The sequel released in April and called Birthday is an updating of the Arthur Seaton story. Arthur was one of English literatures first angry young men and had choice things to say about working conditions at the 1950s Raleigh factory.
Sillitoe worked at one of Sturmey Archers capstan lathes just after WWII.
In a letter to BikeBiz he writes: To be honest I dont think there is any mention of Sturmey Archer or Raleigh (not by name anyway) in my novel Birthday.
However, in a book of essays he is due to have published there IS mention of Raleigh.
[This] describes a bike trip I did in northern France some years ago on a Raleigh Carlton, says Sillitoe. It was a great trip.
Ill try to mention Sturmey Archer and the Raleigh in my next novel.