The History of the Raleigh 20

[John the Monkey]

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/twenty.htm

A suprisingly good read. Makes me wish I'd grabbed the abandoned one I saw last year now.

 

[Hilldodger]

We have people asking for them and they don't hang around long when we get them in.

Wish I'd kept the Raleigh prototype tandem one I had now

 

[Twenty Inch]

Very good bikes, by all accounts. They are supposed to be very good load carriers. I would certainly grab one if I saw it, having first knocked off the 65-year old riding it.

 

[wafflycat]

I have one of the very first Raleigh Hybrids, a Raleigh Pioneer Trail, c1989, 21-speed gears, Shimano biopace chainset.. and a glorious paint jobbie.

Edit: Just dug out the original recipt for it. Bought at Sandy Cycles, Raleigh Trail, Ladies 20" £251.00 That was a lot of money in those days. And the bike is still in seriously good nick - all original parts working very, very well.

I notice from various Raleigh history sites that it's stated that the Pioneers didn't start until 1991. They are possibly wrong. My Pioneer Trail was 1989/1990, as WCMinor was born in 1988, and he was a baby, aged, one at most when we got the Raleigh.

 

[yello]

I used to do my paper round on one when I was 12. I'm sure it had back-pedal brakes and perhaps even a 2 speed hub. That was in New Zealand but pre-1981 , so not like the one shown in the link.

 

[tyred]

Here's mine

Fantastic little bike. They need the 15 tooth sprocket changed for an 18 though as the standard spec 15 tooth leaves it very high geared. I have re-sprayed the pump in black since then (couldn't find one in the right size so bought a cheapie in the pound shop and cut two inches off it to fit the frame). This is actually a rare Dublin built model (the only real difference being the headbadge has stripes where it should say Nottingham).

 

[very-near]

I did my cycling proficiency on my sisters old 20. The front wheel fell off in the playground when the nice police man was examining the bikes for road worthiness.

I could have died of embarrasement in front of all the other 11 year olds op:

 

[Twenty Inch]

Here's mine

It has a halo!!

 

[tyred]

It has a halo!!

Of course! Transport of the Gods

 

[Hover Fly]

Mother had a Videc Vogue, which I learned to ride on, and eventually managed to do a circuit of Coniston Water, 30 miles round from home, on.