It is quite a fad, I think, but I think it is easy to see why people get seduced by the old style beauty of steel bicycles; their simple slim uncluttered frames, and the way their paint glitters more than it ever can on an aluminium or carbon frame.
Whenever I see a Raleigh bicycle of this nature, it always makes me feel proud - probably the greatest thing Nottingham ever produced. There was a fantastic documentary on BBC4 about the history of the company and its Nottingham factory, and the skilled tradesmen who worked there. I love the heron logo. I love that these bicycles once ruled the world from this county.
So, it gives me great joy to see old Raleigh bicycles at work. Even if leaving a steel bike out in the rain is a bit of a heartbreaker.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.02.18
My son is an off road cycler but he has an old cycle he rode when he lived in London.
ReplyDeleteHe has just had it done up like new - it is beautiful.
My most faithful bicycle was a Raleigh, bought second-hand and ridden for 30 years.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - you can get some nice steelies quite cheap, but you need the mechanical ability to sort them out, which I don't have.
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