Raleigh Bicycle Company

Raleigh Cycle Company [ rɔ ː li saɪkəl kʌmpəni ] is the name of a British car manufacturer, which was founded in 1887 by Frank Bowden in Nottingham and first produced bicycles.

History

Raleigh, the company was named after the street in which it was established, the " Raleigh Street". From 1930 to 1934, the company also produced motorized three-wheeled vehicles, thereby laying the foundation for the establishment of this type of vehicle in the UK.

In the 1970s, designed by Tom Karen Raleigh Chopper was a resounding success and saved the company from its ongoing since the 1960 financial crisis. The bike was sold millions of copies worldwide, in the Federal Republic of type was known as " Chopper ".

In 1974, the company offshoot Raleigh Germany was founded. 2001, the company was bought out by the Derby Cycle Works. The final assembly of the supplied components from the Far East will take place today in Lower Saxony Cloppenburg. Therefore, the company advertises with the slogan " Best of Britain - Made in Germany". 2012 takes over the Dutch Accell Group Raleigh Group [ probably with the exception of the German branch ?].

History of motorized tricycle production at Raleigh

The "Safety Bicycles" mentioned bikes came from 1899 the production of belt-driven motorcycles. Created in 1903 to the " Raleighette ", a motorized tricycle with chain drive, in which the driver sat on the trailing wheel and took the passenger in front of him in a basket seat between the two front wheels place. Due to financial losses they gave this concept but in 1908 again and only made ​​bicycles and motorcycles.

The "Motor Taxation Act" of 1921 gave tricycles, a special position in the tax law of the United Kingdom. After Raleigh had initially supplied parts for the " Ivy Karryall " tricycle, 1930, the Company acquired the rights to the vehicle and called his version of "Light Delivery Van ", basically a motorcycle with cabin for driver and load, the drive was carried out by a chain. 1933 two-seat variant was introduced.

In the same year, the three-wheeled automobile "Safety Seven", an open four-seater with an aluminum body was built on an ash wood frame. The approximately 17 hp ( 12.5 kW), 742 cc, two-cylinder engine ran the power through a drive shaft to the rear wheels and the vehicle accelerated to about 80 km / h Because of its low consumption of "Safety Seven" was popular, and a closed version was also provided.

However, Raleigh in 1934 decided to discontinue production of motorized vehicles, and to focus only on bikes. The chief designer TL Williams took the tools and the remaining parts and started his own production of three-wheeled vehicles under the name Reliant. With the Reliant Regent is first continued the concept of " Karryall ", and in 1954 they produced in accordance with the "Safety Seven" the Reliant Regal, who became the forefather of the famous Reliant Robin.

Cycling

The company Raleigh stood for a long time in direct connection to the professional cycling. In particular, the TI- Raleigh team is emphasized at this point. In 1980 Joop Zoetemelk win the Tour de France on a Raleigh road bike. Mid-1980s the Raleigh team was also sponsored by Panasonic. In addition, the company paid the end of the 1980 years from the French Système U team.

During the 1980s, Raleigh supported various British cycling teams, including Raleigh Banana and Raleigh Weinmann. The best-known Raleigh- riders were Paul Sherwin, Malcolm Elliott, Mark Bell, Paul Watson and Jon Clay and Jeff Williams.

In the early 1990s equipped Raleigh from its own mountain bike team.

2009, the creation of a new British cycling team named Team Raleigh was announced.

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