D, Are those Brooks grips? Lovely bicycle.

[h=1]Cardiff Julian Leather Grip[/h]
. Super comfy. The Sports is such a handsome bike..hard to make one ugly.

-D

The Chossy sadlebag
 

I've got a "The Chossy" saddle bag on my 1950 4 speed Humber. No digital photo at this point. Its large and will hold a six pack of Newcastle Brown.

The all black and chrome color scheme is very elegant. PDW makes grips very similar to yours called the Bourbon. I have a pair of brown ones on my first Raleigh, a Sprite, and find them to be so long that I needed to move the break lever and shifter far to the left in order to force the plug into the bar end. Did you need to rearrange things in order to fit them? Cork grips are going on to hold me over until I solve this dilemma. I just put some Brooks grips, the ones made with rings of saddle leather, on my husband's bicycle. It took some time and Proofhide to to smooth them out and improve their appearance. The diameter is a little large and I would love to be able to use grips like yours on a Royce Union, 1961 and made in England, I recently purchased. It's all black and I'd like to steal your design for mine. The black leather saddle is already on and new grips would be the finishing touch.

The only part of the Royce Union that seemed "cheap" was the seat post. I swapped the chrome one from the Sprite and I think it improved the appearance significantly. As I mentioned, this bicycle is noted to be "Made in England" and the lugs are very similar to those on my Sports. Blindfolded, I don't think I'd notice a difference in the ride. For an inferior specimen, the 50+ year old paint and chrome are still beautiful. The pump still shines. Do you think the Dunlop wheels, also stamped "Made in England", and tires could be original? Don't worry, new tires are on the way.

Slowtostart-

All components fit well with the Cardiff's. They are mounted close though. I have typical "large" man hands. The Cardiffs allow one's hand a lot of movement and deal with sweat well.
The Dunlops well may be original. I have Panaracer Col de Vie's on this bike and could not be happier with the ride.

-D




http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6158/6...68ff9c05_b.jpg
1968 Raleigh Sports by djk762, on Flickr

I was able to purchase Continental City Ride tires at a great price, so those are going on the Royce Union and my husband's mostly Raleigh branded Dunelt. They are supposed to perform well on wet roads. I would never choose to ride in the rain, but we can't control the weather.

I may have to measure the distance I can afford the grips and ask future guidance. The "raw" cork grips, arrived today, look pathetic. The price I pay for stain and shellac may render them to be no bargain. Another lesson learned.

I'd still appreciate any info on "Made in England" Royce Unions. The wheels match and the rear hub is dated 1961.

Many thanks.

Lots of nice saddle bag/bike combos out there. Thanks for all the photos.:thumb:

I like the Carradice, especially the Barley and the Nelson, and that Brooks sure has a classy look. Maybe the Carradice will last a little better in the elements? Thanks again for all the pics everyone, it's a real help to get an idea of look/size of each bag.

WOW!! That is sickeningly nice looking. I don't know if I have ever seen a Sports as shiny or nice as that one before. Was that NOS? The gigantic bell is really cool.

The Contis are great tires. I have a set on my 1962 Nottingham built, Rollfast branded sports. They've been on for almost a year and a half and have +1,000 miles on them. Handle good in the rain, nearly indestructible and will can go up to 85psi.

Not NOS but very nice. The bike was very greasy/dirty and then polished up really well. The bell is huge but has such a great DING DONG that I have kept it mounted and it with the other chrome bits is a great reflector at night.
This is one of my city bikes and a good bell helps to navigate ped and bike traffic in a pleasant manner.

-D

Hello! New here so just looking around and finding my feet ...

I've got a couple of old 3-speeds here. This one was a bit of a bitza when I got it about 10 years ago -

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/6...599769eed5.jpg
Raleigh Sports Model by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/6...621bf93710.jpg
Raleigh Sports Model 1934 by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

But I fitted an old set of North Road style 'bars, and gave it an oily rag resto. We used it occasionally for a couple of years, and had a variety of kiddie seats fitted to it along the way -

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7...936a0195d9.jpg
Windsor Great Park 2003 by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5113/7...91eaee82c1.jpg
Windsor Great Park 2004 by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

But since then it has spent too long hung up in the garage while I rode lighter and newer machines. Overdue an overhaul!
It is a 1934 Raleigh Sports Model, with a K type Hub. I've got it running again, but badly, it still needs work. Think one of the pedals is bent, and the worn chain wheel doesn't like the new chain. I've just fitted new tyres and tubes, and a front wheel with less rusty spokes. Getting there.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6...f0975470_z.jpg
time to resurrect the old Raleigh by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

Crikey! Is that an oil lantern?

Welcome to the C&V, those are some jems. An oily rag and fresh air in the tires seems to suite them just fine!!

