Simple Elegance

Afternoon Tea at Longfellows Wayside Inn, South Sudbury, Ma.


Without ever experiencing the ride of a Raleigh Roadster, one might never understand the elegance of a ride.

At first the rider experiences the feeling of rolling steel, awkward as if the bicycle is taking you. rather you the bike. The weight of the machine keeps the bicycle moving forward effortlessly as if it has a mind of its own.

Climbing hills at first seems harder but only if you try to "out ride " its design. Finding the cycles "Sweet Spot" and learning the gears, has you in short order enjoying the countryside like never before.

People notice. From the sidewalk strangers wave. They see the smile and the awareness the Roadster and its rider have of the surroundings and not just trying to go fast. The rider adds to the scenery and fits nicely. Saying hello with a ring of your bell always gets a smile.

Never before has there been as much enjoyment of both movement and scenery as cycling on a Raleigh Roadster on a beautiful New England afternoon, It has you wanting to go out of your way and find a nice place to stop for tea!

11-11-11

Polished, Oiled and ready to ride,

My bike choice for the day, a 1937 Raleigh Golden Arrow, 3 Speed Aw hub. Geared a little high for the rest of the riders bikes, but nice.
The bicycle in the background id a 1939 womens Golden Arrow.

The can reads "Two tablespoons per fortnight"

A beautiful November New England day, 50's, Sunny, with a bit of a wind.
Our first stop at Rockey Woods for a "Snort" and then back on the road.

Perfect timing for the photo of the Model A Ford and the 1950 Raleigh Sports

Just where is Susie and Bob?

Back as a group at the John Adams Homested in Medfield, Ma.

Four riders had a wonderful ride, Group shot at the Welesley, Natick line. The marker at our feet reads, NN for Natick Nedham from before Welesley was a townand was still south west Needham.




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The "Ride" of a Raleigh

It doesn't take long to get the feel of a Raleigh 3 Speed. At first glance one could expect the exact opposite.
The bike looks heavy and slow, but under way you roll like never before. A freshly tuned, oiled and polished Raleigh is like no other bicycle. It seems like the perfect bike. The weight of the bike once under way seems to keep you rolling effortlessly.
After the first mile or two you become use to the 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearing and know just when to shift. The hub in its design will allow you to pre select a higher gear and when you want a change, stop pedaling for an instant and it shifts by itself.
Riding a fendered Sports is a joy.. Wet streets become no problem at all and long rides after rainy days are a joy!
There isn't a better bicycle feeling then being on a shiny Raleigh, sitting upright and enjoying the country side on a beautiful day here in the place we all know and love, New England

So Whats With the Raleigh?

Every red blooded American boy wants a bicycle. Hearty, heavy, Built like a car. Strong enough to take the abuse of jumping over any ramp of any height.
If it wasn't a Car, it was a Motorcycle. Banana Seats and High Rise Handlebars were the rage growing up in New England.
So whats with the Raleigh? The kids that showed up for "Woods Rides" on their roadsters just did not cut it. The chain slapping on the hockey stick shaped chain guard was a true turn off. No car or motor bike would ever make such a sound.
But when the bikes out performed anything we tried as a group, the saying we came up with was "On a Raleigh?" It was heard over and over until we were all riding them and putting them through certain Hell that the bicycle was never designed for.
In the late 60's, 3 speeds, mostly Raleighs were being thrown out every week end to make room for the Riding Mower. It was the dawing of the "Ten Speed" and the heavy black bike with only 3 gears was no longer wanted. It was common to find a mid 50's Raleigh Sports with very little miles on it standing up by the metal pile as if there was at least a little of respct.
I remember going to the Natick Dump by bike and finding a 23" Sports without wheels and coming back the next week to find the wheels.
There was a time at Natick that there was over 15 26x1 3/8 Raleigh Patern Rimed wheels. About a third were Sturmey Archer AW hubs and a couple SW. Being on a bike, I cut the spokes, locked the rims to the dump's fence and brought the hubs home.
The Raleigh became what we called our "Moble Units" Set up with racks (Also from the dump) We could get into the woods and set up a campsite quicker that walking. Leaving our 10 speeds at home, The Raleigh became our legs for normal every day life and our "Truck" to deal with it. This was my begening to owning more then one bicycle.
For the first time I had a bike I felt safe locking up and walking away. The go anywhere bike and it was free.

Mobile Unit One, 1970

Welcome to Bosrug 2

Its only appropriate that I start a blog honoring the Raleigh. I have owned, bought and sold over 100 starting back with my first from a good friend and my second, 4 speed, from the Dover Country Store, back in 1972. 11-11-11 will be the 35 aniversary of our "Vetrans Day Ride". Some of the origanal riders that attended the first event will be on this ride. International Corduroy Day! When all the ones are in rows, 111111 at 1111!
Check back here often for photographs and updates about the bicycles we all know and love, The Raleigh.