rhm would agree, too. I can see them in pictures of his bike (Norman, I believe). They do look a bit funny--here's a set on my wife's bike:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=180428

I hope someone has a better closeup picture.

They greatly improve stopping power on steel rims, especially when wet, but you still need to use caution, or you'll skid right through a stop sign.

Next question: giving the bike a new shifter cable
 

Well my brake pads question was such a layup I figure I'll try another question ...

I'm about ready to cable up the 3-speed shifter to the SA hub. The original cable has that distinctive crimped cable-end to secure it in the shifter.

What do you do when you want to give your shifter a new cable - do you need to add a special crimp on the end like the originals had?

You would need a universal cable with a special adapter as shown in the picture below. You can find these on e-Bay and most good LBS.

http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!B1LcUbwBGk~...gVEO9Q~~_3.JPG

How about those Badgers??

I am not sure what Kool Stop model these ones are, but they are pretty good. I like the hardware and the adjustability it allows. I can lock up the wheels and skid at will. One night on my way to work I nearly went over the bars at the bottom of my steep driveway because I wasn't paying attention.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/...d36e9d88_z.jpg

Perfect, thanks!

Go Badgers - smelling the roses ...

If one has a 23" Raleigh Sports frame only, and a 21" complete Raleigh Sports, can the parts be moved to the larger frame? Both are from approximately the same time period. Right now the question is hypothetical.

Yes, but the cables might not be long enough. Other than that, yes, everything is the same.

Those are the Thinline V brake pads... designed for brakes with tighter clearances and quite nice because they are very easy to toe in.

Have found that with some brakes the deeper Eagle pad works better and these can also be fitted with the same hardware to allow for easy alignment and toe in. I use these on my '57 Peugeot as they work far better than the Thinline pads I had tried, they stop better, and don't squeal like a cat in heat.

You can buy replacement cables and can either get clone cables or new Sturmey Archer cables which cost a fair bit more... I like the new SA cables myself.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...rtsbrifter.JPG

Yes, check the length on the gear cable. Everything else is the same.

Aaron :)

Get a new chain. They're cheap and consumable. When in doubt, throw it out!

The chain should work, if it's not rusted or worn, but ColonelJLloyd (boy, that's hard to type!) makes a good point. You can get a chain for ten bux.

The difference between a 21" Sports and a 23" Sports is that the head and seat tubes are longer. The top tube and downtubes might also be longer, but I don't know. Those are the only differences.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182530Hi Guys. Been off the forum for a long while and am in the midst of a divorce of sorts. What makes me happy? Three-speeds! I just picked up my fourth Sports this weekend, and today read through all of this thread. Ah, it makes me feel good. I love the bikes and loved Roadmasters story and bike. I'm from PA too, many moons ago! Anyway, I want to be back in the fold, here's a pick of my favorite and the one that got me started. I'll post the others if anyone wants to see pics of old bikes...

Bring 'em on...we love pictures!

Aaron :)

Is there a source for tall stems for Raleigh's, like the one on roseskunk's Sports?

Yep, I'm shamelessly posting this everywhere.
Decals should go on tonight but a break in the rain made this a good photo op after getting it all together.
1966 Sports

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...8&d=1292630153
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...9&d=1292630766

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182564http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182565 Here's another of my Sports. Don't have a date for this one, and these pics are from just after I bought it. 75 bucks in Fort Worth. It's got a B135 on it now and front and rear Wald baskets. I swapped out the rims for CR18s too. Yeah, the B135 is way overkill, but I just had to own one. (Well, actually, I own two, the second one is on my DL-1 Tourist.) she's a good bike but doesn't get ridden as much as my green one. The hub slips a bit and I'm a little nervous about trying to fix it. I clean them with WD-40 then refill them with oil and that seems to do the trick most of the time. Maybe I need to take a look at it again...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182567http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182568http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182569http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182570 Here are a few more of my favorite Sports. There was literally only one scratch on it when I got it, and it's a bit dirty now, but still very nice. I think the only thing I've done is swap out the seat for a Brooks, though the original one that came with it was in terrific shape as well. This bike still has the original steel rims. I don't ride it in the rain, so it's no problem other than the weight which doesn't really bother me. Oh, I've got a Carradice bag for her too.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182572http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182573http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182574 Here's my DL-1. It's got a B135 on it now, unfortunately the old saddle finally just completely ripped. I bought the light from ebay, the bike was another 75 dollar wonder from Fort Worth. Apparently it was for sale for quite a while, and I nearly passed on it too, but I'm sure glad that I didn't. It doesn't get ridden much a it's a big heavy bike, and it doesn't fit me- or I don't fit it very well. I've got the bars as high as they'll go but it just isn't enough. Still, it's a beauty, and no, I wouldn't get rid of it!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182575http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182576http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=182577 Here are a few more of her before she got the new saddle. I'll have to dust her off and shoot some new pics. Actually, all of them need new pics. I don't have any of the brown or new red LTD. I've also got a Twenty that has been at the not so-LBS for quite a while. There's also a Supercourse, an International, a Competition and maybe a few other Raleighs. But this is a three-speed thread, I'll stop now!

Pyramid makes one. I have one somewhere that is supposed to go on my old Sports but I can't find it...

Aaron :)

A noob question, do I need a specific kind of chain on these 3 speed machines?

You will need 1/8 chain in a half inch pitch... multi speed chain is 3/32 by half inch and is too narrow to fit the wider cogs and chain wheels on many 3 speeds.

Shimano 3 speeds use 3/32 while British bikes and many older bikes use the wider 1/8.

Any chain with 1/8" width will do. I've had good luck with all brands. Try this one.