For the love of English 3 speeds...
01-16-18, 06:23 PM
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Well, I finally succumbed to the lure of the 3-speed. My buddy who owns a Robin Hood got me started, and johnnyspaghetti on the forum here sealed the deal. He has been very helpful with my initiation into the cult. I was able to find a 1965 Raleigh Sports that is in pretty darned good condition. The pictures below are of the bike, but the exterior shot is from the seller. The bike as I got it was dirtier, grimier, and the saddle was more deteriorated (may have been stored outside) than the sellers photos. But other than maintenance for a long out of use bike, it's great - everything works! I have the bike mostly torn down, now, and will wait a bit before I tackle the various bearing sets. With a little de-greasing and cleaning and polishing, this should be a pretty good-looking bike.
I have a couple questions about the model, though. It appears to be the standard DL-22 model, but there are a couple decals that I haven't seen on pictures from that era. First id the "Raleigh Deluxe" decal at the top of the downtube, and the other is "Special" decal above "Raleigh" on the chainguard. They look original, but I can find no mention of those designations anywhere. Any ideas? This should be a fun project! Thanks to all who gave me advice when I was just starting to look for a 3-speed.
I have a couple questions about the model, though. It appears to be the standard DL-22 model, but there are a couple decals that I haven't seen on pictures from that era. First id the "Raleigh Deluxe" decal at the top of the downtube, and the other is "Special" decal above "Raleigh" on the chainguard. They look original, but I can find no mention of those designations anywhere. Any ideas? This should be a fun project! Thanks to all who gave me advice when I was just starting to look for a 3-speed.
Last edited by johnnyspaghetti; 01-16-18 at 06:30 PM.
01-16-18, 08:54 PM
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Nice looking bike @ddeand. Have you found the serial# yet? That might help explain the country of origin and differences in the decals. Raleighs were also made in Canada and many find their way to the US.
01-16-18, 10:55 PM
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Thanks for the thoughts on the chainguard. The picture I took was with a flash, and it looks a little different in other types of light. Like any new project, it will take some time to sort a few things out.
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01-16-18, 11:22 PM
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Robin Hood three speed. Please tell me about this one? I read somewhere that it was a separate division owned by Raleigh?
I might have found one.
I might have found one.
01-17-18, 02:47 AM
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I just bought a Robinhood Sports last weekend. A 1959? rediculous small frame 19" I'm sure I have a friend the will enjoy it. It was just too nice to pass up
01-17-18, 03:31 AM
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I will offer 80 60 40.
Last edited by johnnyspaghetti; 01-17-18 at 03:44 AM. Reason: drinking Vodka
01-17-18, 05:18 AM
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Paint looks to be in great shape. Somebody geared it down by swapping out the 48T heron crank with what looks to be a 44T. Endrick rims? Maybe this is the budget version S22 they offered for a few years in the 60s or the wheels were changed at some point.
01-17-18, 05:57 AM
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Raleigh had a habit of buying out it's competition and switching production to it's factory in Nottingham. That's why you'll hear talk of bikes being a "pre-Raleigh Hercules" ect. Meaning that it was made in the original Hercules factory in Birmingham before the Raleigh buyout in 1960. Robin Hood was a very early acquisition, 1906, so you won't find many pre-Raleigh Robin Hoods.
Last edited by BigChief; 01-17-18 at 06:01 AM.
01-17-18, 08:58 AM
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Raleigh had a habit of buying out it's competition and switching production to it's factory in Nottingham. That's why you'll hear talk of bikes being a "pre-Raleigh Hercules" ect. Meaning that it was made in the original Hercules factory in Birmingham before the Raleigh buyout in 1960. Robin Hood was a very early acquisition, 1906, so you won't find many pre-Raleigh Robin Hoods.
01-17-18, 09:02 AM
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I have a better theory about the chainguard now that I had some time to think about it. I think that the rectangle I see around the RALEIGH transfer is from somebody masking it off to preserve it while they oversprayed a new coat of black. Then, the same person added the "special" as a custom touch. That's my guess and I'm sticking to it
01-17-18, 09:10 AM
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I have a better theory about the chainguard now that I had some time to think about it. I think that the rectangle I see around the RALEIGH transfer is from somebody masking it off to preserve it while they oversprayed a new coat of black. Then, the same person added the "special" as a custom touch. That's my guess and I'm sticking to it
01-18-18, 08:41 AM
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That's where the serial number always is, at least on the older Sports I'm familiar with. This one looks to be made somewhere between 1965 and 68. It has all the features the deluxe model is supposed to have. Brooks saddle, Raleigh pattern rims, alloy kickstand and the nicer single bolt brake levers. The touched up paint on the chainguard could be evened out with polishing compound. If the added special transfer doesn't bug you, I'd leave it. Nice bike.
