Raleigh

Luxury Raleigh bicycle in chrome. The silvery "Boss-Bike" was introduced in late 70s. All-chrome Raleigh roadster was produced both in Raleigh factory in Nottingham and in their subsidiary in Africa; Nigeria was Raleigh’s largest single foreign market in this time.

Sir Frank Bowden bought a small bicycle company on Raleigh Street, Nottingham in 1887. Taking its name from the street, the Raleigh Bicycle Company was formed in 1890. In 1897 A.A. 'Zimmy' Zimmerman (to the left) became Raleigh's first world cycling champion. In 1902 Raleigh bought Sturmey Archer. Their three-speed gear hub, the world's first practical gearing system, was offered to the public in 1903. Bowden was company's leader to 1932. In the year when he retired company's production reached 62000 bicycles. In 1943 Raleigh bought Rudge-Whitworth cycle company, and in 1960 it merged with TI group. With this came control of the Phillips, Hercules, Norman and Sun brands, making Raleigh the world's largest producers of two wheeled personal transport.