• End of Accell

    From AMuzi@am@yellowjersey.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 07:39:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand
    Raleigh has filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/
    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Catrike Ryder@Soloman@old.bikers.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 09:13:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On Fri, 7 Aug 2026 07:39:40 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand
    Raleigh has filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/

    My dad rode a Raleigh bike to school. It would have been in the 1920s.
    He kept it. I remember it sitting in the machine shed when I was a
    kid. I have no idea what happened to it.

    --
    C'est bon
    Soloman
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AMuzi@am@yellowjersey.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 09:40:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/7/2026 8:13 AM, Catrike Ryder wrote:
    On Fri, 7 Aug 2026 07:39:40 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand
    Raleigh has filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/

    My dad rode a Raleigh bike to school. It would have been in the 1920s.
    He kept it. I remember it sitting in the machine shed when I was a
    kid. I have no idea what happened to it.

    --
    C'est bon
    Soloman

    My 1953 still rides well after a lifetime of commuting.

    Which bears no relation to the recent chinese drek sold as
    'Raleighs'.
    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Radey Shouman@shouman@comcast.net to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 10:59:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> writes:

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand Raleigh has
    filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/

    I am somehow reminded of Randall McMurphy smothered in bed with a
    pillow.
    --

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AMuzi@am@yellowjersey.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 10:02:01 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/7/2026 9:59 AM, Radey Shouman wrote:
    AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> writes:

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand Raleigh has
    filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/

    I am somehow reminded of Randall McMurphy smothered in bed with a
    pillow.


    +1

    Big finance players do not do acts of mercy.
    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From =?UTF-8?B?Y3ljbGludG9t?=@cyclintom@yahoo.com to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 21:35:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On Fri Aug 7 07:39:40 2026 AMuzi wrote:
    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand
    Raleigh has filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/
    I have a Raleigh gravel. I haven't gotten the V-brakes to work correctly yet but it is carbon fiber and weighs nothing
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Roger Merriman@roger@sarlet.com to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 7 23:11:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
    On 8/7/2026 8:13 AM, Catrike Ryder wrote:
    On Fri, 7 Aug 2026 07:39:40 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    The owner of the once formidable but now zombie brand
    Raleigh has filed for insolvency.

    cyclingindustry.news/accell-group-files-for-insolvency/

    My dad rode a Raleigh bike to school. It would have been in the 1920s.
    He kept it. I remember it sitting in the machine shed when I was a
    kid. I have no idea what happened to it.

    --
    C'est bon
    Soloman

    My 1953 still rides well after a lifetime of commuting.

    Which bears no relation to the recent chinese drek sold as
    'Raleighs'.


    I think I had a Raleigh as kid, never a road bike but then my parents place access was a gravel track and for quite some distance, which my friend who
    had one quite sensible wouldnrCOt ride on due to fear of punctures, i suspect wisely!

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now.

    Roger Merriman

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From sms@scharf.steven@geemail.com to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 14 08:46:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now.

    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did with Motobecane.

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store bikes
    that people bring in for repair.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Radey Shouman@shouman@comcast.net to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 14 14:58:22 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now. >> Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did
    with Motobecane.

    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name? Or, as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:

    I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in DickrCOs Sporting
    Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt going to *not* buy
    a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not going to buy a
    bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it because itrCOs a
    bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki was some
    coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then, locked in a
    head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the most adequate
    while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in the world goes,
    rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY

    Read the whole thing at

    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.

    --

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AMuzi@am@yellowjersey.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 14 14:15:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/14/2026 1:58 PM, Radey Shouman wrote:
    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now.
    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's
    Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did
    with Motobecane.

    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name? Or, as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:

    I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in DickrCOs Sporting
    Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt going to *not* buy
    a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not going to buy a
    bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it because itrCOs a
    bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki was some
    coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then, locked in a
    head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the most adequate
    while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in the world goes,
    rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY

    Read the whole thing at

    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.



    Nishiki wasn't the best example (I agree with Bike Snob on
    this).

