Raleigh Chopper

… in 1970 I so wanted this bike, I never got it.

I was ten years of age and this was by far the coolest thing I had ever laid eyes upon. The ape hanger handle bars, the gear shift lever, the seat that could take two (at a squeeze!), the sissy bar, the large fat nobbly rear tyre and the colours – Brilliant Orange, Golden Yellow, Targa Mustard – all these elements ensured the Chopper became one of the most iconic bicycle designs of its generation.

The design was developed by the Raleigh design department, headed at that time by Alan Oakley, although Ogle Design lay claim to producing the original concept artwork.  It captured every boys (and some girls) imagination and its  phenomenal success helped rescue Raleigh cycles which had been struggling in face of poor demand and higher competition at that time.

…its 2011, I’m 51 years of age and I still want this bike.