Originally Posted by arex (Post 22880447)

In case anyone's interested. I might give this a shot.

https://tandyleather.com/collections...e-tool-bag-kit


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Originally Posted by 1989Pre (Post 22880635)

Elddir_mot: I am not a Facebook member, so I can't see the first bike. You have seven posts. You need three more before you can post photos, so I hope to see both bikes soon. Are you planning to ride from Watertown to Newton to Brookline to get to Boston? That is an excellent ride. The ride into Cambridge to get to Boston is more exciting but a little more crowded.

Originally Posted by Elddir_Mot (Post 22880759)

and this makes eight, so definitely pics coming soon!
I actually don’t go into the city proper much, but I do go to Newton and Cambridge often so good to hear those are options. I’ll admit I’m a little intimidated about riding around here — last time I spent much time on a bike was in semi-rural GA, so all dirt paths or one lane roads. Very different vibe haha

Originally Posted by Elddir_Mot (Post 22880266)

Thanks 1989Pre & nlerner ! Pre, I’ll mostly be riding on local streets for short errands (I’m in Watertown, about 20 min outside Boston) and casual rides by the river with my 5yrold who just got her first bike! The classic puttering about town basically.

Here are the two bikes I’m debating between:

Option 1:

$50, 1968 (from what I can tell by the decals/hub)
Frame looks to be in good condition (though pic quality is iffy so who knows). The description is literally just “Raleigh 3 speed bike”. That’s it. Seller doesn’t have much info other than it was his aunt’s old bike and she kept it clean. He doesn’t know frame size, but either the 21” or 19.5” would work for me (5’5” with a 30” inseam). Seat looks like it’s not original, maybe?



I wish I could post pics, but maybe this is enough info for someone with pic privileges to find it: It’s on FB marketplace, under:

Antique Raleigh 3 speed bike

$50 / Category: Hobbies / Listed 6 weeks ago in Mattapoisett, MA

If you go to Facebook dot com and add /marketplace/item/248278167554540/ the listing should come up.







Option 2:

Craigslist, $150, 1971. Way more description:

For sale: A Raleigh Step-Through bicycle manufactured in England in January 1971 complete with the leather Brooks seat upgrade. Fully reconditioned and ready for a summer of riding fun. Bike has been thoroughly cleaned and serviced. It has new tubes, tires, brake pads and period correct air pump. The three speed hub is working well and the bike is ready for your next adventure.



Listed in Boston Craigslist under

Vintage 1971 Raleigh Sports Step Through 3 Speed bicycle - $150(Cumberland)



Obviously 3x the price of the 1968 but it’s ready to ride, and between the new tubes/tires/brake pads probably come close to making up the $100 difference.





…so yeah, I’m pretty torn. They’re both bronze green too, so I can’t even be shallow and decide solely on paint color lol. If it were up to y’all, what option would you go with?

Originally Posted by nlerner (Post 22880770)

If you don't already know it, the Blue Heron Trail, which runs along the Charles from Boston to Waltham is always lovely and away from cars: Idyllic Trail Through the Charles River Reservation

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 22879294)

Any chance someone might have one of these early, serrated Sturmey-Archer washers that they can spare?

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79047afc76.jpg


-Kurt

Originally Posted by Ged117 (Post 22880854)

I see that I provided at least one in the Superbe Kit! I may have the other one in a drawer somewhere - the catch is this: they don't prevent rotation, not nearly as well as the later anti-rotation washers do. I switched out the above washers for anti-rotation ones. Switching out also helps to prevent over-torqueing the wheel bolts.

I have an unrelated issue with my 1947 GH6 hub as installed on my '51 Sun Wasp - I can't get the outer plate to stop rotating while cycling. The late '40s versions of the GH6 have bearing adjustment on the right (dynamo side) of the hub and don't include a lock washer (just a lock nut), adjustment has proven difficult. Its either too tight or the face plate starts rotating; I can't get it to keep in proper adjustment because tightening up the right side adjustment (the wide piece you can see below) requires then locking down the bolt, but without a period fitting lock washer its difficult. Anyone else worked with the late 1940s front dynohubs? Any tricks, parts substitutions, etc. to achieve a good adjustment?
PXL_20221209_202457876

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22879716)

Twenty for ninety in NY. I'd buy it.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...57641332712588

Originally Posted by Elddir_Mot (Post 22880759)

and this makes eight, so definitely pics coming soon!
I actually don’t go into the city proper much, but I do go to Newton and Cambridge often so good to hear those are options. I’ll admit I’m a little intimidated about riding around here — last time I spent much time on a bike was in semi-rural GA, so all dirt paths or one lane roads. Very different vibe haha

Originally Posted by 1989Pre (Post 22881282)

Yeah, in my opinion, Newton is the place to ride. Much more relaxed than Cambridge and Waltham. There must be good places to ride in Watertown, but I don't know about them. You could take Galen St. to Washington St. (Newton Corner) left on Walnut, which takes you up to Newton Cntr and Newton Highlands. From there, you could head over to Wells Ave on weekends, which is actually on the Newton/Needham line. That might be a good place for your daughter to gain some confidence, because it is an industrial park and not many cars on weekends. Lots of space. There is actually a road cycling club that meets at that location.

Originally Posted by Elddir_Mot (Post 22881422)

Awesome idea- and the weather’s clearing up, so we might hit that up this weekend!

—

thanks to everyone for the input! I decided follow the general consensus and not to bother with the FB bike, but I pulled the trigger on the CL ‘71 (really cool seller, he included an original prestube rack!) 😊

Bike Tax:












finally, this is a undoubtedly a dumb question but…what’s this little doohickey on the front for? Is it just decorative?


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...886f5b475.jpeg

Originally Posted by Elddir_Mot (Post 22881800)

1989Pre Thank you! Unfortunately, the saddle’s splitting at the front rivets, so I’ll have to replace it— I’m hoping to find a b66, but no luck so far on CL/eBay. The tires are Kendras, max psi 55, and the shifting’s super smooth! Its a really nice ride, I’m excited to get out on it 😊

Originally Posted by SirMike1983 (Post 22881574)

It is for a headlight. There is a special clamp that mounts to the bracket and holds the headlight.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...928_173943.jpg

Originally Posted by 52telecaster (Post 22882181)

What a great looking sports!

Originally Posted by 1989Pre (Post 22881632)

Wow! Good going! That really IS in nice condition! You got a Brooks B72 saddle that is worth almost the price of the bicycle. That is so cool! Does the pump say made in England? How does it shift, and what is the max tire pressure?

Originally Posted by SirMike1983 (Post 22882206)

Thanks. It's a 5-speed Sprite with the dual paddle type shift levers on the top tube. But the headlight mount is the same as a Sports. You need a two-piece clamp that is specific to the Raleigh-style lamp bracket. If you have that clamp, you can use pretty much any basic headlight. That headlight is a retro LED that uses AAA batteries. The original B72 came with the bike was a little dry for doing much rider use any more.

Tires are Michelin World Tour white walls. I run them 60 - 65 PSI range.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22883057)

Tall-framed Dutch IGH goodness for $150 in OH.

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 22881187)

This is the '57 Triumph though; I was able to get a spare for the Superbe (I think it was from nlerner or clubman but don't remember offhand). Now you have me second-guessing whether I should be using these, given that the bike might be ridden now that it's refurbished.

I have a feeling your early Dynohubs might be suffering from the same issue as my '47 was. I wrote up a bit about this; let me know if this helps:

https://www.bikeforums.net/21227463-post43.html

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8e48aeb1d7.jpg


-Kurt