Re: [CR] 1934 RRA

  Raleigh's top models were excellent quality bikes but I think they exemplify all that was historically wrong with British industry - far too conservative and behind the times.  These bikes just do not compare well in terms of style, features and modernity with top tier European racing machines of the same era.  I am hard pressed to see any significant progress between this bike and a circa 1908 BSA I sold a little while ago.  With the exception of the products of a few custom builders, the majority of British bikes lagged behind for decades.  In the 40s and 50s, Carlton and Viking were probably the only volume manufacturers who built anything that was competitive in style and specification with European product.  It is interesting that Raleigh's only racing success during that period was on the track, under a variety of excellent riders, and in time trials under Ray Booty who predominantly rode fixed wheel, with or without a Sturmey Archer gear.

It is very sad that Britain's biggest bicycle manufacturer was so reactionary.  A mid 50s Raleigh road bike looks a bit of a joke beside an equivalent Bianchi, Legnano, Frejus, Helyett etc etc.  The RRA had to become Moderne (though it wasn't particularly) before it got a derailleur gear, a decade or two late.

That said, I would really like an early 50s RRA and am keeping an eye open for a tatty frame so that it would not be total sacriledge to modify it with period Campagnolo or Simplex dropouts and fit the appropriate gears and contemporary high quality aluminum alloy parts and turn it into the bike it ought to have been.  That would be quite a bike with geometry that suits me well.  And I wouldn't have to source all those impossible to find parts either because everything I wanted would be better and easier to obtain.  Are those howls of protest I hear?

Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England