The maximum speed for raising and lowering the landing gear was actually increased from 225 KIAS to 240 KIAS sometime in the early to mid 1980s. The land based take-off technique was to rotate to raise the nosewheel clear of the runway 10 kts before a positive aft stick input was made to unstick. In the normal RAF training configurations (CBLS or ECM pod on outboard wing pylons, underwing tanks or CBLS on the inboard stations, or other relatively low weight stores such as Pavespike or MARTEL data link pod) the take-off speeds with 15-10-10 'flap and droop' were 155/165 KIAS with internal fuel (12 324 lbs), 162/172 KIAS with internal plus bomb door tank fuel (16 080 lbs), 169/179 KIAS with internal plus bomb door plus underwing tank fuel (19 800lbs). Pitch control during the take-off was very good so at unstick speed you could ease the stick back such that the main leg oleos extended progressively and light pressure on the gear 'UP' button was all that was needed to push it in immediately that the oleos reached full extension. You there was no pitch trim change going from 15-10-10 to 0-0-0 so you could then hold the aircraft level and low while you accelerated. Why did we (I!) do it? Because it was great fun and looked spectacular. Where there ever any accidents because of it? Not that I am aware. Did we get bo*****ed for doing it? Frequently. Did it stop us doing it? NO!
Happy days.