cudak888 

For those who have been around C&V for longer than any of us should admit, you may remember my ’51 Raleigh Sports “C” Tourist - a build that I pieced together back in 2005-2006 from a New York-sourced frameset off eBay and some bits and bobs from here, there, and forum member @nlerner (who also connected me up with a matching ladies '51 Sports).

Part of that original build included a set of block-tread Duro whitewalls that I convinced a local shop to order, back when F&R Lowrider Co. was importing whitewalls with an endless selection of tread styles. They looked nice a few years ago.



Not anymore.



I exaggerate a bit, of course – they still have life in them and feel very strong from the inside, but the drywall rot doesn’t do them any favors, cosmetically.

Nevertheless, the ’51 is a favorite and I owed it some new shoes. But my mind wasn’t on whitewalls anymore. To satisfy my generally overeager desire to be a grubby little attention hog (hey, at least I admit it ) at the expense of practicality, I settled on throwing some all-crème tires on it.

I’ll probably regret it after wiping the tires 10 times over, but I love the look. Just enough to confuse someone whether it’s a retro C&V-wannabe off the bike shop floor, or the real deal. I’m sure the paint flaking off the chaincase (only thing that isn't from the original frameset; it's also been spraybombed black - it's no longer the original Raleigh enamel, sadly) should seal the answer to that question.





Speaking of ancient history, I’m still running a Dunlop tube in the back. Front is a late ‘60s Raleigh tube (which I forgot to photograph…of course). If anyone has some good spares with full threaded Schrader valves that hold air, let me know. These guys both hold air better than any Made-for-a-Price-Point tubes I’ve ever had.



Granted, the tires are a bit of a anachronism for something as new as the ’51, but the look also appears truer to its roots than the distinctly Americanesque whitewalls. Got my fingers crossed for another 10 years of service…if I can hack how bad they’ll look by then.

It's dark out, so this is the best photos I have of the final job. I’ll snap some better ones tomorrow.







-Kurt

P.S.: I put a post in ISO, but just in case: I’m looking for a really clapped out Raleigh Twenty frame and fork for a decidedly not-period correct or C&V project. Will involve brazing, cutting, and generally sacrilegious not-so-C&V modifications, so I don’t want it to be a nice one by any means. Rusty, dented junk preferred...

cb400bill

Lookin' good Kurt!

Cute Boy Horse

To be honest they stand out too much.

pastorbobnlnh 

Ride them through some hot tar on a sunny day and they will look, from a distance, like most other tires.

Kurt, looks great. Just add a cream colored Brooks and you'll be all set!

cudak888 

Thanks, Bill! Nice to see you around.

Kinda like its owner. To each their own

I haven't come across hot tar, but I'm sure I must have framed that photo of the '51 in the road just for you: The main triangle circles all of those recycle bins and trash cans that serve as that running gag of ours...

No creme Brooks for me. Not unless such a thing won't stain tan pants, in which case, I like the idea. Just not for this bike though.

That said, I can't tell you how good it is to hear from you. Must catch up on old times someday. Let me know.

-Kurt

Lascauxcaveman 

I like them. But then again, I've bought all white and all yellow CSTs for a couple bikes. Only one of them was a fixie.

randyjawa 

Normally. I would say pooey-stinko to something that jumps out at me on a vintage bicycle. However, those white tires add vintage appeal, in my mind, and look just right to me. Well done and nice bike.

Do not ride a tar road! Been there, done that and boy, what a mess to clean up later.

BigChief 

Lovely bike! Yeah, those Duro whitewalls are anything but durable. I also really miss those Dunlop tubes with the threaded stems and in my experience, they do actually hold air better than modern tubes. I wish I bought a bunch of Dunlop block treads and tubes back when they were available, but who knew? Tires are a compromise by necessity these days. I like the look of the cream tires on this bike. Keeping them on the road is the most important factor. Nice job on the build.

pastorbobnlnh 

Kurt, great to see your post--- and I thought about saying something about the all the trash-bins--- but decided that was old history that most others would not understand nor appreciate.

Yes, we need to catch up and I could really use a winter trip to MB this coming year--- but I don't think it will be possible!

cudak888 

Interesting you mention white. That was the first thing I saw and the easiest thing to get, but I thought it would be far too harsh for the period look. Took a while to find a seller with these creme tires who wasn't asking an arm and a leg for them.

Pretty sure most of Miami is tar-less asphalt. At least, I bloody hope so.

Well, they held up for 12 years, so I give them some credit. Can't be any worse than gumwalls from CST or Kenda; all substandard rubber. The ladies' 51 has Goodyear tires on it, and they were fine until last year when the front blew out, and I dare say the rubber on those looked better to the end.

The Dunlop tubes and old rubber are superior. I don't know what the chemical difference is, but if you've ever bought modern automotive vacuum hose (not OEM) from an auto parts store, it also cracks apart in 6 months. Same for the vacuum caps. It's maddening.

