Raleigh’s history begins in Nottingham in 1887. Frank Bowden, closely associated with its growth, discovered cycling while recovering his health.
A 1901 Raleigh All-Steel bicycle shows manufacturing changing. Lighter pressed sheet-steel joints replaced heavy iron castings. The surviving machine also has a three-speed Sturmey-Archer epicyclic hub and an oil-bath chaincase. Its recorded weight of 20.5 kilograms is a reminder to read “lighter” in the context of its era.
The racing connection continued: Joop Zoetemelk won the 1980 Tour de France with TI-Raleigh-Creda. Everyday journeys and elite sport share this history.