Alan Oakley (designer) facts for kids

Alan Oakley (born April 27, 1927 – died May 18, 2012) was a talented British bicycle designer. He worked for the famous Raleigh Bicycle Company in Nottingham. He is best known for creating the super popular Raleigh Chopper bike.

The Creator of the Raleigh Chopper

Alan Oakley was the main designer at Raleigh. He created the company's most popular bike, the Chopper. He first sketched the design for the Chopper in 1967. He drew it on an envelope while traveling home from the United States.

He was inspired by the cool motorbikes in the movie Easy Rider. Specifically, he liked the bike ridden by Peter Fonda's character. His trip to the US helped him understand youth culture. This understanding helped him design a bike that kids would love.

The Chopper bike was very popular for many years. However, in the 1980s, another type of bike, the BMX, became popular. Because of this, Raleigh stopped making the Chopper. But people still loved the Chopper! So, in 2004, Raleigh released a special limited edition of the bike.

Alan Oakley's Early Life and Career

Alan Oakley was born on April 27, 1927. His hometown was Netherfield, Nottinghamshire. This small town is near Nottingham. His father was a local printer.

Alan went to Chandos Street School, which was an all-boys school. When he was 15, he finished school. He then joined the Raleigh Bicycle Company. He started as a trainee draughtsman. During World War II, he helped with the war effort. He worked on making parts like fuses and cartridges. This meant he didn't work on bicycles much at first.

Alan was also very interested in airplanes. In 1941, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Later, he studied at the University of Nottingham. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering. This knowledge helped him become a great designer.

Alan Oakley passed away at the age of 85.