Cycling 20 March, 1946 - Cycling and Britain's war effort

Unsurprisingly the war continued to loom large over the country in 1946. Manufacturing was key to the country getting back on its feet as Dunlop proudly exclaimed on the cover that they were backing Britain’s recovery. And not just making tyres. The 583 products they were involved in making in various factories included hot water bottles, gas cylinders, shoes (or at least the soles), hosepipes, armchairs and beds, or parts of.

Inside a revealing story highlights the sheer size of Raleigh’s exploits during the war, and how it affected the Nottingham-based company. Their production of bicycles was just five per cent of their output. The rest of their output was ammunition for the army and the R AF.