ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the origins of Raleigh and its rise to become one of Britain's leading bicycle producers in the twentieth century. It argues that an important aspect of the early growth of the cycle industry was the emergence of an 'industrial district' which helped facilitate the process of business networking of bicycle firms in centres such as Birmingham and Coventry. After the end of the Second World War, Raleigh was the one major independent producer left in the industry, and the only other British manufacturers who could effectively challenge its position were the bicycle divisions of two large groups, Tube Investments (TI) and Birmingham Small Arms (BSA). The book examines the success of the post-war years, and the failure to meet the aggressive foreign challenge and explores the failed effort to enter the market for mopeds from the mid-1950s.
