Hi Fred,
Your answer that Raleigh frames were Dutch is only partially correct... Raleigh maintained several teams across the globe and the UK team was based in Belgium (or the Netherlands?)
The fact remains that base frame materials (lugs & tubing, etc.) came from Raleigh England and some pro frames were custom constructed under contract by several high-end frame builders in different countries. Pro frames were often painted in racing colors and styles that would only reach the general market "production" frames a year or two later.
Raleigh Ilkeston constructed most Raleigh pro frames but when Raleigh started to franchise its corporate name out to companies in other countries, the franchisee would often select other frame builders. For example, his "outsourcing" occurred with Raleigh USA and Marinoni in 1983 - 85.
It seems that the higher stature or importance a cyclist was to his racing team, the greater the likelihood the rider would get a custom frame from whomever they chose. This is why some pro teams raced on relabeled frames to satisfy their sponsors.
Regards, Steve Neago
Cincinnati, OH
> > British built in England at Ilkeston under
> > the supervision of Gerald O'Donovan.
>
> Perhaps there is some confusion on this because the Dutch
> Raleigh racing team rode on bikes built in Holland by Peter
> Serier? At least he built the later ones for the team.
> Regards,
> Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
>
>
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