chris902

So I think I found a good price on a nice Raleigh Explorer for a project I want to try but I am trying to find some info on it and come up short on the internet. It is NOT the Explorer mountain bike. It appears to be a road bike or roadster frame. It's equipped with a SA three speed hub stamped november, 1971. It's green (not olive green but a brighter green).

The second question is about the wheels: it has 26 x 1 1/4 wheels. It strikes me that this is a fairly rare wheel size and might be difficult to get tires for. Can I throw 26 x 1 3/8s on or will that be trouble? (I suspect it will be)

ColonelJLloyd 

I'm not familiar with the Explorer. There was a thread started today regarding 26 x 1 1/4 rims.

sailorbenjamin

Standard 26x1 3/8 (EA3, 590)wont fit. Here, read this;
https://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
The 26x1 1/4s (EA1, 597) are available at Niagara, Ebay and sometimes at a good LBS. They happen to be the same size that Schwinn refered to as 26x1 3/8 so if someone says "oh, the Schwinn size?" say "yeah, that's the one". Look really close at the tire. It should say 597 somewhere on it. If it says 590 it's wrong. It will sometimes have both the "English" size and the "Schwinn"size. on it. That's ok.
They shouldn't cost much more than the EA3s.

gbalke

Chris,

Where are you located? Perhaps we could work out a trade; I started the thread ColonelJLloyd mentioned regarding 26 x 1 1/4 rims. I'm looking for a set for a new project and since your's has a 3 speed hub, that would save me the time and expense of having a set built. Send me a PM if interested.

sailorbenjamin

FYI, it's usually pretty easy to switch to a whole 26x1 3/8 wheelset, You just need to check that there is 7mm of travel for the brake pads on their calipers. Many old english bikes were built to take both.

chris902

gbalke; I am located in Canada so I think shipping would be a huge headache. I also would then have to track down the three speed hub for my own project, but thanks for the offer and best of luck tracking one down for your own bike.


Anyone have any information on this older version of the Raleigh Explorer? Was it just another version of the Sport/Superbe roadster line?

gbalke

Chris, I would have traded a complete 26 x 1-3/8 wheel set with a S/A 3 speed hub for your 26 x 1-1/4 set. But you're right, shipping to and from Canada would not be something I'd like to do.

sailorbenjamin

Got pictures? The Canadians had different names on their Raleighs sometimes.