Thanks for these last couple of posts BC - I recently bought a shifter for a roadster project, and although I haven't mounted it yet, it seems to have spring issues. The lever flops around rather than clicking into each indent. I think it'll have to come apart for a rebuild.

Mine did the same before I put a cable in, I do belive the tension for the cable has a lot to do with the clicks working well. On mine it was only that lowest gear that it couldnt do. The three upper speeds worked just fine so even with a loose spring you may be okay. If I had accepted 2-4 I could have left it as is but i have a 3 speed and i wanted 4 speed! Haha
Bigchief shared with me a link to this Ebay listing , you want to buy one if you think you'll need it. I did.
Though I've nearly given up on ever getting these pins out. I think in my case I'll be waiting on the newer 4 speed shifter to see if that works.

Yes, you need to drift them out with a hammer and punch through vise jaws open just enough to clear the pin heads. Then you use the closed jaws of the vise to hammer them home reassembly. Here's the vise and hammer I use.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c15d46d104.jpg

I made a flickr album of shifters
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150931...57686501575124

They're still out there..
$20.00 (CDN)
Mind you, the forks look a little bent...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7435a8cf8b.jpg

Good advice.

1980 Tourist
Listed at $375.00 here in Toronto..
I doubt it will sell at this price.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a65287aa0e.jpg

Yeah, overpriced. The rims look bad in the photo. That's the nail in the coffin for the big roadsters. Although, I think I see 36/36 spoke wheels. Did Raleigh change the 28" wheels over to 36 at the same time as the 26" wheels? That would make things a lot cheaper. 36H Westwoods are available even in alloy today. It's the 32/40H rims that are nearly impossible to find. I do like the B66 saddle.

Agreed. Not worth the price.

[MENTION=38859]SirMike1983[/MENTION] - That Phillips is brilliant. Well done!

-Gregory

Here's a nice one. Short frame but still, a good 'en.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9489a7e14.jpg
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...776927538.html

That's lovely and pretty rare. I think Sheldons first bike was an Elswick Hopper.

Yes, I'm especially fond of this one. If it were a tall frame, I'd be out 250 bucks.
From the 1953 catalog ...VCC library

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59528d0a13.jpg

Nothing special and it's missing the left crankarm and pedal (and cotter) but "Can be worth alot of money."

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/...774022553.html

1960's AMF Hercules - $30 (n. Chesterfield)

https://images.craigslist.org/00o0o_...Rq_600x450.jpg




bicycle type: cruiser
condition: good
frame size: medium
handlebar type: other/unknown
make / manufacturer: Hercules
suspension: none (rigid)
wheel size: 26 in
vintage 3 speed Hercules missing one crank. Can be worth alot of money.

A 1961 or so Superbe listed here in Toronto @ $200.00
It's been up for a while with no takers....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d7d69ac2e.jpg

I saw, what I believe was a Canadian model with this style paint. Black and white with chrome fork ends. Very sharp looking Superbe. As far as I know, we had the choice between bronze green and bronze green here in the US.

I think you're right. The white accents seem to be found here on the Canadian models.
Here's my 61 Superbe (previously poorly repainted) with white accents and chrome tips.
Bars have since been turned back up and the stem swapped.
This was a $50.00 bike.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...98e535f278.jpg

The Dynohub front wheel that originally came on the '53 BSA has been swapped onto Old Reliable (1977 Superbe).
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...95a4c28be0.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...203f0f3625.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd48a2387e.jpg
It would appear that someone before me spent some $$ having this wheel rebuilt.
Turns freely, new spokes and runs true. Newish tire as well.
I haven't attached any lights but will get to in the spring.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5a611272db.jpg

The new version...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...112ec1068a.jpg

Old Reliable..
This is the bike that started it all....
1978 Canadian Built Superbe
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0428887ebd.jpg
I saw it chained up to a post with a for sale sign and a phone number about 8 years ago.
I called and the owner brought it over to my house and a deal was made.
I think I paid $175.00 (CDN) for it.
A couple of years later I purchased a very original Superbe and sold this one to a former student who,
thankfully couldn't pay for it and returned it a few days later.
Since then it receives some form of upgrade every year.
It's got the best saddle in the fleet plus the saddle bags, pump, new MKS pedals, new chain etc.
Bearings were all repacked a couple of years ago and now it's got a proper Dynohub front wheel.
I'm sure I've got a headlamp bracket and a lighting kit in the garage.
It has served me well over the years and continues to be my main bike.

