CHARGE OF THE BIKE BRIGADEE
This photo and article extracts were taken from the ' Observer ' magazine 1973

" Small bicycles are a big business. Raleigh for instance , are still a little dazed by the enthusiasm with which their trend-setting Chopper
has been greeted by children both in Britain and abroad. Sales have been zipping along at an average of 5,000 a week since the bike was launched in 1970. (the trade predicted a flop) "

" Described in advertisments as 'a machine inspired by the screaming rubber and roaring fantails of the dragster racing slick' , the Chopper has already inspired a whole new generation of what are essentially fun bikes - including scaled down versions for younger children - and reflects the motoring trend towards such slickly-styled and cheerfully extrovert cars as the Ford Capri.
Alan Oakley who designed the Chopper, admits that until recently anyone who seriously considered selling a child's bike for almost £40 would have been dismissed as the most cock-eyed of optimists. "

" Safety is one of the main concerns of John Gordon, who heads the company's concept design team. 'We are constantly working on what you might call the people-proof features,' he explains . ' Take the Chopper. The luggage-carrier has a turned up end to discourage potential passengers. The handle bars are brazed rather than bolted , olso that their angle cannot be changed - mess about with the swept-up high rise handle bars and you alter the steering geometry - and there is also a stop to prevent the column carrying the handlebars being pulled up too far.' "