1896 Raleigh ‘No 5’ Road Racer

1896 Raleigh ‘No 5’ Road Racer

Fitted with 1902 ‘The Hub’ Two-Speed Gear

Raleigh named pedals and handlebar grips

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 leading cycle manufacturer. 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 updated a few years later 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 has fixed wheel in both first and second.

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

 

 

 

 

  1897 RALEIGH CATALOGUE EXTRACTS

 

 

 

FRAME NUMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘THE HUB’ TWO-SPEED GEAR