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From: David Uri <daviduriV...@bigfoot.com>
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Subject: Alan Oakley, designer of the Chopper bicycle, 85
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 12:33:07 +0100
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18136787

Raleigh Chopper designer Alan Oakley dies from cancer

The man who designed Raleigh's iconic Chopper bicycle has died after a
battle with cancer.

Alan Oakley, 85 and from Nottingham, home of the bike manufacturer,
died on Friday.

His wife Karen told the BBC she had managed his illness "right up
until the last few weeks".

Mrs Oakley confirmed the now-legendary story that her husband drew the
design for the Chopper on an envelope as he travelled home from the
USA, in 1967.

Initially inspired to replicate the design of Peter Fonda's motorbike
in the classic movie Easy Rider, Mr Oakley came up with his drawing as
he flew home from the trip, set up for him to "get-to-grips" with
youth culture.

Moving away from the traditional, diamond-shaped frame, Mr Oakley
thought a bike with huge handle bars, a bulky, padded seat with a back
rest and a car-like gear lever on the main frame, would exude the
"cool" he was after.

"Alan had been over to America looking to pick up a design for a
bike," said Mrs Oakley.

"While he was flying back, he had an airmail envelope and just drew
this bike on the back of it and that was that, the creation of the
Chopper."

Initial attempts to sell the Chopper in America were unsuccessful.
But sales took off in the early 1970s in the UK and according to
Raleigh, "changed the way a generation of British kids rode".

"Raleigh wasn't moving with the times and Alan came up with this
showstopping design," said Mrs Oakley.

The Chopper was so successful, Raleigh sold 1.5 million of them in the
UK alone and the strange bike is credited with saving the company from
bankruptcy.

In the 1980s, production of the Chopper ceased when rival model, the
BMX, hit the market.

But in 2004, due to popular demand, a limited edition Chopper, costing
between �200 and �300 for a Mk3 model, was released.

Some changes were made to the Mk1 and Mk2's original design such as a
new seat to discourage "backies", according to Mrs Oakley, and the
gear lever was moved to a safer position on the handlebars.

"As a friend and former colleague of Alan's said, 'Raleigh was Alan
and Alan was Raleigh', "said Mrs Oakley.

"He was there for 40 years and loved every minute of it. He made
people very happy and I am very proud of him."


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