Raleigh: 2008 One Way
It shouldn’t be a surprise after the Boxfresh collaboration, but Raleigh has been turning lots of heads lately. If I asked you, even a year ago, to give me the top five companies in cycling for 2007, I doubt Raleigh, an English bicycle manufacturer that has been around since 1887 and have changed ownership a few times, whose heyday ended in the late 80’s, would have appeared on that list. Fortunately for them — and us — those conditions were ripe for a return.
Cyclists are returning to their roots, yearning for simplicity; the fixed-gear phenomenon is spreading from San Francisco to New York, and other large cities overseas. More people bike than ever and for some it’s an alternative to burning fossil fuels on their commute to work and for others, it’s simply fun. The soon-to-be released 2008 Raleigh One Way is an incredibly classy machine — it has a flip-flop hub with a fixed gear, meaning if the bike is moving, your feet are pedaling, and a freewheel on the other. A single gear means no fancy shifters to deal with, no extra parts to break or maintain; it also means you’re always in the right gear at signals and leads to increased muscle memory. The One Way comes in a beautiful British Racing green with front and rear fenders to protect you in the rain and from those pesky wet potholes. One new feature this year is that the One Way comes with a pre-softened Brooks leather saddle and matching bar tape standard — truly a return to it’s European heritage as well as the days when people cared less about The Tour and more about just riding.
