1972 Raleigh Sports DL-22L ladies model black
Best for riders up to 5’11” tall. The British press called this bike the world’s most elegant bicycle. It provides a super comfortable upright riding position. Read more about the essence of English “All Steel Bikes”. Here is page 12 from the 1972 Raleigh Catalog with info about 1972 Raleigh Sports. I completely rebuilt this bike, de-rusted all questionable areas, repainted the frame, fork, and fenders with 3 layers of gloss black enamel, applied a new set of decals, and two clear coats. The famous Sturmey Archer internal gear hub was completely disassembled, cleaned, properly lubricated with modern-day synthetic grease, and is ready for another 50 years of maintenance-free service, just like all hubs and bearings of this bike.
This is Molly’s bike now.
The Thai sticker on Raleigh bikes
The Thai sticker on this bike and some other Raleigh bikes is a remnant of the company’s history in Thailand. Raleigh was one of the first foreign companies to manufacture bicycles in Thailand, and it did so for many years. The Thai sticker was a way for the company to show its commitment to the Thai market and its customers.
The Thai sticker was first used on Raleigh bikes in the 1970s. At the time, Thailand was a major manufacturing hub for bicycles, and Raleigh was one of the leading brands in the country. The Thai sticker continued to be used on Raleigh bikes until the early 2000s. By that time, the company had moved most of its manufacturing operations to other countries. However, the Thai sticker remains a popular collectible among Raleigh enthusiasts. The Thai stickers are rare and valuable collectible.