Old jokes never die, they just wait for another comedian to steal them. I'm sure that I can reinvigorate that gag tonight

If not this year, next year. Perhaps we can ride the South Dade trail sometime - missed out on a group ride on it last weekend due to some plumbing issues at the house.

-Kurt

noglider 

That's a great bike. I keep a 1962 Rudge Sports at my mother in law's place in Palm Beach. It's a nice bike for Florida. I geared it way down when I was in the hilly part of NJ. I don't need the low gears any more, but it doesn't bother me much, either. I just use 2nd and 3rd gears, because 1st is too low for anything there.

non-fixie 

cudak888 

This thread is worthless without more pictures. So here are more pictures.


Should I hate myself now or later for using auto exposure for this?






Here are two that only Bob will understand:




Broke them in. #NotAShowqueen




Shame we can't meet up there for the Twenty pickup

Glad to be back.

Hard enough to find 26 x 1-3/8" 590's around here in any color much less creme in this day and age though.
-Kurt

randyjawa 

The more I look at the bike, the more I like it. However, get rid of the water bottle holder. It does not fit in with the looks of the bike, nor the build quality. Just an opinion.

cudak888 

I don't like it either - especially the fact that it's an aluminum Blackburn from the 1980's for lack of a steel cage (which weren't being reproduced by V-O at the time) - but its the least intrusive solution that allows me to drag a bottle around with ease.

Speaking of mounting stuff that isn't period correct, one of my other complaints is that this bike has zero utility. Wouldn't mind throwing a period-looking pannier set on it, but I can't even find a rack that looks appropriate to the 1940's-1950's period. Not keen on the randonneur look either for this particular bike.

-Kurt

randyjawa 

This bar mount chrome steel cage might fit the bill. It was fitted to my 1973 X10 and I have no intention of using it. It is not perfect, cosmetically, but it did clean up reasonably well. Pretty sure that I have a REG one also. I will look when She gets up.


And, as far as a rack goes, there just might be an original later model Raleigh rack at Bicycles for Humanity. I will look next Wednesday, when I go to the city. Can't go today, as today is test the fleet day. Yeehaa! I do, however, have this one hanging on the beam under my lake cottage...

bwilli88 

For some full threaded Schreader tubes I might have some.
I might be able to bring a few tubes back with me from Cambodia next week. They might be 26" 1.75?

BigChief 

Here's something that may be of interest to you. An article about reproducing old style woven cable housings. It's down near the bottom of this page. I haven't tried it yet. I was lucky and the housings on my Rudge were still intact. But I am planning a project where it will be necessary for me to give it a try. I'll post my progress here when I do.



Cable Parts « Myrons Mopeds

cudak888 

Do let me know, would be interesting. Partial to originals though; as much as I wouldn't mind full-threaded spares, their use would be quite limited if paired with cheap rubber.

26" x 1.75" would be standard MTB stuff; that wouldn't work. "ISO 590" would be the thing to look for.

Just read the process. What an effort - but what a result too.

Right now, I have period Clarke's (or Clark's, don't remember) replacement brake cables on it, though I had to re-make the rear cable out of a ladies' Sports cable by heating and re-soldering the end after flipping the adjuster barrel. If I recall right, the shifter cable housing is modern Teflon-lined silver housing, but inside it is a gray-lined 1960's Raleigh replacement cable that was cut to length, with a solder-on adjuster barrel added to avoid any clamp-on misery. I'm happy with the balance between look and function for now.

-Kurt

bwilli88 

I have 4 in my suitcases. 1 was in my stash and 3 I bought for real cheap.
I will let you know how much to ship when I get back to the States

noglider 

You take really good pictures, Kurt.

If you can wait until February, when I believe I'll be in Palm Beach, we could do the handoff there. I could send it by Greyhound. I sent my 3-speed there that way. The Greyhound depot is at the train station.

cudak888 

Unfortunately, center mounting isn't an option with the headlight.

Later model Raleigh rack? You mean those pressed-steel Superbe types? Not really keen on them, but I would put it on the '80 Sports if I ever actually finish that thing.

Sounds good.

Either way works. Are you near the Palm Beach Brightline station? Let me know. Otherwise, Greyhound works for me too - it's near the Tri-Rail station here too.

-Kurt

noglider 

I don't remember which station it was. And of course, I meant that it's in West Palm Beach. I'm pretty sure Palm Beach doesn't have a train station.

cudak888 

Brightline is brand new, so it probably isn't anywhere near where you remember the Amtrak station.

Still, if you find out what Greyhound wants, let me know. Probably cheaper than the $30 round trip train ticket.

-Kurt

The Golden Boy 

Dig.

Rest of the pix are beautiful as well!

Regarding the rack situation- please forgive my ignorance- but would a Schwinn style rack work on these?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Rea...8AAOSwcoFboSxo

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1940-50s-Sc...ty!53186!US!-1