    However, among certain demographic groups, some large
    groups, there is only one bicycle brand. It's Schwinn, aka
    'Swin'.

    Despite being long gone (died in 1992) the zombie brand has
    had several owners, enjoys robust sales (primarily WalMart)
    and retains enviable brand identity even now.
    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Radey Shouman@shouman@comcast.net to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 14 16:32:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> writes:

    On 8/14/2026 1:58 PM, Radey Shouman wrote:
    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now.
    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's
    Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did
    with Motobecane.
    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name? Or, as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:
    I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in DickrCOs
    Sporting
    Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt going to *not* buy >> a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not going to buy a
    bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it because itrCOs a
    bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki was some
    coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then, locked in a
    head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the most adequate
    while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in the world goes,
    rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY
    Read the whole thing at
    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.



    Nishiki wasn't the best example (I agree with Bike Snob on this).

    However, among certain demographic groups, some large groups, there is
    only one bicycle brand. It's Schwinn, aka 'Swin'.

    Despite being long gone (died in 1992) the zombie brand has had
    several owners, enjoys robust sales (primarily WalMart) and retains
    enviable brand identity even now.

    I can understand that. The ambience of the local hardware store/Schwinn dealership is something I clearly remember. Somehow rubber just doesn't
    smell the same today. Even in WalMart.
    --

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Roger Merriman@roger@sarlet.com to rec.bicycles.tech on Fri Aug 14 21:05:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    Radey Shouman <shouman@comcast.net> wrote:
    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a while now.
    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's
    Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did
    with Motobecane.

    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name? Or, as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:

    I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in DickrCOs Sporting
    Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt going to *not* buy
    a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not going to buy a
    bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it because itrCOs a
    bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki was some
    coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then, locked in a
    head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the most adequate
    while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in the world goes,
    rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY

    Read the whole thing at

    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.


    Certainly for Raleigh not seen a new one in years, I see older road bikes
    and occasionally roadster now and then, but not new.

    Its enthusiast market has long gone, and as per the Bikesnob blog, utility bikes riders arenrCOt terribly interested in brands.

    Maybe some of the other brands maybe have some value left but I think
    Raleigh value as name has now gone.

    Roger Merriman

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From zen cycle@funkmasterxx@hotmail.com to rec.bicycles.tech on Sat Aug 15 08:33:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/14/2026 3:15 PM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 8/14/2026 1:58 PM, Radey Shouman wrote:
    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for quite a
    while now.
    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand name, like Dick's
    Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes Direct did
    with Motobecane.

    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name?-a Or, as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:

    -a-a I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in DickrCOs Sporting >> -a-a Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt going to *not* buy
    -a-a a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not going to buy a >> -a-a bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it because itrCOs a
    -a-a bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki was some
    -a-a coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then, locked in a
    -a-a head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the most adequate
    -a-a while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in the world goes, >> -a-a rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY

    Read the whole thing at

    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.



    Nishiki wasn't the best example (I agree with Bike Snob on this).

    However, among certain demographic groups, some large groups, there is
    only one bicycle brand. It's Schwinn, aka 'Swin'.

    Despite being long gone (died in 1992) the zombie brand has had several owners, enjoys robust sales (primarily WalMart) and retains enviable
    brand identity even now.


    Back in about 1990 I borrowed a friends Nishiki "funny" bike for the New England Time trial Championships. It was branded as Nashbar and had a
    24" front wheel. it didn't help at all as I only finished mid-pack (I
    was never a good time trialer), but that wasn't the bikes fault. The
    owner regularly finished at the top in our local weekly TT on it. While
    I wouldn't say "name your price" if I ever found one in good shape for
    sale, I would most certainly entertain buying it.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/sT2bkicWFY1x3kVM7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/NguzSVhPUJDyLYKS7

    note the ridiculously bad early clip-on aerobar position.That was back
    before any rider (even the pros) went into a wind tunnel. The rear wheel
    was mine, stickers-n-all.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From AMuzi@am@yellowjersey.org to rec.bicycles.tech on Sat Aug 15 08:23:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

    On 8/15/2026 7:33 AM, zen cycle wrote:
    On 8/14/2026 3:15 PM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 8/14/2026 1:58 PM, Radey Shouman wrote:
    sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:

    On 8/7/2026 4:11 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

    <snip>

    Is a shame with the brand but itrCOs been rather dead for
    quite a while now.
    Roger Merriman
    Perhaps some entity will buy the rights to the brand
    name, like Dick's
    Sporting Goods did with Nishiki (for the U.S.) and Bikes
    Direct did
    with Motobecane.

