Designed for street riding and track racing, the Teaba is a fixed gear single speed steel bike with higher-end componentry for serious riders. This bike boasts a lightweight alloy frame, carbon fork, FSA stem and seat post, and fixed free capabilities (to run as a single speed or fixed gear), as well as removable brake hardware/cable guides for a clean, finished look. The Teaba comes with bullhorn pursuit bars and toe clips (for legal racing), an extra set of riser bars to swap out for riding around town, and extra brake levers and grips.
The Teaba 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 Teaba’s story actually takes place before Nelson’s Olympic days when he rode fixed gear bikes as a messenger in NYC.
The frame features unique top tube art and 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.
