The Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part Six

It's two years this month since I bought my Raleigh Oakland. Since then I've done just over 15000 km on it and it still remains my bike of choice for everyday riding. I've kept it properly serviced and it rides even better today than it did the first day I rode it.

A lot of the components have been changed in the last two years, but the shifters, derailleurs, brake levers and brakes have lasted and still show no signs of wearing out. The frame, forks, headset, stem, handlebars, grips chainguard, saddle, seatpost and front mudguard have all lasted, are still in excellent shape and all look like they will give many more years of service.

The chainwheels, rear sprockets, rims, pedals, rear hub and rims have been replaced once but the replacements are still in good order and will all give plenty more service. The rear mudguard has also been replaced once. I've lost count of the number of chains and brake blocks I've gone through. The brake and gear cables have been replaced several times. The bike is on its second set of tyres.

You can still buy an Oakland online in Ireland from Eurocycles.com for € 309.99. or in the UK from Rutland Cycling for £174.99. Although a lot of the bigger retailers like Evans Cycles no longer sell it. It has also disappeared  from the Raleigh.co.uk website, so perhaps it is no longer in production. But there will be lots of them on the second hand market for years.

The next upgrade, Shimano hub gears

When I first reviewed the Oakland in September 2011 I had only done 3000 km and I wrote "You could spend a lot more on a hybrid bike but I doubt you will beat the Oakland on value for money". Almost two years later with 15000 km done I still stand over that statement. Back then it could be bought from Eurocycles for only € 230 but even at the current price of € 309.99 this bike remains great value.

The original wheels were machine built, so if you buy an Oakland get the wheels trued. The chainwheels are poor quality but will give long service if the gear changes are done gently and when they wear out replace them with good quality chainwheels. Regularly change the chain and the brakeblocks.

I'm planning a major upgrade to my Oakland, in the near future. I'm saving for a SHIMANO Nexus 8 speed gearbox hub with back pedal brakes. This currently costs € 154 from www.rosebikes.com in Germany. I will need to widen the rear dropouts by 5 mm to take this new hub, but with the Oaklands steel frame this will not be a problem, all that's needed is a six foot long piece of 3 x 2 timber and a stool. I will then change the front triple chainwheels for a single and enclose the chain in a chain case. When I complete this upgrade I will have turned my Oakland into a low maintenance utility bicycle, with the chain and gears enclosed and protected from rain and grit and no more brake wear on my rear rim.

Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part One
Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part Two
Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part Three
Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part Four
Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part Five


Available Online from

Eurocycles
Rutland Cycling

SHIMANO Nexus gearbox hub Inter 8 SG-8C31