PaulusJan69
Retro Newbie
Back in the early 90's, I lived in the Sutton, Surrey area. I remember it being a sunny Saturday in Sutton, and I was looking for a new bike.
Being a fan of Raleigh bikes as a child, over the years, I've owned different models, eg. a Chopper, Grifter, Commando, Stow-Away and an Arena, I wanted to see what Raleigh had to offer.
With a limited budget, I decided to visit our then, local bike shop, Pearsons of Sutton.
The upstairs sales floor, had on display, a new Raleigh Amazon. The black, green, blue, gold speckled paint finish, drew my attention, like a cat to a set of car keys.
The only slight problem was, the Amazon had a 21" frame.
The guy behind the counter, whose name was Guy, made a comment to me, that the frame was the perfect size for my inside leg (30"). Of course, I trusted his judgement and purchased it there and then, not considering, perhaps he needed it gone today.
Riding the Amazon home, it felt really comfortable to me. To my aesthetic eye, the paint finish popped, but to my design eye, the bike always looked awkward compared to the smaller framed bikes of the day.
Of course, I learned to live with it, but I still preferred the look of the smaller, tighter framed machines.
Many years later, and fighting a mid-life crisis, I was trawling through the internet auction sites, when I came across a post for a Raleigh Amazon with a 19" frame. What really grabbed my attention was the description that said: 'LIKE NEW'
With happy memories of my 21 inch, taking part in the London to Brighton charity bike ride and everywhere else, I had to have an Amazon in my life again.
Cambridgeshire is not exactly on the doorstep of the Surrey Hills, but who cares, life can be too short and plus, I had become fixated. A couple of hours later, and with a Cheshire Cat grin, there it was, exactly as the seller had said, 'LIKE NEW.'
Being a fan of Raleigh bikes as a child, over the years, I've owned different models, eg. a Chopper, Grifter, Commando, Stow-Away and an Arena, I wanted to see what Raleigh had to offer.
With a limited budget, I decided to visit our then, local bike shop, Pearsons of Sutton.
The upstairs sales floor, had on display, a new Raleigh Amazon. The black, green, blue, gold speckled paint finish, drew my attention, like a cat to a set of car keys.
The only slight problem was, the Amazon had a 21" frame.
The guy behind the counter, whose name was Guy, made a comment to me, that the frame was the perfect size for my inside leg (30"). Of course, I trusted his judgement and purchased it there and then, not considering, perhaps he needed it gone today.
Riding the Amazon home, it felt really comfortable to me. To my aesthetic eye, the paint finish popped, but to my design eye, the bike always looked awkward compared to the smaller framed bikes of the day.
Of course, I learned to live with it, but I still preferred the look of the smaller, tighter framed machines.
Many years later, and fighting a mid-life crisis, I was trawling through the internet auction sites, when I came across a post for a Raleigh Amazon with a 19" frame. What really grabbed my attention was the description that said: 'LIKE NEW'
With happy memories of my 21 inch, taking part in the London to Brighton charity bike ride and everywhere else, I had to have an Amazon in my life again.
Cambridgeshire is not exactly on the doorstep of the Surrey Hills, but who cares, life can be too short and plus, I had become fixated. A couple of hours later, and with a Cheshire Cat grin, there it was, exactly as the seller had said, 'LIKE NEW.'
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