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Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
(Post 10436739)
Is this the year of the 3 speed racer?
I've seen half a dozen threads (not to mention my own build) of folks putting 3 speed IGH's on road bike with drop bars in the last week and a half....seems like there's gonna be a lot of us riding around without derailleurs this summer :lol: Conversely, running to large a cog in the rear with a too small chain ring can exceed the hubs design parameters... they are really best suited for moderate use and won't limit most people in the speed department. I also ran a Shimano 3 speed in an mtb frame to use it as a winter bike and this worked famously in some of the worst conditions I have ever ridden in. The Sports will get a Cyclo Benelux 3 speed kit added when I rebuild the stock '54 hub into a new or vintage wheel... it requires a longer axle but then the 3 speed will become a 9 speed with a very nice gear range. Will also look to lace a Dynahub into a 700c for the front so I can be self powered. I have built dual drives for SA hubs and they work really well to expand the capabilities of the SA AW as if you gear for speed you lose at the bottom and vice versa. Gotta stay as vintage as possible on this one... the new brakes and old Dia Comple levers are very impressive in how well they work. I figure one of this bikes first good rides will be to ride the 50 miles from here to my mom's. :) |
What was a Raleigh Criterium? I don't think we had that model in the US.
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The Raleigh Criterium came in several versions... the Carlton made versions were mad in England and had Reynolds 501 frames while latter models were straight gauge frames that were fitted out with a full Shimano 600 Arabesque group.
Pedestrian frame and awesome bits here... most Straight gauge Criterium frames I see are just that as they get snapped up for their Shimano 600. Mine was a latter model and was probably an '83... I laid down some stupid mileage on that bike as a three speed and fitted some of Raleigh's 650 B wheels that they were offering during this period to allow the bike to handle some rougher roads and trails. |
Nice build, Sixty Fiver. I'm guessing the 700c wheels make the ride what it is.
I had a Raleigh Ltd.-3 that I cleaned up, repainted, and added new alloy wheels and brand new SA hub. It was still quite heavy and sluggish compared to my other bikes. I sold it to a coworker at a big loss but he rode it a lot and enjoyed it. When he left town, he sold it to a local so the bike is still around. Perhaps I'll see it again. There's a local man who has been riding his Superbe ever since he bought it new way back. We were relaxing after a fixed gear alley cat race and when he came by we made him stop so we could check out the cool bike. (cell phone pic, sorry) http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle/10004...11898017280001 headlight still worked, dynamos still on the bike. |
The old Superbe is such a nicely equipped bike and am thinking that if Raleigh had re-introduced the bike as it was (instead of the new hybrid like model) with a few nice upgrades to the brakes and rims it would still be a great seller and would be a competitor to the Pashley roadster.
I have never had a problem selling these bikes through the co-op or through my shop as they are still very popular and everyone seems to know someone that had one and since we have regular tweed rides I now have a vintage geared Raleigh to ride. My best friend rides a 1980 Raleigh Sports (ladies model) that I picked up NOS... she just loves it. And because the tinkering never stops, I just swapped out the 18 tooth driver for a shiny new 20 tooth( and put on a new chain) to give me a 49/65/87 gearing instead of the 54/73/97... I can't mash a gear this high anymore and sometimes don't have the full use of my left leg so have to spin like a gerbil on crack. Increasing the wheel and tyre size requires one to adjust the drive as a bigger wheel equals a taller gearing... the stock gearing on these old bikes was designed for low rpm efforts which are easier when you are sitting upright as you utilize your glutes more. Most can benefit from the installation of a bigger driver to reduce the overall gearing and allow for easier pedalling and a better hill climbing gear. It is almost obligatory to take pictures of old English bikes here. http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...tspubsepia.JPG |
Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
(Post 10437087)
...And of course, because I built a fair weather and rain bike... it is now snowing.
Not that we get a lot of rain here, but I'm anticipating several weeks of intermittently wet roads & trails as the winter snow accumulation melts. Anyway, beautiful build & story, Sixty Fiver. I am reminded of my best boyhood friend's bike, not a Raleigh I think but an equivalent CCM if there was such a thing, double diamond 23" frame, not sure what size wheels (probably 26"), drop bars and Sturmey Archer 3-speed. It was pretty non-descript at the time with many years and miles on it, but he maintained it in good working order and always ran with the rest of us on our new 10 speeds. |
The last time I built a dedicated rain bike we had a drought that lasted two and a half months... :)
This is a Kuwahara Cascade mtb with a Shimano 3 speed (the last rain bike) that I built up a few years ago... sold it to a young lady after a few seasons of riding and she still uses this bike on a daily basis and I see it fairly often. http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/kuwie3spd4.jpg |
Very nice build, sixty fiver. All it takes is one Raleigh and the next thing you know, you got a garage full. I think I have 5 or 6 variants of the Sports/Superbe plus a Super Course.
I'll be at Lake Pepin on my 68 Superbe and my daughter will be on her 77 Sports, if I ever get it finished. I won't be riding the 3 speed fixed gear this year, once was enough. |
I recently joined the club. I found this 68 at the town dump last month (well actually my dad found it). Someday I want to buy or build a drop bar clubman...
