I got handed down my brother's "Raleigh" 10 speed after he got his first car. A Singer Rallye Chamois, a tiny rear engined upscale version of the Hillman Rallye Imp. It was made by the Rootes Group to compete with the world famous Austin Mini (the original 60's car). For a little, bitty car it could scoot.
Raleigh built very strong, heavy steel bikes that were nearly indestructible, my previous bike a one speed Raleigh Jeep was intact and still functional (he he) after several years of imitating Evel Knievel. It had 24" wheels and I had pretty much out grown it. I didn't abuse the 10 speed and it gave me reliable transportation until I left the old country. But, it was sooo heavy and my buddy bought one of the new all aluminium, I'll use the Brit spelling for fun, bike. It was so light and made me rather envious.
Anyway, my folks had a camper in the Galloway Hills, 50 miles south from our home. Me and my bud would load up and ride down there for long weekends. We would do some hiking and then hit the Pub to eat, relax and drink many pints of "heavy" an ale popular in Scotland. Now I'll describe the ride; the first 15 miles were relatively flattish, then 20 miles of increasingly steep and twisting single lane road. The last 15 was downhill. My friend would ride rings around me for the uphill section but, on the downslope my superior mass took over and it was his turn to struggle. If I still had the strength I would stand on the pedals and really pump, arriving between 5 and 15 minutes before him. Yay Victory! Boy oh boy, I was in tremendous shape back then. Whoa Izme!
Raleigh built very strong, heavy steel bikes that were nearly indestructible, my previous bike a one speed Raleigh Jeep was intact and still functional (he he) after several years of imitating Evel Knievel. It had 24" wheels and I had pretty much out grown it. I didn't abuse the 10 speed and it gave me reliable transportation until I left the old country. But, it was sooo heavy and my buddy bought one of the new all aluminium, I'll use the Brit spelling for fun, bike. It was so light and made me rather envious.
Anyway, my folks had a camper in the Galloway Hills, 50 miles south from our home. Me and my bud would load up and ride down there for long weekends. We would do some hiking and then hit the Pub to eat, relax and drink many pints of "heavy" an ale popular in Scotland. Now I'll describe the ride; the first 15 miles were relatively flattish, then 20 miles of increasingly steep and twisting single lane road. The last 15 was downhill. My friend would ride rings around me for the uphill section but, on the downslope my superior mass took over and it was his turn to struggle. If I still had the strength I would stand on the pedals and really pump, arriving between 5 and 15 minutes before him. Yay Victory! Boy oh boy, I was in tremendous shape back then. Whoa Izme!