Raleigh SBDU - Specialist Bicycle Development Unit

NervexProf
NervexProf Posts: 4,202
edited December 2010 in Road general
Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom

Comments

  • ratsbeyfus
    ratsbeyfus Posts: 2,841
    Great article - I never realised that Raleigh's were ridden by so many winners. Where did it all go wrong?


    I had one of them red bikes but I don't any more. Sad face.

    @ratsbey
  • andy162
    andy162 Posts: 634
    After a few years of searching I managed to find a SBDU Raleigh. It's an original Team issue bike, Panasonic colours, 753 tubing, 6spd Super Record....it lives in the house & gets an outing now & again when the sun's shining. Odd chaingang too, the ol' girl can still gallop a bit!

    It's a great thing to ride, quite lively really. Weighs less than my Ribble winter hack. Was planning on doing L'eroica this year but work commitments came first. Next year hopefully?
  • priory
    priory Posts: 743
    my first proper lightweight was a raleigh elix.

    149482424_full.jpg

    I still remember the first ride. It flew with me hanging on. Mind you , I was a bit fitter then.

    Raleigh always made good bikes, but their main business crashed into chinese imports and the management and unions were too late to react by throwing in the towel and going for imports and quality only.
    Special products survived a bit longer but it was said in the shops that customers would not buy anything that said raleigh on it however good it was because it became associated with mass produced competition for low end imports.
    I admired a really good pair of rsp's at je james' in the late 90's and the salesman wanted me to make him an offer. At that moment Icouldn't; wish I had, though
    Raleigh Eclipse, , Dahon Jetstream XP, Raleigh Banana, Dawes super galaxy, Raleigh Clubman

    http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z122 ... =slideshow
  • andy162
    andy162 Posts: 634
    Raleigh Elix for me too! Was the summer of '89 when I got it. Cost me £349 at the time. I wanted the Delta ( model up, 105 group) but the shop didn't have my size so I got the Elix instead.

    I cherished that bike & it the first bike I competed on as a 16yr old junior. I replaced it with another Raleigh, one of those Dyna-rod creations from the early 90's as the Elix met a sticky end.
  • I had the Delta, my dad got it the year I was born, cycled it everywhere. I got it when I was 16 but it was stolen soon after. I was gutted.
    The death of the bike begins with its start
    The most efficient machine on the plant
    Often referred to as the noblest invention

    Ragley Mmmbop
    Iron Horse 6point6
    Giant STP
    Kona Stinky
    Globe Roll 2
  • jimwin
    jimwin Posts: 208
    ratsbeyfus wrote:
    Great article - I never realised that Raleigh's were ridden by so many winners. Where did it all go wrong?

    I have an 853 frame now loaded with Athena 11-speed and HRM. The frame is still a cracker. I've considered replacing it with carbon, but it's such a joy to ride. I have a cycling buddy who's at the same level with a Spesh carbon-framed wonder bike but I can still pip him at the post with this Raleigh. Where indeed did they go wrong?

    - JimW
  • ratsbeyfus
    ratsbeyfus Posts: 2,841
    They seem to be more respected abroad. I met a dutch guy in the summer on a modern Raleigh going up Alpe D'Huez, but never see them on the roads around here. I'd love to see them being ridden on the Pro Tour and becoming popular again. I adored my older brother's Light blue anodised Raleigh-Carlton 'racer' when I was kid.


    I had one of them red bikes but I don't any more. Sad face.

    @ratsbey