1896 Raleigh ‘No 5’ Road Racer

1896 Raleigh ‘No 5’ Road Racer

Fitted with 1902 ‘The Hub’ Two-Speed Gear

Gough Racing Saddle

24″ Frame

28″ Wheels

Frame No 32086

This 1896 Raleigh is a rare survivor as, during this era, the company’s production was not as profuse as post-1900. Raleigh was beset by boardroom struggles as Frank Bowden took over from the company founders. Within a few years, the restructuring and massive investment in new equipment set the company on the road to becoming Great Britain’s top cycle manufacture. But in the mid-1890s, Bowden’s backing for the American wooden wheel inventor and manufacturer A.C Fairbanks had lost Raleigh considerable sums of money, and their cycle production was affected.

A Raleigh in 1896 was a very upmarket bicycle, so it’s not surprising that it was subsequently updated with the latest state-of-the-art contrivance available to cyclists …’The Hub’ two-speed Gear. Later two-speeds from this company had fixed wheel in first gear, with freewheel operating in the second gear. But this earlier example is fixed in both first and second.

The Raleigh ‘No 5’ Road Racer is in excellent condition, with good nickel parts. It seems to be an older restoration. The frame number 32086 appears on both the bottom bracket and front forks. It’s very easy to ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1897 RALEIGH CATALOGUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1899 ‘THE HUB’ TWO-SPEED GEAR PATENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘THE HUB’ TWO-SPEED GEAR