Added a brand new B72 but it doesn't look quite right on the bike so I picked up a $20 B66 with a nice matching patina. Whatever saddle I end up using will get cork grips died and shellacced to match. http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/100_0096.jpg http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/100_0154.jpg |
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Originally Posted by bbattle
(Post 10437600)
There's a local man who has been riding his Superbe ever since he bought it new way back. We were relaxing after a fixed gear alley cat race and when he came by we made him stop so we could check out the cool bike. (cell phone pic, sorry)
http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle/10004...11898017280001 headlight still worked, dynamos still on the bike. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138662 |
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I love those old 3 speeds , too. Great utilitarian transportation.
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Very nice, nice story too. It's too bad that the Rudge didn't work out for you, that is one fine bicycle.
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Originally Posted by bikamper
(Post 10438484)
Very nice build, sixty fiver. All it takes is one Raleigh and the next thing you know, you got a garage full.
These are both fixed gear conversions... the Twenty was a 3 speed originally and will be a 3 speed again albeit with an SA SX3 fixed gear hub. http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/confetti1a.jpg 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...rest09new4.JPG 1973 Phillip's Twenty |
Thank you Aaron, I will.
This thread is aMAZingly fun! Sixty Fiver, I have to say, You're one of the key people who inspire the rest of us to search these great machines out. It's supposed to get near ten below zero here overnight and all I can think about is a Raleigh Twenty now. I'm sunk. Harv |
The paint has seen better days, especially on the fork and chain fender, but she rides like a dream. This is the bicycle that got me into working on old bikes. I got tired of paying people to make repairs for me and just started figuring out how to take it all apart and put it back together. These are old photos, I've added a 30+ year old brooks b72, lights for the dynohub, a nicer looking bell, and taken off the ugly lock clamp. I'll get some new pictures in the spring.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/...2649f25c_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/...3c432f94_b.jpg |
twoducks - That is a beautiful Superbe... I see very few red Sports or Superbes with Raleigh badges on them while Phillip's variants tend to be a little brighter and stand out more.
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Thanks, Sixty Fiver. I've seen one other red one around town (Toronto) that is in much better shape than mine. It still has the original lights, pump, and saddle. A blue one in this style recently popped up on our Craigslist too, it took all of my strength not to buy it.
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Originally Posted by twoducks
(Post 10440446)
The paint has seen better days, especially on the fork and chain fender, but she rides like a dream. This is the bicycle that got me into working on old bikes. I got tired of paying people to make repairs for me and just started figuring out how to take it all apart and put it back together. These are old photos, I've added a 30+ year old brooks b72, lights for the dynohub, a nicer looking bell, and taken off the ugly lock clamp. I'll get some new pictures in the spring.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/...3c432f94_b.jpg |
Originally Posted by twoducks
(Post 10440823)
Thanks, Sixty Fiver. I've seen one other red one around town (Toronto) that is in much better shape than mine.
Your location is a dead giveaway that it's most likely a Canadian variant though. The Canadian models throughout the 1960's and 1970's notably differ from those sold in the U.S.; white fenders are common on the '60s Sports (forgot what year this started and ended), and the post-1973 examples were produced in an eye-splitting lime green that wasn't available across the border. I believe they did a bright orange variant during this time frame as well. Quite unusual, and possibly the most outlandish colors ever put on the Sports; 10 times more so then the two variants of bright yellow applied to the U.S.-market machines. Take care, -Kurt |
Kurt, that makes sense. The hubdate on the SA hub is 64.
Clubman, I guess that answers your question. I will take a look for the serial number for you soon, the bike is 'in storage' at my parents' place for the winter. There are a couple guys trying to sell old Raleighs with similar paint schemes on our Craigs these days. One Orangey/gold Lenton Sports has been going up once a week for about 3 months now: http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1615380897.html There is another one in purple/white that I can't find the link for. Maybe he finally sold it. |
wow that bike is super clean...
i love the chrome fenders against the Gold.
Originally Posted by twoducks
(Post 10444638)
Kurt, that makes sense. The hubdate on the SA hub is 64.
Clubman, I guess that answers your question. I will take a look for the serial number for you soon, the bike is 'in storage' at my parents' place for the winter. There are a couple guys trying to sell old Raleighs with similar paint schemes on our Craigs these days. One Orangey/gold Lenton Sports has been going up once a week for about 3 months now: http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1615380897.html There is another one in purple/white that I can't find the link for. Maybe he finally sold it. |
Originally Posted by twoducks
(Post 10444638)
There are a couple guys trying to sell old Raleighs with similar paint schemes on our Craigs these days. One Orangey/gold Lenton Sports has been going up once a week for about 3 months now:
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1615380897.html -Kurt |
Here's the oddball Superbe...likely not a Canadian bike with the lamp mount unless someone was asleep at the switch. It had EA1 rims and a 58 AW hub. No indication of there ever being a chainguard or mudguards mounted. The other two blue Superbes are from Halifax. Absolutely mint. Mattress saddles though.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138840http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138842 |
Originally Posted by twoducks
(Post 10444638)
There are a couple guys trying to sell old Raleighs with similar paint schemes on our Craigs these days. One Orangey/gold Lenton Sports has been going up once a week for about 3 months now:
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1615380897.html This guy has an enviable collection of bikes... http://www.flickr.com/photos/37002899@N08/ |
wow i love the white Fork Tips.
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