OK, I picked up the green Raleigh Roadster today.

It is probably 1955 (hub date), has an FG 4 speed dynohub which shifts well, but is slow to engage 'top' and skips a bit initially in this gear - will oil it and see.
All present and correct with a nice B83 (not 73 as I thought from the ebay photos), working dynohub and front light, and... Stainless Steel rims. These are a real bonus to me, as I really want to have one bike with genuine stainless rims, and now I do!
The gearcase does NOT rattle and is all there.
The brake pads have petrified and don't really work - they look like brakes, move like brakes, but don't stop like brakes!
The frame is about 23" (I haven't measured it), and at 6'3" I have a standover height with about 2" clearance at the groinage. I could cope with a bigger frame but don't like playing the nutcracker suite when dismounting on rough ground.

And the best part, I think I did very well for 77 pounds stirling. I have just seen a pair of stainless rims go for about 65 pounds this week, and people pay big money for the old Brooks saddles too.

Initial picks before a proper clean up.

Sheldon Brown wrote that all proper roadsters have 28" wheels, but this is just fine on 26s and I have two 28"ers at home. Me happy

This is export quality for my return to NZ

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140970http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140971http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140972http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140973http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/pencil.png

AL - That is a stunning bicycle.

:love:

thanks very much, as I say, I am happy!
I don't think it has had a lot of use. Wheels are true, paint in good condition. Even the transfer at the steering lock (key missing!) looks like new.

What do you think tyre-wise? Creme Deltas or stick with black?

And is there any way of getting replacement keys for the lock?

And what are the best modern-compound brake blocks for stainless rims?

That is indeed a beauty! I hate to think about the cost of shipping it home, though.

I don't know about cream colored tires; might be a little too flashy, no? This bike will attract enough attention without calling attention to the tires.

I guess I'd go to any old bike shop you see (emphasis on old!) and ask if they have keys or key blanks for that lock. If you can get a blank, you can probably get a locksmith to cut it for you.

Beautifull bike and a reasonable price. I'm partial to black tires but tan/skinwall tires might also look nice; Panaracer, Schwalbe or ? Hope it ships well and doesn't cost too much for the transit. PG.

I've seen shipping rates to NZ. They're enough to make you faint. Good luck with that.

Is the color a sort of bluegreen? I love it. I don't think light colored tires (or light coloured tyres) will make it look too flashy.

I recommend Kool Stop brake pads. They seem to be best for pretty much every application.

If the wheels are stainless and 26 inch there is a high probability they are Dunlop EA1 wheels which use a specific tyre size of 26 by 1 1 /4... these are not compatible with 650A tyres as found on 26 by 1 3 /8 wheels as they are a different rim size.

Finding good rubber can be a challenge and I would hook up with Bf member "gnome" who is really involved in the NZ vintage bicycle community as he might be a great resource when it comes to finding hard to find parts.

I don't believe it, but what do I know. At any rate, if they are 26 x 1 1/4, you can use tires made for Schwinn lightweights; the ones now available are admittedly top notch tires, but cheap and perfectly adequate.

Very nice. Worth every penny it costs to ship home.
Thank you for the pictures.

which Kool-Stop pads fit the old Raleigh brakes?
They do a Campagnolo replacement pad which I hoped might slide into the existing metal pad holders, or there is the 'Continental' pad.
Who knows?

The set that has four rubber pads, and no metal, that's what you want. I think it's called Campagnolo or Mafac, but no matter. Slide the old black rubber out and slide the new ones in; it's easy. Be sure not to mount the shoes backwards, or the first time you apply the brakes, those rubber blocks will shoot out and you won't have any brakes!

I'm not sure about the old Raleigh brakes, but I put Continentals on mine. You may be able to spot them on my wife's bike:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140999

I'm not a fan of the color, but they work better than the old pads.

I've found that the Kool Stop "Supra 2" pads fit both Mafac Racer and Weinmann Centerpull Calipers well....I've got no doubt they'd work on most Sidepulls too.

Yep, worked that one out the hard way when I was 10..

thanks

Does anyone know the biggest size rear sprocket that will run without scraping in a full Raleigh chaincase?

im thinking about picking up a 1967 raleigh sprite this weekend. Guy wants 100 for it but he told me he cant sell the seat which im ok with as it is a big ugly one. Maybe he will come down some.

i like it but i have to work something out with the wife, and m patio is filling up pretty fast with bikes.
I still have the 72 sport i need to start working on.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...ensor/pic1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...ensor/pic2.jpg

ALNZ, I find that bike very drool-worthy. Good on you! Ride it in good heath.

Not sure; I think a 22 tooth, but don't take it as gospel.

CK

Such a great thread and timley too. Love to see all the new 3 speeds. I just finished my winter project. I found a very sweet '64 vintage Raleigh DL-22, removed the chaincase and mudguards, flipped the North Road bars and added a set of antique wood hand grips, a '64 Dnyohub, a 50's vintage Sturmey Archer Lamp, and sprung for a new Brooks Flyer. Took advantage of the prelude to sping weather we had today and went for a ride......I'm in love.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=141038http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=141039

I would still like to add some rat-traps with leathered toe clips but for now I'm happy to be on the road after such a long winter!

Very nice - classy; a real black tie bike. The headlamp is a very nice touch.

Now that is pure sex on wheels!!!!!

Here is one I cleaned up recently. It's a 1970 Raleigh Sports that was built in Malaysia. The AW hub does not have a date code and the trigger shifter is blank. I guess the Malaysian built version did not have a lamp bracket originally.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/...5c8f9506_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/...ca7d6913_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/...3d4d64c4_o.jpg

Did not come with pump pegs either... I have one of those too, not in nearly as nice a shape. The trigger originally had a plastic cover on it with the logo but they have a tendency to get broken and disappear.

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/38...600x600Q85.jpg

I see that yours does not have the typical Raleigh fork crown. I have one of the plastic shifter covers, it's black with a sticker stuck to it. It is from my wife's late 80's Schwinn Collegiate.

Here is a before picture of my Sports:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/...f89ca439_o.jpg

The fork is a replacement...my brother was hammering along one night, stood up in 3rd gear, frame flexed, went neutral and he hit a parked car. Bike got a new fork and crank arm and he got 14 stitches.:innocent: The original shifter for that bike had a clear plastic cover on it with the SA logo and the gear locations printed on it. (can't find a picture of it at the moment) standard fare for that era of bike. IIRC the black plastic came out in the very late 70's or early 80's. Doesn't really matter as long as it works. ;)

FWIW that bike has been in my possession since 1982 and has had the living daylights ridden out of it. It has somewhere around 15,000 documentable miles on it, and probably that many more undocumented.

When I get the time it is going to get a complete overhaul and clean up, a set of baskets and a generator light set and go to my parents house as my in town bike versus riding down there or having to haul a bike with me every time I go to town.

Aaron:)

That is a gel saddle cover on there, from the looks of that picture from the rear it has a Brooks Leather saddle on it!

Aaron:)