Riding Strong
Raleigh America benefits from local cyclists

   When Frank Bowden started manufacturing Raleigh bicycles in England in 1887, he hired the region’s best bicycle technicians to serve as the foundation for his company. That tradition has carried over to Raleigh America, based in Kent, Wash., where area cyclists have played an important role in the company’s innovative growth for over 20 years.

   “There is a very active year-round cycling community in the region – commuters, racers, endurance riders, and recreational riders,” said Reed Pike, director of marketing for Raleigh America. “This level of cycling activity provides us with great opportunities to test and research market trends.”

   Robert Trombley, team director for Recycled Cycles Racing in Seattle, recently provided input on Raleigh’s new racing models, Team and Prestige.

   “Because Raleigh’s right in our backyard, we can provide feedback on their products directly to them without going through multiple corporate layers,” said Trombley.

   In 2003, Raleigh began sponsoring Recycled Cycles Racing Team (www.recycledcycles.com), which has grown into a 50-member squad gaining national attention. Team member Tom Peterson rode the Raleigh 2004 Prestige during his win at the junior National Road Race Championships. This year Peterson will ride the 2005 Team model that features a new carbon fiber frame, a design that resulted partly from his team’s input.

   Raleigh America is also developing a single-speed road/track model with Seattle’s Jerry Baker, a founder of the Group Health Velodrome (www.velodrome.org).

   “This bicycle will meet the needs of the road community but will also be at home on the track,” said Harley Sheffield, executive director for Marymoor Velodrome Association. 

    Following the national trend of rising popularity of track racing, the velodrome has seen increased interest for its Track Racing Classes. Sheffield will use 35 new Raleigh track bikes
to teach upcoming classes. Visit (www.velodrome.org) for more details.

   Raleigh America also provides bicycles for Team Biogen-Idec (www.teambiogenidec.com), a professional racing team whose mission includes inspiring people with multiple sclerosis to pursue an active lifestyle. The company also supports the cycling program of Team Survivor Northwest (www.teamsurvivornw.org), which enables women cancer survivors to take an active role in their ongoing physical and emotional healing process.

   Locally, Raleigh is working with the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure ride in May and the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Mountain Bike Challenge, MS 150 Bike Tour, Sept. 10-11.

   Their involvement with these health-related groups goes back to the founding of the company: Raleigh’s Frank Bowden credited bicycling with saving his life. After doctors told him he had six months to live, Bowden bought a 70-pound bike, rode through the French countryside for a few months, recovered his health, founded Raleigh and then went on to live 34 more years.

   “True to our roots, we believe the bicycle can be an important part of a happy and healthy lifestyle,” said Pike. “We are pleased to support programs and events that speak to that.”

   Cycling ranks nationally as the most popular outdoor activity, according to a recent study by the (Outdoor Industry Foundation), with approximately 30 percent of the general population interested in recreational riding.

   Raleigh America’s corporate location encourages cycling: Employees can ride the Green River Trail to the new facility in Kent, where 60 people work in product design, marketing and customer service.

   “We benefit from the region’s outdoor-centric lifestyle,” said Pike. “The long-term outlook for cycling in the area looks bright.”

 Raleigh America

6004 S. 190th Street, Suite 101

Kent, Washington 98032 

Tel: 253-395-1100

www.raleighusa.com and www.diamondback.com

Founded in 1985