cudak888 

Thanks!

The old ballooner rack would probably look out of place (and I can't stand squeeze clamps to the frame), but the Schwinn middleweight wire rack looks OK. While I am not keen on the seatpost mount that much (even though it isn't as stiff, I'd prefer a brake bridge mount just so my seatpost ears don't get wrecked), the one thing I'd want to do is remove the chrome and spray it black.

I'm just a bit mystified that I can't find anything from the period. Heck, Coburn didn't have any trouble.




-Kurt

Raleigh74

cudak888 

Well that didn't last long. Apparently, these Wanda tires have a spot on them where the rubber is not that well cast around the bead, which presents a problem with straight-sided rims.

Like tubeless tire/rim combos, the bead needs to sit square against the rim edge and the rim seat on non-hooked rims, and the casting defect is causing blowoffs at normal (65psi) pressure. I had the rear blow off at an event about two months ago, and about a week ago, I discovered the bead riding uncomfortably high in one spot - and slowly sneaking out. I deflated it and took the tire off to examine it.

Compare the full bead that the tire has on one side, vs. the weak and thin rubber in the problem area:

Good:


Definitely not-so-good - for a straight-sided rim, anyway (this would probably work on a hooked bead). Note the discoloration shows that the tire was riding far too high on the rim to begin with:



I ordered a replacement tire from Amazon (seller = Street Lowrider) and guess what? The replacement looks worse.





I'm going to try to dig up an alternate pair for the '51 Raleigh, as I don't feel I can trust these. I'll probably throw them on my retired SPIN Gen 2 dockless bike at work, which rides on hooked bead EA3's (and solid tires).

-Kurt

Pcampeau

Well they sure did look great in all the photos you posted earlier in this thread. I thought they complemented the build rather nicely. I’m curious as to what the replacements will be, any ideas?

cudak888 

The Schwalbe Delta Cruisers are out because of the reflective sidewall that they've forced everyone into with the tire's latest incarnation. EDIT: Never say never again, Mr. Bond.

Kenda apparently makes EA3's in creme (with more period tread patterns too), but the only sellers I can find that have them are in Italy and Spain:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Couverture-...EAAOSwpLBc82ZX
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Berichterst...IAAOSwGVFb6QAH
https://www.lovelybikes.com/kenda-cr...650a-unit.html
https://www.bicicletaclasica.com/es/...nda-crema.html

Naturally, that doesn't mean these tires don't exist anywhere else; it's just a case of who's importing them. Believe it or not, I haven't found any seller on AliExpress carrying them. Give it time...

Also dug up these brown skinwalls:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tire-city-v...YAAOSwoBlaU7dL

-Kurt

Ferrouscious 

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but the Specialized schrader tubes have fully threaded valve stems. That's how we know a bike has been in our shop before.

cudak888 

They offer 26x1-3/8" in their lineup. Good to know.

-Kurt

cudak888 

This tire debacle has given me a chance to re-lace the rear wheel (I really should do the front) on the '51 Sports. For about 12 years, it’s been laced – embarrassingly so – with galvanized spokes.

(On the plus side, I don't think anyone will ever be able to sell me galvanized spokes as stainless again; learned my lesson).






The wheel is now laced up with some beautiful DT spokes. They’re not double butted, but they'll do nicely, and look fairly similar to the originals.





I also went ahead and used spoke washers to space out the J-bend on the narrow Sturmey flanges. I’m no fan of McMaster Carr’s Surprise Shipping Costs™, but instead of paying the markup for DT washers on Crapazon, I went ahead and bought a box of 100 brass M2 washers, ID 2.2mm/OD 5.0mm, part number #91635A170 at MMC for $2.48 (plus shipping that bumped it just shy of $11...). The washers are the same thing everyone else in the bike world upcharges for.

-Kurt

ThermionicScott 

Looks really nice! (I love brass spoke washers) For what it’s worth this late in the thread, I’ve used tubes marked 26”x1.75” and 26”x1-3/8” interchangeably on my bikes, and tubes like Schwalbe’s AV12 are explicitly marked that they can be used either way. They also have nice threaded metal stems.

cudak888 

It does look nice...even though the dirty little secret of this nearly 70-year-old rim is that it has more flat spots than round spots. Very difficult to true.

Interesting tip on the tube compatibility. Did something similar recently at the LBS for 650B tubes: I asked for 26x1.5" Presta. Done.

-Kurt

Chr0m0ly 

Those brass washers are pure class, it's the details that make a build. Shame the tires didn't work out, they seemed pretty true to the bike to me!

ThermionicScott 

The original wheels on my 3-speed were pretty bent, too. (The rear still is, but the front got rebuilt with a CR18.) I get the impression that they put up with more irregularity and set the brake pads out a little further back in the day...