Love Those MKS Pedals
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cd21e506a5.jpg

I heard somewhere that MKS stopped making these. They re the best replacement roadster pedals I know of. Much better than using the later Raleigh pedals on older bikes IMO.

If that's the case I'd better stock up!
I've got one more set in the garage and I think the bike shop has a couple more.

Just a bit of daydreaming here...I was impressed with that black and white Canadian Superbe I mentioned earlier. Very fancy for a roadster. Different, but in a good way. Since this bike has the chrome ended fork, I'd be very tempted to do a total refinish of this bike and copy the black and white one. I might not be able to find a ready made "Superbe" transfer for the seat tube, but I'll bet I could find a font close enough to look good. My local sign shop could make up a nice vinyl transfer. White cable housings, white grips and , of course, a B66. Plus...I've been dying to buy a Beugler pin stripping tool and learn how to use it.

This bike arrived in my backyard in somewhat poor condition. The owner, a friend, had bought it the week before because he wanted the Dynohub front wheel.
As I started to remove the repaint (poorly painted blue with a brush) the original blue paint and decals were revealed.
Although I prefer a black bike I've decided to leave this one as is for the time being. It rides quite nicely although the front forks have a slight twist.
I suspect a result of someone reefing on the front with the lock engaged.
It would appear that these bikes had a two-part finish with a silver undercoat followed by a translucent blue top coat.
Original colour revealed.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1592fe49a2.jpg
As originally received:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4fbcd5d136.jpg

There were so many variants of these, some with chrome forks, some with white paint, some with neither.

I gave this red one away 3 years ago as it had a bent fork and was too large.

The bottom pristine pair are a dark blue with flashes on the forks. Funny that most of these Superbes were large frames with vinyl Brooks saddles.

Big Chief, if I see another one(cheap), I'll put your name on it.

Dark Blue and white is a nice combo.

Wow, a his and hers pair. Beautiful bikes! I forgot about the stars on the seat tube. Gotta have them too.

Long before the latest iteration of hipsters, fixed wheel bikes were used as path racers as they were more efficient in getting power to where rubber meets the road. Before the fax machine much urgent/ legal/ confidential printed documents passing around major cities throughout the world used bike couriers to deliver their documentation in a fast efficient manner. All of these bikes were fixed wheel. Forty years ago when I was doing it the reason we used fixed in heavy traffic was it was safer. Certainly it was the most efficient method of travel but it was the safety bit that was most compelling reason.
On a fixed bike you tend to go fast and the pressure on your legs at all times constantly reminds you of the momentum you have and the consequences if you hit or are hit by the ground, car or pedestrian. You tend to keep up with the traffic and needless to say you are constantly aware the whole flow of moving objects weighing thousands of tons will not tolerate a 25 lb bicycle obstructing the flow. The pressure on your legs tends to remind you of this overwhelming force surrounding you and your primeval survival instincts conditions you to understand the traffic is meanest SOB in the valley and you will die if you tempt fate.
The beauty of it is when the monster is compelled to halt at a red light you are free to zoom up and away and get a shot of dopamine as the monster is forced to pause. On the next block you return to the clutches of the beast and the cycle repeats.
Do this a hundred times a day, week in, week out and any other way feels weird and dangerously disconnected and rightly so.

That's difficult for me to imagine, but I suppose it's similar in a way to my preference to manual transmissions in cars.

1950 Raleigh - Sports?
 

Hello all,
After being bitten by the Raleigh bug as a result of reading nearly all of this most excellent thread, I've bought one of my own. The hub is stamped 50 - 1 so I take that to be January 1950.
It has the AG 3 speed dynohub plus all the fixings and mechanic oil points not to mention a "cyclo" three speed derailleur that I am curious about; somebody here mentioned it once as a '50s option. It also includes the original B66 in good condition. It has sat for the better part of 30+ years and will need many Sunday afternoon work sessions - I can't wait. More photos to follow with better sizing.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1776aa3a00.jpg