01-18-18, 04:11 PM
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Good deal on a late model 23" Sports in the Boston area:
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...463431837.html
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...463431837.html
01-18-18, 04:25 PM
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So I’ve done some cleaning on the chainguard and other spots, and I’ve started the learning process for redoing the various bearings on the bike. But I have another question/issue. The serial number if the bike doesn’t appear in any of the normal spots, and the number doesn’t correlate to what I’ve found on the internet. Now, I might be looking in the wrong places, too. The serial no. Is on the seat tube just below the seat lug on the non-drive side. The number is 1037683. Any ideas?
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01-18-18, 04:52 PM
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It's generally accepted that Raleigh's serial number records are inconsistent and incomplete, partially due to a huge factory fire in 1976 in which the Irish facility burned to the ground with most of their records. They also appeared to have different serial numbers/systems for different plants and countries. Don't sweat it.
Last edited by clubman; 01-18-18 at 04:57 PM.
01-18-18, 07:03 PM
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The 1964 I'm going through has no serial number.There is no evidence of it being ground off. I have not seen one on the seat post tube like that. On a 65' model I would expect it to be across the BB. Both the 1960's & 62 I have are sstamped on the seatpost lug.
01-18-18, 07:16 PM
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The nds seat post lug is a very common location for serial numbers. Almost all of mine have had that. Dozens.
01-19-18, 08:28 AM
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The nds seat post lug is a very common location for serial numbers. Almost all of mine have had that. Dozens.
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01-19-18, 04:13 PM
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https://lancaster.craigslist.org/bik...432388704.html
This is near me. I am considering purchasing it.
Question: Is the price right? I have no idea.
Thank you for your feedback.
I grew up with a Rollfast 3-speed that looks a lot like this one, and am thinking that I might enjoy this one.
This is near me. I am considering purchasing it.
Question: Is the price right? I have no idea.
Thank you for your feedback.
I grew up with a Rollfast 3-speed that looks a lot like this one, and am thinking that I might enjoy this one.
01-19-18, 04:29 PM
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@Peugeot lover. It's a fair price for what seems to be a good condition early 60's Sports. Chrome will clean up easily and the cables look sound too. Even the saddle appears to have life left in it. The only thing it's lacking is the Rudge crankset which isn't a real deal breaker. It will also take serious elbow grease to remove those stubborn, hateful glow-in-dark stickers. $150?
01-19-18, 04:36 PM
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1951 Raleigh dawn tourist
Just paid a pretty penny for it. I wasn’t sure of value but seller wouldn’t budge.
https://flic.kr/p/Jwz7d8
https://flic.kr/p/Jwz7d8
01-19-18, 04:39 PM
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https://lancaster.craigslist.org/bik...432388704.html
This is near me. I am considering purchasing it.
Question: Is the price right? I have no idea.
Thank you for your feedback.
I grew up with a Rollfast 3-speed that looks a lot like this one, and am thinking that I might enjoy this one.
This is near me. I am considering purchasing it.
Question: Is the price right? I have no idea.
Thank you for your feedback.
I grew up with a Rollfast 3-speed that looks a lot like this one, and am thinking that I might enjoy this one.
01-19-18, 06:19 PM
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Yes, the whole bike looks original, though I suspect the Brooks saddle was added.
I was wondering about the frame size fitting me. I am 5'11" with 32" inseam. It may be too small.
I am unfamiliar with the Ulster Hand chainring & the Rudge crankset.
Is that a design like the birds on the Raleigh chainring?
01-19-18, 06:37 PM
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Thank you for your responses.
Yes, the whole bike looks original, though I suspect the Brooks saddle was added.
I was wondering about the frame size fitting me. I am 5'11" with 32" inseam. It may be too small.
I am unfamiliar with the Ulster Hand chainring & the Rudge crankset.
Is that a design like the birds on the Raleigh chainring?
Yes, the whole bike looks original, though I suspect the Brooks saddle was added.
I was wondering about the frame size fitting me. I am 5'11" with 32" inseam. It may be too small.
I am unfamiliar with the Ulster Hand chainring & the Rudge crankset.
Is that a design like the birds on the Raleigh chainring?
Raleigh acquired Rudge in 1942 and moved production to Nottingham. But, they kept the traditional "hand" chainring until sometime in the 60s. I love the stylized chainrings on old English bikes. Adds a lot of charm in my opinion.
Try a google image search of Rudge bicycles and you'll see them.