Raleigh launches new track bike

Raleigh has signaled a return to track cycling with the launch of its new Equipe track bike.

The Equipe is made from double butted 6061 aluminium tubing and it comes with various track-specific features: horizontal dropouts, a fixed gear and no brakes. We had a very quick look at the bike when we visited Raleigh’s annual Heron show in Nottingham last month. 

As well as a 50-tooth chainring and 15-tooth sprocket for sprinters, it comes with 49-tooth and 45-tooth chainrings and a 16-tooth sprocket for endurance riders. You also get a chain whip, hex wrench, chainring bolt tool for swapping between them, along with a gear ratio chart to help you get what you’re after.

The Equipe is built up with a Raleigh carbon-bladed T1 track fork, an FSA Orbit headset, KMC Z5 chain and Vittoria Zaffirio tyres. The other components are from RSP, Raleigh’s in-house brand, including the TC 1.0 wheels.

It is available in 45cm, 50cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm and 60cm frame sizes at £600.


The Equipe has been a long-term goal for Raleigh’s product development team and adds another model to the company's growing range of performance cycling bikes.

“We're recognising a big growth in velodromes and track racing in the UK at the moment, especially with two new cycling tracks on our doorstep, so we've brought the Equipe out to help the stars of the future reach their potential," said Raleigh Product Manager Terry Blackwood.

“Our track specialists from Team Raleigh have helped shape the design of the Equipe. We’ve focused on getting the geometry spot on, looking for a design that handles well and gives rapid acceleration.

“The small rear triangle brings stiffness to the back end for maximum power and the short wheelbase means this bike really shifts when the power goes down.

“This is one of several specialist bikes I’ve been developing. We’ll have a few more in this vein within the coming months.”

For more on the Equipe go to Raleigh’s website. The Equipe can be ordered online or from any Raleigh stockist.