I might have to see how those handlebar grips would look on a green Superbe. You mentioned that the components fit fairly tightly with the Cardiffs on there, does that make it more difficult for you to reach the shifter or hand brakes?

BTW, good to see another Central Valley 3-speed lover.

Yeah, this old bike has some lovely patina. It hasn't been 'restored' before, so still wears its original paint. I'm all for preserving originality where possible, not keen on the factory fresh look. (but I am a bit of a beatnick, if I ride a nice shiny bike people think I've nicked it ...)

A 1910's Lucas Silverking in one shot, a 1928 Lucas carbide lamp in the other. I've used both extensively before, on my commute from work, but not for a while as I tend to ride 40's and 50's bikes now. I assume there'll be a vintage lamp thread on here somewhere?

No problems with reach. Index finger shifts and first three fingers brake easy.
The valley is a great place for three speeds. We need to get a Left Coast Lake Pepin Tour happening (http://www.3speedtour.com/).

-D

Sadly, not really. A few bits and starts but nothing really. I've got a Lucas Carbide waiting to go on a 1923 24" Rudge loop frame :) Getting to the age where I've deemed it easier to step through than over the bar when making short trips about town. Still gathering parts for a build which I'm thinking will become an old frame with new running gear and a few vintage hang-on's like the lamp....we'll see how many parts show up this summer.

Not really but feel free to start one! :thumb:

I don't have too many vintage lamps, most of mine are 70's OEM stuff. I have a couple of JOS, a Spanninga and some Millers.

Aaron :)

Sports Tire/rim help
 

Changing the tires on an old Sports that hung upside down in a garage for at least 20-30 years.
As you can see in the pictures the heat really blistered the tires & even melted them to the rims.

Anyway... I noticed there was a difference between the front & rear rims.
The front is rounded & smooth like a normal rim, but the rear is flat with a grove/grid on the side.

Sorry the photos aren't the greatest, but can Ya'all tell me if these look like the stock rims
for a 1974 (date on hub) Sports?
Front....
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/P6140150.jpg
Rear...
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/P6140154.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/P6140153.jpg

Maybe I'll start a vintage lamp thread ...

In the meantime, here's another faithful three speed -

This was not long after I acquired it. A steal at a cycle jumble about 10 years ago. No one else wanted it so I haggled for it as everyone was packing up and got it for £20 I think. Had a sticky 3-speed though that cost £60 to sort.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2514/4...9239d14659.jpg
1948 Humber Sports, 'The Aristocrat of Bicycles' by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

I use it as my winter hack, mainly because of the sedate handling, and super SA hub dynamo. I love this bike!
Shame it doesn't have the distinctive Humber double forks, but I love the 'circle of life' dancing children on the chainwheel.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5087/5...65a7576afa.jpg
Winter work hack by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

Wow Quiet Mike - What a rare beauty that Humber is! :thumb:

Ohhh, would be fun. My carbides are doing mostly shelf duty but this "little" ole Miller gets out on occasion
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=256038

Tut tut... it looks like rain.

Will be a nice night to take out the Raleigh... :)

Ok, so this bike doesn't technically belong here, seeing that it is not English. The hubs are English though... the rest is Belgian.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5118/7...5f035977_b.jpg
DSC06193 by mkeller234, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5155/7...917516ab_b.jpg
DSC06210 by mkeller234, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7...5ee8b8a2_b.jpg
DSC06219 by mkeller234, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7...4fcb3f00_b.jpg
DSC06222 by mkeller234, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7...2f32cfa5_b.jpg
DSC06228 by mkeller234, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7...eefc3092_b.jpg
DSC06232 by mkeller234, on Flickr

We'll let you slide on that Anglo thing mkeller234 - but ONLY because that bike is so frigging kewl! :thumb:

Cool. Think I'll order a set, they're priced pretty nicely, too.

I would love to see a Pepin-style ride in the area. That's a great idea as there isn't anything in the central California area like that, at least that I know of.

Sixty Fiver...I'm really enjoying your blog. I've just begun to peruse, but my interest is peaked.

Thanks for the feedback... I am probably the world's worst blogger as I sometimes get so busy with other things that I do not have the time to write about them and joke that my real blog is called bikeforums.net.

:D

Only saw a few drops of rain and this is probably because I took out a proper British bicycle with mudguards and a 3 speed hub... had I taken out something that had no mudguards there is a certain guarantee it would have poured buckets.

Went out tonight to meet my friend's parents who came all the way from Minnesota as the University was bestowing a posthumous master's degree on their son, and my friend Ian who passed away last year.

We shared a love of bicycles and martial arts and general geekery when it came to many things... he had a particular fondness for these old British 3 speeds and was quite flattered when his parents said he spoke of me well and told me I was his mentor when it came to bicycles.

I always thought I was just a bad influence.

:D