Comments on: Raleigh Chopper

By: Mr Murray

Mr Murray — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:36:41 +0000

I used to ride a Honda 90 but then I discovered the Chopper. What a way to get fit; although I do miss the 7.2 bhp of the Honda. I like to make sauce and the Chopper makes an ideal means of transporting boxes of tomatoes. I can also squeeze in a few bottles of vingar, some onions and the other secret ingredients that make up my sauce. Talking of sauce, the iconoclastic and faintly warholian styling of Raleigh’s finest has quite a bit of sauce about it; it’s almost as though the designers of the late 1960s added some secret ingredients of their own at tea break!

By: Cycling Ace

Cycling Ace — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:57:15 +0000

I have a chopper which I think may be a rather strange bicycle. Mine has no saddle. I ride everywhere, including the welfare office and I can most often be seen around Les Marais in St Clement. I ride with my backside up in the air, much to the revulsion of following motorists. Dressed in purple gear, I usually wear a filty dirty woollen balaclava. My chopper is to be praised for its longevity. I must do about 120 miles a week, although I must get that saddle fixed soon otherwise I will be singing falsetto in the local choir!

By: A Vindec High Riser | Cycling UK

A Vindec High Riser | Cycling UK — Thu, 19 May 2011 07:32:07 +0000

[...] Other models had a Sturmy Archer 3 speed hub. It was a cheap version of the more popular Raleigh Chopper. (which is quite popular with random [...]

By: John Beel

John Beel — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:34:28 +0000

When I was a struggling carpet mercahnt, I couldn’t afford a van. I found the Raleigh Chopper to be a very useful means of transport. The long seat would partly accommodate a standard roll of carpet with minimal overhang, although I had to be careful that the machine did not overbalance.

“Is he in?” I would ask as I loaded the roll onto the trusty bike. “Fit?” I would say as I pedalled off to a job.

I got the Chopper restored after a couple of years. The signwriter who finished the job made an error. Instead of signing the legend “Chopper” on the downtube, he wrote “Chop Per”. I left the lettering as it was. It makes an interesting conversation point when I take the “Chop Per” to carpet trade conferences.

By: Paco del Tauro

Paco del Tauro — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:55:12 +0000

I used my chopper on my campsite to collect monies from reluctant campers to cries of “Pay me, pay me”, I would put all the pesatas in my leather satchel while Terence Trent Darby sang soulfully from the Whip. A couple of times I would have to punish non-paying campers by tying them by their feet to the back bar of the chopper and cycling furiously down the centre of the campsite – that certainly taught them all a lesson – Viva Espana!

By: Chris Cheeps

Chris Cheeps — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:33:34 +0000

My trusty chopper got me to work at the hire car centre until a macho cretin work colleague threw both me and the bike into a large dustbin. After that I worked in a filthy greasy chip shop dealing with all these abusive drunken youngsters, the only distraction was keenly eyeing up my chopper which looked great on the pavement outside. My chopper days ended when the police impounded it when they found me dead drunk on it one night with my head slumped between the handlebars.

By: Go Gray

Go Gray — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:50:52 +0000

I used to get my gym class to do exercises on their choppers. “Twenty burpees, go!” I would shout. Twenty pupils would then bounce across the playing field on their choppers. Apart from the odd burst tyre, there were no mishaps. Those who did well were rewarded by having their questions answered in biology class. Those who didn’t used to find that, when they put their hand up to ask a question, I would pretend not to notice it. My strange, permed, hair was the talk of the changing rooms!

By: Philidea Carlsbought

Philidea Carlsbought — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:50:04 +0000

Due to my disability I had to modify my chopper to accommodate my colostomy bag. I managed this by making a circular hole in the centre of the saddle in which my bag sat nice and snug upon the frame, this worked extremely well for many years on my journeys to the remedial centre although I’m told that it left a certain “exhaust note”. Eventually I gave the chopper up when a local charity bought me an Opel Kadett which I cherish to this day. However my modifications to the chopper have not been in vain as I’ve witnessed generation after generation of coal tits nesting in my colostomy pit with many a parent standing proud upon the gear stick.

By: Neil Derthal

Neil Derthal — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:42:58 +0000

I’m quick I am to spot a bargain and I bought a chopper some years ago. Quick thinking saved me paying more at the time. These days, I drive a 4 x 4 and I have put on some weight so I completely fill the front of the car like some grotesque cartoon figure! I still have the chopper though and I do ride it occasionally when the roads are empty. Although I ‘m not all that fit, I find the gearing good and I’m quick, I am.

By: David Watts

David Watts — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:09:27 +0000

When I joined the bank 30 years ago I found the chopper an ideal way to commute to work, and it certainly made me a big hit with all the girls in the neighbourhood. In winter I fitted a lighting system which was fine until the front bulb blew, only a few pence for a new one, but a massive labour charge to get it fitted, ‘cos you’ve got to take the light apart to get to the back, ‘cos that’s how you fit a new bulb eh!