Noel Yaxley
Ray Freeman Cycles, founded in 1890, was a lovely family-run business that served Norwich with all its cycling needs for over 125 years. Nestled at the end of Heigham Street, this charming shop, with its distinctive yellow sign and large front windows, had a delightful Victorian feel; place Fred Dibnah might’ve adored. It was based on traditional, socially conservative communitarian beliefs. Everyone who worked there knew your name and family. It was somewhere you could go for a chat, as well as anything bike-related. If you had a puncture, you’d go to Ray’s. Whether you’d knocked your chain off the gears or buckled your wheel, the guys there could fix it in no time.
I still vividly remember stepping into that shop as a kid: the place was a treasure trove with its endless shelves of dusty screws, bolts, and tyres. The air carried that unmistakable, comforting yet overwhelming, smell of oil. When my bike was ready, one of the guys would show up in grease-covered overalls, give my father a firm handshake, and the two of them would sort out the price with ease. That all ended recently. Richard Freeman, the proud fifth-generation owner, decided to retire in 2021 after fifty years of committed service to the community through bicycle maintenance.
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