Alan Oakley

Alan Oakley (27 April 1927 – 18 May 2012) was a British bicycle designer from Nottingham who worked for the Raleigh Bicycle Company.

As Raleigh's chief designer he designed the company's best selling Chopper bicycle. He drew the design for the Chopper on an envelope as he travelled home from the US, in 1967, inspired to replicate the design of Peter Fonda's character's motorbike in the 1969 film Easy Rider. The trip was specifically set up for him to "get-to-grips" with youth culture. In the 1980s, production of the Chopper ceased when the rival BMX appeared, but, due to popular demand, a limited edition Chopper was released in 2004.

Early life and education Oakley was born on 27 April 1927 in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, a small town three miles (5 km) east of Nottingham. The son of a local printer, he was educated at the all-boys Chandos Street School (which amalgamated in 1973 to form Carlton le Willows School).