When I Was 17 ....

[JtB]

I walked into Halfords and bought myself a Carlton. It was several sizes too big for me at the time, but it was 1978 and mine was a generation where you bought over-sized things and grew into them. What I didn’t realise at the time however was that I’d already finished most of my growing :-).

Anyway, this weekend I dug out my old bike for the first time in 2 years and took it for a quick spin - I'd forgotten just how much bike technology has changed over the last 30+ years. Obviously I prefer my 2012 Italian stallion, but I still have fond memories of this1978 British workhorse that I rode for so many years.

 

[classic33]

Saddle appears to be higher on the newer bike!

 

[JtB]

I lowered the saddle on my old bike for my son at some point and couldn't be bothered to put it back up again.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

My first racer was a BSA with drops and a Sturmey Archer 3-speed. Someone nicked it (I know!) in about 1979/80.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Very nice!

Here's my first bike a Carlton Ten to keep yours company - my Mum bought me this when I was 16 in 1972.

(Not my picture btw - I found it on the web some while back).

Not sure how my skinny 16 year old legs propelled it along though as the gearing looks high to me.

 

[raleighnut]

I walked into Halfords and bought myself a Carlton. It was several sizes too big for me at the time, but it was 1978 and mine was a generation where you bought over-sized things and grew into them. What I didn’t realise at the time however was that I’d already finished most of my growing :-).

Anyway, this weekend I dug out my old bike for the first time in 2 years and took it for a quick spin - I'd forgotten just how much bike technology has changed over the last 30+ years. Obviously I prefer my 2012 Italian stallion, but I still have fond memories of this1978 British workhorse that I rode for so many years.

Beautiful looking one owner bike, I for one am jealous. (but where's the Brooks got to)

 

[JtB]

Dont mention the saddle :-(. In years gone by I prioritised the comfort of my back side over the integrity of the bike and changed it for a softer one.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Raleigh shot themselves in the foot when they took over the Carlton brand, downgraded it and finally dropped it. Carlton were serious and respected players in the race frame market (Tom Simpson rode one as an amateur) and had Raleigh marketed it correctly they still would be. Instead they tried to fob serious cyclists off with their own brand frames which did not really catch on. Who wants to spend a fortune on a bike with the same name on the tube as is on a pink kids bike with stabilisers and a basket, let alone the clunker the old man rode to work on.

 

[raleighnut]

Who wants to spend a fortune on a bike with the same name on the tube as is on a pink kids bike with stabilisers and a basket, let alone the clunker the old man rode to work on.

Those of us who know plus the Ilkeston ones were top flight also. The modern Raleigh race team did well at last years first Leicester Castle Classic an all.

 

[Fab Foodie]

My first racer was a BSA with drops and a Sturmey Archer 3-speed. Someone nicked it (I know!) in about 1979/80.

You can have it back now if you want ....

 

[SpokeyDokey]

This was my next bike after the Carlton Ten (to continue the Raleigh theme):

Again not my pic' - sorry.

This cost my mum quite a lot of money although I can't remember how much! I thought it was the absolute dogs!

 

[JtB]

The reason my Carlton came out of storage is because it's going to a good home for a while - a friend who's training for a charity ride and needs the loan of a bike.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I had an Elswick Mistral, when I was in my mid-teens!!

Same colour as this!!
http://bikingbulletinboard.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/6-elswick-mistral-1978.html

 

[biggs682]

This was my next bike after the Carlton Ten (to continue the Raleigh theme):

Again not my pic' - sorry.

This cost my mum quite a lot of money although I can't remember how much! I thought it was the absolute dogs!

View attachment 51741

i remember looking at that catalogue wishing , but never got one

 

[Archie_tect]

Didn't get a proper bike until I was 22, a Dawes Lightning [£90 new]... until then I had to make do with a Honda CB200!