Dug out used to take pack across far canal.

I used to ride it in a three piece suit with plimsoles on the way to the office. At fifty two years of age, I cut quite a dashing figure, I can tell you! After the chopper I had a Raleigh Grifter. Although mechanically similar to the Chopper, its dynamic qualities were somewhat different. I did transfer the handlebar streamers and people did continue to stare and occasionally laugh at me.

After the Grifter came a Raleigh Bomber, which I like to consider as a precursor to the mountain bike craze. A wonderful piece of forward thinking from the boffins at Nottingham, I believe.

That chopper would travel at 70km per hour but not very safe. Et was a frightening thing to go.

Three of our “clan” lost their respective driving licences after having committed various road traffic offences. This posed a serious problem. How could those members get around in a manner which is in keeping with the club’s rebellious, law breaking, image?

Our club steward had an absolutely top-hole idea. We would start a Raleigh Chopper chapter. We obtained three chopper bicycles for the members and they were restored and painted matt black. Dummy chome exhaust pies were then added.

The three chaps now ride to club meetings on these individualistic machines. Although the wearing of a helmet is of course not obligatory, these fellows maintain the club tradition of wearing the characteristic black helmet with horns, along with full leathers and boots.

So successful is this quest that the remainder of the club members are now seeking choppers. As well as keeping one fit, this absolutely first class effort must serve to combat global warming.

These machines are quite fascinating. At school, most were three speed models. Some mk 1 models were about, but the majority were of the mk 2 ilk.

There were one or two interesting and obscure variations. One of the chaps had a purple device which had two gear levers, one normal sized and the other a small toggle item. These bifurcated levers controlled a five speed derailleur gear mechanism. The front chain wheel was different and resembled that of a racing cycle. This was probably fitted in order to accommodate a finer, more supple chain than would have been the case with the standard, sturmey archer, three speed model.

The other exotic machine was a so-called “chopper sprint gt” model with three speeds and a cut down seat which tapered off at the back. It had chequered graphics on the bottom frame tube.

I understand that this model may usually have cbeen fitted with a dropped variant of the high rise bars, but this particular example [which I think was metallic brown in colour] sported the normal handlebars.

All in all, a wonderful site devoted to this two wheeled ephemera.

Mama have pizza on choppa and she lika to eata it while she rida fasta but nota too fasta!

Your information is very correct and informative. I have collection of these machines. One he is red and the other he is blue. I to have must buy another green one very soon.

Three speed is very daring if you vant to pedal faster, I become scared down hills.

In Holand it is not a problem because no hills but lots of dykes there!