My favorite 650B tubes (Schwalbe SV14A) aren't even marked for 650B compatibility.

cudak888 

Class they are, but they're peace of mind too. The Sturmey flanges are fairly thin and the interface between the J-bend of the spokes and the flange would have been pretty sloppy otherwise. Admittedly though, I never put washers when I originally built the wheel - and never broke a spoke in those 12 years.

Make no mistake, it's still going to roll on creme EA3s; question is how long it'll take before I find them in creme (I've found everything else in the EA3 size, including Mobike style honeycomb solid tires). I know the Schwalbe Delta Cruiser is an option (and I'll make it more difficult on myself trying to find it without the lousy reflective sidewall), but I also don't know how tight a fit it is. I started a thread on that too. (EDIT: Found our own SirMike1983 with the answer on the CABE: https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/26...st-fit.151961/

This is worrying me a bit, as the '51 has always been my grab-it-and-go bike...and everything else I have with upright bars is in a state of disassembly at the moment. Almost tempted to use a gray Duro wheelchair tire back there.

This does exclude my newer Birdy BD-1 folder (which is also not at 100%, but ridable), but it has a terrible MTB-esque riding position and a saddle that's pure torture.

I've had all sorts, and they're not always as rough as these. Surprisingly, the braking surface only has two areas where the flange bends out a millimeter or so (one is definitely from a hard curb hop), but you can't count three spokes without finding a flat spot.

-Kurt

cudak888 

Problem solved. I called up the LBS and got Schwalbe Delta Cruisers from the LBS for a whopping $6 cheaper ($3 cheaper/ea) than the el-crapo Wandas from Amazon, and they fit perfectly at pressure.



Absolutely flawless bead seating. Given how hard and how frequently I use the '51, I'm willing to tolerate the reflective sidewall, loud black lettering, and modern tread for this glorious peace of mind:



This also gave me a chance to break in my new toy:



As a side note, I tried putting cotton Zefal rim tape on the stainless steel, and the adhesive refused to stay stuck. Oh well. The re-used rubber strip served me fine for 12 years, why mess with success?

The '51 also finally exchanged it's somewhat unreliable XPT kickstand (the '51 has a penchant of embarrassing itself only during group rides or events - falling over is its absolute party piece) for the Trygg dual-leg stand from my '80 Sports. It looks the part. No pictures until later on this week though.

-Kurt

BigChief 

Looks great. Especially with proper stainless spokes. Not sure when Raleigh dropped them for galvanized, but it wasn't long after 1951. A shame really. It was one of those classy touches that made a Raleigh special. Good job.

cudak888 

Agreed. The stainless steel Raleigh rims made the choice a no-brainer too (especially when I had those things brought over from the UK when I first built this thing).

The front hub still needs to be re-laced to match the rear, but I'll worry about that when I have the spokes and don't need the '51 in service ASAP (I literally don't have any other upright bar bike that fits me properly in an operational state right now). I think the spokes are 283mm, but I'm not 100% certain. The axle is also a replacement - though it's 26tpi, it is too long and just looks wrong. I need to rectify that sometime too.

-Kurt

bwilli88 

I just might have a rack you could use, it is absolutely bomb proof.

cudak888 

I'm pretty sure I have a 20" version of that same rack. That's axle mount though, right?

I'd have to debate whether I'm willing to modify one to fit the stays (not really keen on axle mount), repaint, and hope to match the wear of the '51 in doing so. Still on the fence.

-Kurt

ThermionicScott 

Y'know, I thought about suggesting the Schwalbe Delta Cruisers, but I figured the reflective stripe would be a deal-breaker.

cudak888 

So did I, but I also considered the ramifications of the '51 languishing in the stand.

Then the LBS told me they could get the Delta Cruisers for cheap. That's what sold me on them. Literally.

-Kurt

bwilli88 

I have a few pairs of Delta cruisers but in 28 1 5/8. They are great.
I have wondered how to remove their reflective tape.

cudak888 

"Welcome back, Mr. Bond. Nice kickstand."

"Thank you."




Between the Bottecchia and this, there's a theme going on today, and it's called creme tires.

I also calculated the spokes for the front. 283mm, and I have 16 in that size left over from one side of the 1980 Raleigh's front wheel. Only need to get another 16.

For some reason, I built the front wheel cross 4, initially. No wonder it looks strange.

It won't come off without tearing the rubber; it appears stamped/melted into it - at least on mine. It is not like the Little Big Ben reflective strip that came off easy for one of the CABE members: https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/ge...-strips.74850/

I wouldn't dare try peeling it off mine unless the tires were wrecked - it might damage the sidewall.

-Kurt

cudak888 

Time for some proper beauty shots. Oh, and the Schwalbes are a sublime ride. It's also nice to have an FG that feels tight, quiet, and "new hub-ish" finally - it was in need of a bearing adjustment.
















I still need to get some replacement pads for it, though I've yet to find anyone who has copied the Fibrax 245 pattern.

-Kurt

BFisher

Great shots! What a handsome ride!

bwilli88 

Nice, those creme tires fir it so well.