I just read that a limited edition version of the Raleigh Chopper is to be re-released. The original 1970's version has achieved iconic status and is probably one of the most sought after classic bicycles (maybe purely for nostagic reasons).
Although the original is essentially a childs bicycle, the design has raised my curiosity and I have often wondered from an engineering or ergonomics perspective how good (or bad) this design is ?
Was the design based purely on a fashion ideal/concept or had the designers something more than this in mind ?
I just read that a limited edition version of the Raleigh Chopper is to be re-released. The original 1970's version has achieved iconic status and is probably one of the most sought after classic bicycles (maybe purely for nostagic reasons).
Although the original is essentially a childs bicycle, the design has raised my curiosity and I have often wondered from an engineering or ergonomics perspective how good (or bad) this design is ?
Was the design based purely on a fashion ideal/concept or had the designers something more than this in mind ?
No good. The gearshift has been moved to the handlebars. Boo!
BTW, they weighed a ton and handled like a supertanker. I had one for years.
I just read that a limited edition version of the Raleigh Chopper is to be re-released. The original 1970's version has achieved iconic status and is probably one of the most sought after classic bicycles (maybe purely for nostagic reasons).
Although the original is essentially a childs bicycle, the design has raised my curiosity and I have often wondered from an engineering or ergonomics perspective how good (or bad) this design is ?
Pretty bad, IIRC. The seating position was so extremely upright that it was hard to pedal efficiently, the shift lever was positioned in exactly the right place to catch a childs groin area if he/she went over the bars, the ape hanger bars made for some pretty marginal steering control, and the square profile of the rear tire didn't make too much sense on a single track vehicle (think leaning into a turn).
Quoted message said:
Was the design based purely on a fashion ideal/concept or had the designers something more than this in mind ?
What they had in mind was something that would incorporate visual styling cues from motorcycles (hence the name and the apehanger bars), and dragsters (shift levers, rear slick). I seriously doubt that the designers ever expected anyone to actually ride the thing. -- mark
On 16 Jan 2004 08:31:30 -0800, [email hidden] (Rik O'Shea) may
have said:
I just read that a limited edition version of the Raleigh Chopper is to be re-released. The original 1970's version has achieved iconic status and is probably one of the most sought after classic bicycles (maybe purely for nostagic reasons).
Drat. Now I wish I'd grabbed the one that was over at Goodwill the other day. I could likely have turned a profit on the $5.
Quoted message said:
Was the design based purely on a fashion ideal/concept or had the designers something more than this in mind ?
Purely trendy styling. I remember when they were new; I'm old enough that they came along well after I had outgrown that size of bike. A couple of kids in the neighborhood had cajoled their parents into buying them. After the initial Coolness Factor wore off, these tended to be the bikes that got left in the back yard.
-- My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
