Designed for beating traffic and slaying sidestreets, the Rush Hour is a fixed gear single speed steel bike with Satori track handlebars for a more aggressive road riding position. The bike boasts a steel frame, steel tubular fork, and fixed free capabilities (to run as a single speed or fixed gear), as well as removable brake hardware/cable guides for a clean look.
The Rush Hour was inspired by Nelson Vails—the first African-American cyclist to win an Olympic Medal in cycling. Created by Raleigh in collaboration with Nelson and his best friend, famous graffiti artist, Zephyr, the Rush Hour’s story actually takes place before Nelson’s Olympic days when he rode fixed gear bikes as a messenger in NYC.
The frame features meaningful original illustrations by Zephyr including Nelson’s signature Converse Chuck Taylor Hi Tops, an iconic dime (what Nelson used to call his messenger service for the location of his next job), the flags of the Checkered Cab (onto which Nelson grabbed bumpers to catch rides), the notorious TOGA bike shop (where messengers hung out), and Cat’s Paw Hill in Central Park (where Nelson and the crew met to ride and skate), among others.
Complete bikes will be partially disassembled and sealed in a factory box for shipping. Bikes arrive approximately 85% assembled and will require installation of parts and adjustment of components. If you are not comfortable with bicycle assembly or adjustments, we recommend bringing the the bike to a capable bike shop to be built.
