Raleigh-Carlton Kermesse Classic Road Bike 1980s

Carlton has been a very old road bike manufacture from Worksop, England. The mass producer Raleigh bought Carlton to have facilities capable of building high class bikes. And indeed, the know-how of Carlton Cycles proved very beneficial for Raleigh. It even led to the set-up of their famous Specialist Bicycle Development Unit. The result were numerous championships for Raleigh-sponsored teams.
However, in 1981, Carlton Cycles was shut down and the brand disappeared from the market.
Our Raleigh Carlton Kermesse seems to be one of the very last bikes which left the factory in Worksop and were still to proudly bear the name of Carlton Cycles. The model was named after the popular round course races of the flemish countryside and would have made a perfect choice for such an occasion.

It is a nice racing frame in really good condition. The excellent tubing combined with a delicate lugwork forms a great sportsbike. Not too heavy and stable enough for fast riding. Yet it provides the necessary comfort you would expect from a bike on which you can jaunt for a long Sunday afternoon in the countryside. You can, of course, tackle a historic bicycle race as well.