Not only is the Raleigh one of the oldest cycling brands of the world, it also is popular for its racing heritage. At the peak of sportive triumph stood the Dutch cycling Team TI Raleigh which was extremely successful from the 1970s to the 1980s. Many famous champions rode in this équipe, among them Joop Zoetemelk, Jan Raas, Gerrie Knetemann, Hennie Kuiper, Dave Lloyd, Urs Freuler, Johan van der Velde and Didi Thurau.
Success does not come without fans and admirers who are keen to identify themselves with the stars and some marketing to feed their needs.
In these years several 10- and 12-speed models tried to give amateurs and professionals alike the possibility to join the ranks of Raleigh road bike racers and especially the team coloured bikes sold very well.
Our Raleigh Rapide is one of these bikes. The frame was built in the famous Carlton factory using Raleigh 531 butted tubes and was painted in the typical, vibrant colours of the Team Raleigh. As for the components, a nice mix, mainly of Raleigh branded and high quality Japanese parts have been used, such as Suntour Shifting and a Raleigh-Sakae chainset. The Suntour derailleurs were arguably the best ones on the market till the mid 1980s. And their Retrofriction shifters are nothing less than legendary.
Generally the Rapide was a very popular model because it combined a sportive geometry with great versatility. Thanks to extra eyelets, the installation of mudguards or fenders was easy, and the center-pull brakes left enough clearance for wider tires. So if you you like to, you can make use of these opportunities, too.
A bike, checked, lubed, adjusted and good for many miles to come. Why not ride this one at L'Eroica?
