I thought there was a three speed group in California: http://www.threespeedtouringclub.com/

It's southern California, not central, but maybe you could be an outpost.

Thanks for the lead. I hadn't heard of this group before so I will definitely be looking into it :thumb:

Since no one has responded, I'll take a stab at it. Yesterday, I traded a '74 Sports for the exact amount I paid for it. While pumping the tires and giving it a quick go over I did notice the rims were a bit different from an earlier Sports. They had the "grove/grid" you noticed on your wheel. Let's see if the experts here will jump in with more information for you.

It serves two purposes, supposedly to improve braking, and possibly when the grooves disappear it is time for new rims. Though I don't know of anybody that has really ever worn a steel rim out from braking.



Aaron :)

Thanks gentlemen, took them yesterday to get trued & the shop owner told me about
the groves improving braking.
He also thought the "hump" in both the rims middle indicated that they were both Raleigh,
& maybe in 1974 the English factory was just throwing bikes together with whatever parts
they had on hand.

Oh, yeah.... Raleigh throwing bikes together with parts on hand sounds right to me. I've noticed the same with my own Raleighs.

Canton, Ohio!?! You are the FIRST person that I have seen from Canton since I have been a member here. That is awesome. What shop did you take your bike to? Finding a mechanic with interest in old bikes is hit or miss. Ernie (from Ernies) is awesome, good for insight and old hard to find parts.

Hey mkeller,
Nice to meet you. Seems we have the same taste in bikes... old Raleighs,Treks & Schwinns.:thumb:
I'm in Plain Twp. have to get together some time.

I'm partial to old, grimy bike shops, so I frequent Dell's a lot.
But I try to spend a little money at all the local shops.. Gemini,Ernies &
I've even bought a bike off of Bisesi's.

61 Raleigh Superbe...for Fathers Day!
 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/DSC05792.jpg

Pictures are coming soon.

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a long time, I hope you'll forgive me for butting in. I wonder if anybody could tell me a little about this bike.

Thanks.

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...meRaleigh1.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...meRaleigh4.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...meRaleigh3.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...meRaleigh2.jpg

I've got it in the C&V values forum also, just wanted a little uh, backstory? or somethin'?

Sweet !

The full chrome version is probably one of the rarest variants of the Raleigh Sports... once they are cleaned up they are stunning.

In really nice condition they would fetch quite a bit more than a similar Sports or Superbe.

Sounds like a plan, maybe we can meet up for a ride sometime. I'm really liking the new middle branch trail that goes north through Gervasi Vineyard. I agree about Dell's, lots of great stuff. On the other hand, his mechanical work has been kind of spotty sometimes. I also find that prices seem to change with his mood.

Hey, jedge, I haven't seen you in a while. (I pop in and out of this thread.) Can I see your bike?

There are still tons of English 3-speeds in the New York area. I'm doing a photo journal of bikes locked outside, mostly in New York City. There are some nice three-speeds. Just this week, I saw a tall Sports. Clearly, many people are riding old bikes not out of sentimentality but because they just work. They're good bikes!

Here's my photo journal. I haven't written captions yet.

Love the chrome PLUS a 3spd coaster brake :love: you can look dignified and lay down some awsome skids too! Clean it up and take if for a ride and post some photos....maybe an action shot of a smokin' hockey stop. The thought of it makes me feel 13 again!! Congratulations.

Hey Tom, I'm around checking this thread every now and again. No problem at all, I'll post a pic below or I can send a higher resolution photo if you'd like? After looking at my most recent photos, I'll post this one below and take a better one tomorrow in better light.

I just got back from a short 7 mile ride, but I usually do at least a leisurely 10 miles a day on it. In the heat here, it is a really nice ride about 7 pm on. I also just bought a Brooks saddle bag for it and I really like it. It was a tough choice between the Brooks and a Carradice. Let me check out your photo journal, that should be pretty cool! It's a great idea, too. And, yes, they're awesome bikes as far as I'm concerned...more than just lookers!!

Great journal Tom! Fixies are still in. lol I'll be following your progress with the photos. Again, great idea!

Amazing how many of these all-chrome Raleigh Sports have been popping up lately.
I believe they were given to dealerships and not generally sold on the floor.

Looking for a cheap rear fender...
 

My wife brought home a rather decrepit Hercules three-speed and decided we would give it to our daughter-in-law. It's not going to get a repaint (though it needs it), but I have polished most every supposed-to-be-shiny bit on the bike within an inch of its life.

The front fender appears to be original and shined up quite nicely (as did the chrome chain guard), but the replacement aluminium rear fender needs to go. Any idea where I can find a decent rear fender to for not much dough which would blend in better with the front fender and chain guard? Need not be pristine, just amenable to a light dusting with steel wool.

Thanks,

Skip Montanaro
Evanston, IL
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259272 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259273

Been looking for an ideal Sports model Raleigh for my definitely better half and found one outside Asheville about 3-4 weeks ago. Can someone tell this Luddite how to post pics here? If not, I can create-a-link to FLICKR I guess....

26" Blue Metallic, B-72, original Brooks seat post bag...

What year did Raleigh change the tube angles of Sports and Superbes from the relaxed, like Roadsters, to the modern form?

I think they were always different, however the 1938 catalog mentions the geometry and the 1936 bikes look more relaxed. My 1939 bike is pretty much the same as any sports made later.

Working Bikes

[TABLE="class: ts intrlu, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]2434 South Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608

There is a whole wall of used cheap fenders hanging from a rack. You'll find what you are looking for there.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

PIC - [of the blue Sports and more - our "living room" bikes -ha-ha!]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5340652...in/photostream

So I have a question on cotters.

I looked through the threads and still am having problems. a couple of years ago I had crank arm movement in the non drive side and had a bike shop look at it, they replaced the cotter but the cranks were noticeably not parallel to each other. I dealt with it, well Im tired of it and want to replace it, they only replaced that pin and not the other. Now im trying to get the cranks in line with each other but still nothing. I even filed the pin and it worked but the end that sticks out is to far in.
I read that it is good idea to replace both to get them parallel with each other and im thinking this is the case to get them in line. has anyone done just one side or do you all replace both at the same time to get them 180 degrees apart.


I hope this makes sense.

When you replace cotters you should do it in pairs and use quality cotter pins.

I believe that is what I am going to have to do is replace both. It seems in my head that will correct the problem I'm having, I'll take a photo tommorow. I probally only recieved the cheap grade from the bike shop here in the valley.

Bikesmith offers high quality cotter pins... they are worth it if you do not have a source of other quality cotter pins.

+ a whole bunch!

I have been messing with cotters for over 30 years, I have no issues using cotters, but like everything else there is a learning curve. Buy your cotters from BikeSmith Design, also read his page on them. This is a case where quality really does make a difference and you get what you pay for. I have almost always replaced cotters in pairs.

Aaron :)

i ran into the same issues with cotters, bought the cheapos from my lbs, then went and got some on amazon, then realized i was pissing money away and got the grade A pre filed cotters from bikesmith, which also fit the r nuts,