Have I seen a Ghost

[BADGER.BRAD]

Driving down a narrow country lane today near where I live in Shropshire I spotted a Young lad on a Bike, As there was a pull in I stopped to let him pass He neared and I realised he was on a Raleigh Arena Tracker bike ( the British kluncker/ MTB) complete with wide cow horn bars and those massive Ever Ready battery lights we used to have, he had long hair and a beaming smile ! Had I travelled back into the 1970's/80's ? This makes me want to build one !

 

[Drago]

It was probably Accy's paper boy on his way home from work.

 

[midlife]

I remember the Arena as a low end 5 speed bike in blue. Don’t remember an MTB version ?

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

Don’t remember an MTB version

The early UK mountain bike scene started at the same time as the American one with bikes being built out of what ever you could find in order to make them more suitable for off road, Most people single speeded them ( If the donor bike wasn't already) Added wide Handle bars ( Cowhorns we called them) and if you were really going for it studded cyclocross tyres. Similar things happened all over the world at the same time as the Americans they called them Klunkers we called them Trackers or bomb hole bikes. They of course beat us to the name Mountain bike. This particular bike looked as if it had been transported from this time the lads long hair added to it all he needed was a tank top and some flairs !