1974 Raleigh Sports Lady's Deluxe (England)
Unfailingly functional, the Raleigh Sports models of the mid-1970s were direct descendants of the "roadster" bicycles that brought efficient personal transportation to the British masses in the early 1900s. But as racing-inspired 10-speeds began to dominate the market in the late 1970s, the Sports' heavy-duty, all-steel construction would become obsolete.
1970s Colnago ITCA (Italy)
Ernesto Colnago's bicycles have been a fixture among the world's top racers since the 1950s and his later designs include advanced collaborations with Ferrari. During the Cold War, Italy’s trade links with communist governments allowed Colnago to provide equipment to athletes such as the East German or Soviet track racers who used this particular model in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Note: The above copy was based on background materials provided by PUBLIC, although it has since been brought to my attention that ITCA is the brand of Mr. Alois Iten of Zürich.
1950s Mercier MecaDural Randonneuse (France)
While more conservative makers touted traditional, economical, all-steel bicycles in the 1950s, French brands like Mercier embraced aluminum, a lightweight material that forward-thinking designers such as Charles Eames and Jean Prouvé used to shape the very concept of post-World War II modernity. The MecaDural Randonneuse exemplifies a satisfyingly urbane design approach wherein every detail, from chain guard to fenders to lights to rack, is thoroughly integrated.
