Blue Raleigh Boxer for my first steed, which I loved. Equipped with stabilisers, I pretty much taught myself how to ride. Eventually the steerer tube snapped so that was the end of it.
Next was a second hand Raleigh Grifter which was too big in reality and stuck in 3rd gear as the Sturmy Archer chain had snapped. Heavy piece of crap, but got me out with my mates.
I had exactly the same bike at probably the exact same time. Xmas 77 I think I received mine, rode it everywhere including return trips to Barry Island (roughly 45-50 miles) from my home in Pontypridd. No spares tube, single water bottle, no tools, no nutrition, no idea how to maintain it. It was bulletproof, at least until I crashed it coming down one of the many steep hills in my area and bent the frameset.
This monstrosity. A Raleigh Amber.
Believe me, as an 8yr old boy on the mean streets of Edgeley in late 1980’s, this was like living the boy named Sue song.
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1975 for me - no idea what it was but had like 10" wheels with fat white tyres, and a single front brake that worked with a connecting bar rather than a cable.
Grifter then Mongoose followed, by God I could fly and trashed them both - the only thing I didn't break were the Tuff IIs!