1976 Raleigh Sports as a daily commuter?
08-09-19, 05:18 AM
#26
Virgo
I’ve been commuting about 4-5 miles each way in Manhattan on a 66 Sports. It takes a licking on NYC streets, and with modern brake pads dry stopping is respectable. Wet takes caution. I added a sprung Brooks saddle and a larger rear cog to get a lower low. Otherwise this is a stock bike that’s ready for another 50 years. Enjoy!
08-09-19, 05:40 AM
#27
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08-09-19, 12:06 PM
#28
aka Tom Reingold
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Yooze should know that @ascherer is 6'3" tall, and his 23" frame fits him fine except that he needs that setback seatpost (not pictured). My approach would have been to use a stem with a bigger extension, but this works for him. The Sports has a very short reach from saddle to handlebars, and that's a feature that some like but I don't.
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08-09-19, 12:16 PM
#29
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08-09-19, 01:12 PM
#30
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I put a caliper on mine, came up with 38.8. They do fill the fenders!
As @noglider reports, I’m on the taller side and I found myself sliding back in the saddle. The layback post looks a bit odd but works great.
As @noglider reports, I’m on the taller side and I found myself sliding back in the saddle. The layback post looks a bit odd but works great.
08-09-19, 02:21 PM
#31
aka Tom Reingold
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Beautiful picture, and it's at a wonderful spot on the Hudson River.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-16-19, 11:31 AM
#32
Count Orlok Member
I suspect someone may be expecting a premium price for a "vintage" bike, especially if it's missing some of its original parts.
I've commuted on 3 speed bikes for years. It's basically one gear for cruising, and an extra gear for moderate hills. Sheldon Brown suggests changing the gearing so that the high gear is the cruising gear, and you have 2 climbing gears, but I've never bothered to try that out.
On the other hand, I'd skip that bike unless you're in love with 3 speeds and willing to put up with the shortcomings of a vintage bike: Steel wheels (40 spokes in back, hard to find new rims), and a cottered crank. At the very minimum for a practical bike I require aluminum rims.
I've commuted on 3 speed bikes for years. It's basically one gear for cruising, and an extra gear for moderate hills. Sheldon Brown suggests changing the gearing so that the high gear is the cruising gear, and you have 2 climbing gears, but I've never bothered to try that out.
On the other hand, I'd skip that bike unless you're in love with 3 speeds and willing to put up with the shortcomings of a vintage bike: Steel wheels (40 spokes in back, hard to find new rims), and a cottered crank. At the very minimum for a practical bike I require aluminum rims.
That said, $200 seems high a for Raleigh Sports, and it won't be great for climbing hills. It's pretty flat here, though, so my Raleigh gets lots of use.
08-16-19, 05:44 PM
#33
Hack
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Just wanted to comment that I'm loving my 3sp for commuting. Roughly 20km each way, though Ottawa is quite flat.
