Do you have rims picked out? I'll be building up a 650b wheelset for an old raleigh in the next few months, I've found some rim brake 650 rims, but they are pretty spendy and either fairly narrow or way wide.

I don't think the question is silly but if you were thinking they're a hobbyist thing that's certainly not the case here in NYC. See many being ridden every day. I don't know my total mileage but mine are in regular use commuting, errands, local transportation, 26-mile round trip to beach...

My Sports is my main commuter. I don't keep track of mileage, but I'd guess over 1500 miles a year.

I hadn’t really thought of my lifetime passion for bicycles as a hobby, but I suppose it is with a mix of road racing and mountain bike racing mixed in during various decades. My interest in Raleigh 3-speeds is nostalgic and reminds me of summer 1976 when as a 16yr old, I maintained a rental fleet of 40-50 Raleigh Sports at Black Butte Ranch resort in Central Oregon. About half the time I commuted from hometown Bend, about 27 miles each way, but that was on a Holdsworth Pro road bike, wearing Detto Pietro shoes with nailed-on TA cleats, and no helmet. I grew up racing bikes. The bicycle concept was about going fast—hopefully fast enough to win. I still have a competitive drive, but age and knees have helped me slow down and appreciate scenery and other aspects of life can occur while sitting in the saddle. For me, the Raleigh Superbe greatly facilitates this calm mindset. I appreciate the responses and happy to see people still using these bikes for practical purposes, like commuting in NYC! Wow!

As a child I worked in a shop that had a rental fleet of Raleighs and Hercules, 25 to 30 of them, they all had the fenders removed and had 27" wolber aluminum rims and specialized 27x1 1/4" tricross tires on them, many had bull moose mtb bars on them too. As a kid I liked them, but never really realized how cool and unique they were. When I left home for college my boss gave me one.

I was working in NYC a few summers ago, cars are useless there, I needed a bike, I didn't consider anything other than a 3 speed, I did end up with a shimano 3 speed, Free Spirit, but put about 1000 miles on it over 2 months, even rode a century on it, it weighed 38.5 pounds with the lock on it. Man that bike was slow, , I'd hammer away on the cranks and it just didn't go anywhere, where was all that energy going? Something had to be getting hot somewhere, right? I actually tuned it up and had it running as well as it was going to, but, it was just a slow heavy bike.

Unexplained Tire Failure...
This 1964 Raleigh Glider was out on loan to a former student for a couple of weeks.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0647820ddd.jpg
It was returned today with a ruptured back tire.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3623034431.jpg
Tire was newish.
Over inflation?
I've got this same tire on a number of bikes and
have not had any previous problems.

On closer inspection, the tire was older than I thought....
Never mind.

Tires are weird, no telling. Could have been a defect, could have been bruised, (hitting curbs can do that) could have been a bad batch, or just plain old bad luck.
A friend had a set of tires on a trailer that would blow out by (seemingly) looking at them too hard. Could even have been unnoticed separation. This is why I always look for good quality tires, but even then, there are no guarantees.

Just getting into bikes. Picked up a 70's Raleigh Sport. It's missing the pump, where can I buy one? Google searches are coming up empty.

Thanks

https://www.ebay.com/p/Raleigh-Schra...nch/1740517665

https://www.ebay.com/p/Sunlite-Pump-...23536921&rt=nc

Good prices on both links.

I have some of those Sunlite pumps on my bikes. They work well. The plating is very cheap and they rust easily. A light coat of wax will solve the problem. I have one painted black on my 51 Rudge. That's another option.

Still Out There

Raleigh built Glider for $100.00

on Kijiji, Toronto

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...96ac0378df.jpg

[MENTION=301310]gster[/MENTION] - saddle is worth nearly that amount....

Agreed.
I suspect it's a saddle from India.

I've seen those saddles from India. I have no idea how they compare to a Brooks. After all these years of 3 speeding, I have come to realize that a quality saddle is essential if you are to experience what these old English roadsters are all about. It would be nice if the less expensive alternatives mitigated the saddle being more expensive than the bike issue. It's the comfort along with the surprising efficiency that make these bikes so much fun to ride. So far, I haven't found anything to rival a Brooks leather saddle.

Something to this. I have a leather Gyes saddle on one bike, from Taiwan. Superficially it's nearly indistinguishable from a B72, if a B72 had single rails. And it's well made; the leather is if anything thicker than what Brooks use, and is lined with fabric underneath. The difference: it's not as comfortable. It won't shape, even after much riding and sweating.

Thank you for that. I've been considering getting one for my Sports. Either that or a Zefal. Your review will be saving me a bit of money.

Raleigh Suburbe
 

I just recently came into posession of a 19?? Supurbe. Two questions. The Three speed is an AW, but there is no date stamped anywhere that I can see. However I have been known to be blind before... The AW is so faintly stamped, that I had to use a flashlight to make sure of the "W", so maybe that is the case, I just need to look harder with a very bright light?
Next question, where is the serial number located? I've looked in all the usual places, seat tube, drop-outs and the bottom bracket. The only thing I've found was the letter G on the bottom bracket. Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance.
Eric

Bitsa Project
I found a Ladies' frame in the trash (Japanese Road King) and
took off some parts I could use.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdc3f15d1b.jpg
I thought I'd put it back together with some SA parts I've got and give it to
a lady friend of mine.
It won't be much to look at but
will ride ok.

There were a lot of small changes made to Raleighs over the years so although we can't be as precise as a hub date we can date most of them to within a year or two from other features. Faint stamping on the hub shell says 70s to me. SA started getting sloppy by then.

I have an Eastman B33 Indian knock off, on an Indian path Racer.
It's well made and looks great but the leather is very tough
and difficult to break in.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0bed3f4b33.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c6aae0af66.jpg
This bike was my first attempt at a Path racer build when I realized how
expensive a Pashley Guv'nor was.
On another OT note:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f340532211.jpg
I bought some expensive black enamel paint (Epifanes) for the hull of the boat.
It may be a good frame paint as well.
It's very dense and a coat takes a day to dry.

I have a Gyes saddle as well and agree.
Looks good but hard as a rock.
I much prefer used Brooks saddles on
my projects.
Let someone else's ass do all the hard work.

The hub stampings were getting pretty faint towards the end.
I have a hub with the oil port drilled right over the year stamp.
Post some pictures and the viewers here can help identify by pedals/brake levers etc

Pictures as requested. I noticed this morning under better lighting conditions, that it appears there is a very faint "69" just above the word "three". Somebodies younger eyes will have to double check me. Amazingly enough, I still can't find that silly serial number. I know I need new glasses, but this is getting ridiculous. Ha!
Thank you all for your help!
Eric
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...65b97028fa.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e63fa3ee9.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1925309c5d.jpg

Another option in that vein is the Zefal Lapize, which looks like this:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...-rw-pc0xffffff

I have a somewhat battered one somewhere (I think). If anyone wants one at a cheap price, get in touch.

And while I get why people get these pumps for vintage bikes, I'd much rather use a modern pump in day-to-day use.

I could just pull up a chair , crack a beer and watch the paint dry on that runaround. Nice work!

69 would fit. That bike is from 69-72. Look on the seat lug for a serial number.

Your trigger dates from 1966-1970, so your date of 1969 seems right.

I can make out "69" on the hub.