actually hand built by specialty framebuilders, not what you found at the bike shop. Okay, I do remember one Raleigh, a Professional with Nervex lugs and made of DB 531, but that was rare. Maybe Raleighs were viewed as something special when the were first imported into the US, and maybe they were compared to balloon tired Schwinn cruisers.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada