Raleigh 20 questions
08-26-23, 05:22 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Raleigh 20 questions
Will a Raleigh 20 hold up for a Clyde 290# and what is a decent one worth if it will?
thanks
thanks
08-26-23, 05:36 PM
#2
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Location: Baltimore, MD
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Bikes: Vilano Urbana, DownTube FS9, Montaque paratrooper, Nano mini-velo, Motobecane CX, Raleigh 20, MIFA folder, ROG Pony, Iverson Grand Touring folder, Exclusiv German folder
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I'm 260 and never had an issue. These bikes were built for European adults.
$100 if all there at the minimum, up to $250 if completely restored.
But what do I know.
$100 if all there at the minimum, up to $250 if completely restored.
But what do I know.
Last edited by mirfi; 08-26-23 at 05:38 PM. Reason: Het enter too soon
08-26-23, 06:01 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
08-26-23, 06:51 PM
#4
Schwinnasaur
I would advise you to consider the negatives of these bikes. They are heavy compared to modern bikes. Their brakes are atrocious to nonexistent in the rain. This is due to steel rims and very long caliper arms. All threaded parts are on the Whitworth standard, which is obsolete today, and they can be hard to find at decent prices. The bolt heads are Whitworth too. Finally, the fold sucks. It feels just as large folded as not.
That said, I have owned them in the past. They are strong. They have a nice ride. Still, I would spend a little more money and get a Zizzo Forte, around $430 new. They are rated at 300 pounds.
That said, I have owned them in the past. They are strong. They have a nice ride. Still, I would spend a little more money and get a Zizzo Forte, around $430 new. They are rated at 300 pounds.
08-26-23, 08:13 PM
#5
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Bikes: Vilano Urbana, DownTube FS9, Montaque paratrooper, Nano mini-velo, Motobecane CX, Raleigh 20, MIFA folder, ROG Pony, Iverson Grand Touring folder, Exclusiv German folder
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Schwinnsta,
Good points on everything, all true, but that ride and shifting is so nice. Used to be my flat trail gravel bike. Never folded. Weighed a ton. Never went fast enough to worry about brakes. That said.
The lug nuts(on most) are British Whitworth(BSF?) and is frustrating between a 13 and 14mm
0.512 inches = 13mm
0.525 inches = 1/4 Whitworth or 5/16 BSF
0.551 inches = 14mm
So I did a bit of research and found a 17/32 is 0.531 which is only 0.006 big. Almost exact fit.
So I bought a socket to use on the lug nuts.
Have fun.
Good points on everything, all true, but that ride and shifting is so nice. Used to be my flat trail gravel bike. Never folded. Weighed a ton. Never went fast enough to worry about brakes. That said.
The lug nuts(on most) are British Whitworth(BSF?) and is frustrating between a 13 and 14mm
0.512 inches = 13mm
0.525 inches = 1/4 Whitworth or 5/16 BSF
0.551 inches = 14mm
So I did a bit of research and found a 17/32 is 0.531 which is only 0.006 big. Almost exact fit.
So I bought a socket to use on the lug nuts.
Have fun.
08-27-23, 07:08 AM
#6
Schwinnasaur
I have had a few Raleighs, so I bought a Whitworth socket set. I sold my Raleighs years ago. I need to sell the Whitworth sockets. If anyone is interested, I will dig it out and sell it for $20 plus postage.
08-27-23, 03:55 PM
#7
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"
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Schwinnsta, count me in on those Whitworth sockets. I have a decent collection of Nottingham bikes and will extol their virtues until I'm dumped in the ocean and my bikes are still rolling along.
Regarding the OP, the R20 is an awesome bike for what it is, and when it was produced. They are very upgradeable, granted some things are a pain in the rear (bottom bracket size) but considering it has very similar handling to a full size Raleigh Sports, roughly the same weight, but also the ability to be considered a folding bike for multi-modal transport and sticking in the back of a Ford Fiesta (my Fiesta can fit two R20s), it is incredible. I have one built up with modern Sturmey drum/dyno hub in the front and drum/5 speed hub in the rear. Change out the wheels with a set of anything with alloy rims and your braking will be fine. I have one with a set of original 451 chrome wheels that I swapped brakes to a pair of Weinman center-pull calipers, and that bike stops quite well. In the rain it would suck, but that's what aluminum rims are for; or drum brake hubs. The Whitworth sizing is not an issue as long as you take care of your components. Check out Sheldon Brown's Raleigh Twenty page for some ideas, then go down the rabbit hole of research, then actually get one and enjoy it.
Regarding the OP, the R20 is an awesome bike for what it is, and when it was produced. They are very upgradeable, granted some things are a pain in the rear (bottom bracket size) but considering it has very similar handling to a full size Raleigh Sports, roughly the same weight, but also the ability to be considered a folding bike for multi-modal transport and sticking in the back of a Ford Fiesta (my Fiesta can fit two R20s), it is incredible. I have one built up with modern Sturmey drum/dyno hub in the front and drum/5 speed hub in the rear. Change out the wheels with a set of anything with alloy rims and your braking will be fine. I have one with a set of original 451 chrome wheels that I swapped brakes to a pair of Weinman center-pull calipers, and that bike stops quite well. In the rain it would suck, but that's what aluminum rims are for; or drum brake hubs. The Whitworth sizing is not an issue as long as you take care of your components. Check out Sheldon Brown's Raleigh Twenty page for some ideas, then go down the rabbit hole of research, then actually get one and enjoy it.
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08-27-23, 04:48 PM
#8
Schwinnasaur
08-28-23, 05:00 AM
#9
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 450
Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"
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08-28-23, 06:23 AM
#10
Schwinnasaur
[QUOTE=PhilFo;22997665]I have not received a PM. Tried to PM you but it says: "Schwinnsta has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her."[/QUOTEI
I tried again this morning and it looks like it went thru.
I tried again this morning and it looks like it went thru.
08-28-23, 12:45 PM
#11
Senior Member
R20 makes a lot of sense if you want a really heavy mini-velo with outdated components and threading.
For fun, I built one with a S/A 2SC in the rear, a drum brake hub front, an inverted BMX seatpost for a stem, and narrowed/re-threaded the BB to take a regular mtn BB. Upshot is that it fit across the back seat floor space of a subcompact car (Mazda Protege 5dr), and could fit in a largest suitcase, broken down for travel. No cables to the rear cleaned things up nicely.
For fun, I built one with a S/A 2SC in the rear, a drum brake hub front, an inverted BMX seatpost for a stem, and narrowed/re-threaded the BB to take a regular mtn BB. Upshot is that it fit across the back seat floor space of a subcompact car (Mazda Protege 5dr), and could fit in a largest suitcase, broken down for travel. No cables to the rear cleaned things up nicely.