    Do you think anyone who actually remembers the original
    Nishiki or
    Motobecane buys a rebranded one because of the name?-a Or,
    as Bike Snob
    NYC puts it:

    -a-a I mean someone looking for a bike in Istanbul or in
    DickrCOs Sporting
    -a-a Goods or wherever else fine Nishikis are sold isnrCOt
    going to *not* buy
    -a-a a bike because itrCOs a Nishiki, but theyrCOre also not
    going to buy a
    -a-a bike *because* itrCOs a Nishiki. TheyrCOre going to buy it
    because itrCOs a
    -a-a bike. Plus, even in their heyday itrCOs not like Nishiki
    was some
    -a-a coveted, storied brand; it was mediocre even then,
    locked in a
    -a-a head-to-head battle with Univega over who could be the
    most adequate
    -a-a while having the least cachet. ThatrCOs why nobody in
    the world goes,
    -a-a rCLOooh, look at that, a genuine Nishiki, name your price!rCY

    Read the whole thing at

    https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/08/13/oh-raleigh-you-dont-say/

    I am seeing more Bikes Direct bikes show up at a free
    bike fixit event
    that I help out at. They're a lot better than the
    department store
    bikes that people bring in for repair.



    Nishiki wasn't the best example (I agree with Bike Snob on
    this).

    However, among certain demographic groups, some large
    groups, there is only one bicycle brand. It's Schwinn, aka
    'Swin'.

    Despite being long gone (died in 1992) the zombie brand
    has had several owners, enjoys robust sales (primarily
    WalMart) and retains enviable brand identity even now.


    Back in about 1990 I borrowed a friends Nishiki "funny" bike
    for the New England Time trial Championships. It was branded
    as Nashbar and had a 24" front wheel. it didn't help at all
    as I only finished mid-pack (I was never a good time
    trialer), but that wasn't the bikes fault. The owner
    regularly finished at the top in our local weekly TT on it.
    While I wouldn't say "name your price" if I ever found one
    in good shape for sale, I would most certainly entertain
    buying it.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/sT2bkicWFY1x3kVM7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/NguzSVhPUJDyLYKS7

    note the ridiculously bad early clip-on aerobar
    position.That was back before any rider (even the pros) went
    into a wind tunnel. The rear wheel was mine, stickers-n-all.


    Nishiki also had several iterations of birth, death and
    zombie resurrection.

    The original Kawamura bikes were American Eagle and Azuki,
    very early efforts in the US market. Intensive development
    by the brands' owner, West Coast Cycle and their talented
    management made the Nishikis world class by 1973 and then
    through the 1980s quite formidable; among the best Japanese
    products in that era.

    Not very different from Centurion in that regard. Raleigh's
    man in Japan (Mitch Weiner, a Holocaust survivor) noted that
    the Asian product was clearly superior to British made,
    including dramatically better quality control and at a more
    favorable price. He quit to import Japanese bikes to USA
    and needed a name. He was at that time reading The New
    Centurions and the rest is history. His Western Imports
    became WSI (Western States Imports) to great success in that
    era.

    After the US' currency crisis of 1985, with severe changes
    to the Yen rate, the Japanese bicycle industry began a
    downward slide and the beginnings of a shift to ROC around
    1987. That became a torrent and after Mr Clinton acquiesced
    to the PC actually inside the gates (WTO admission), the
    flow became a deluge from PRC with all we see now of BSOs in
    discount stores.
    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2