Dutch may buy Raleigh cycle brand

The firm, which was founded in Nottingham and is most famous for its Raleigh Chopper, is in discussions with Accell, the maker of Batavus and Sparta bikes.

Raleigh began life when Sir Frank Bowden bought an interest in a small bike company in the city’s Raleigh Street in 1887.

Raleigh, which sold 850,000 bikes worldwide last year and whose brands include Avenir and Diamondback, still designs bikes in Nottingham, where it employs more than 100 staff, but they are made in the Far East.

It has grown to become a company with sales of £195m a year and 430 employees. Its bikes have also been ridden by Tour de France winners.

Various Raleigh businesses were acquired by the company’s management team from the Derby Cycle Corporation in 2001.

Accell, which is listed on the Amsterdam stock market and has production plants in Germany, France, Hungary and Turkey, has entered into a non-binding agreement to hold exclusive talks with Raleigh.

It has been reported that Raleigh has been up for sale for some time.

Other famous Raleigh children’s brands include Grifter, Burner and Diamondback BMX.

Raleigh operates through production and distribution companies in the UK, United States and Canada and has worldwide licensing activities.

In 1980, Joop Zoetemelk of Holland, won the Tour de France riding for TI Raleigh Creda.