Some history then...

Raleigh started building the legendary Twenty in 1969 and it came as both a folding and no folding model and was also branded under a number of other names like Phillip's.

Of all the models Raleigh offered, the Twenty was the most widely produced and sold and the non folding versions are far more common.

They are a robust little bike and came equipped with SA three speed hubs and steel everything which made them curb out at 36-37 pounds and as far as folders went, they were suitable for apartment dwellers and fairly easy to throw in the boot of your car.

They are enjoying quite a renaissance among many as they make an excellent platform for customization and with a bit of work and parts swapping can shed a great deal of weight.

Mine has been cponverted to a fixed gear with a flip flop hub, it has alloy BMX wheels and Kenda tyres, alloy seat post, Nitto bars, a Brooks saddle, and retains it's original fenders. This evenig I retapped the bottom bracket and installed a cartridge BB and a beautiful Stronglight crank which further reduced the bikes weight which sits around 26-27 pounds. This compares pretty well to a number of folders that are equipped with internal gear hubs lie the Dahon 7 although few folders can claim to be as tough as a Twenty.

Sheldon Brown built what I would consider to be the finest fixed gear Twenty I have ever seen and has been my inspiration throughout this whole conversion process.



http://www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh-twenty.html