I've noted this before, but here in Glorious NYC $120 wouldn't get you the one.

I don't imagine there's an easy way to shift the crown race on my Rudge fork up a couple inches, but I figure it's worth asking. (So I could raise the chrome cap to paint over the rusted spots.)

Man, this could be worse than a tire thread. If the bag is in good shape it would be worth a little trouble and expense to make it usable again. Others will say toss it, and others still will suggest you toss it their way.

lol I don’t need to start a big debate, just looking for honest opinions. Here’s the bag, in good shape, thinking a couple new straps and I would be good to go. Guess I’ll get some quotes.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee27ebb9c.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f4dc91e7a.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5713a2ad3.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...96375bdaa.jpeg

Also took it out for the maiden voyage this morning. Need some adjustment on the shift cable tension.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5aecf3b98.jpeg

I would just take that bag to my local shoe repair shop and get it fixed. While I wait if they're not too busy.

Edit: LOL or just send it my way:lol:

That is actually a damn good idea. I just had my wifes 3-pin cross country ski boots fixed at a local shoe repair/tailor shop. I have a bag that needs repair and I think I'll ask them for a price.

This thread is dangerous. I'm already really considering @Ged117's Superbe to finally pacify my fetish for a green 1950's full-chaincase Superbe, and now all these early 1980's Sports showing up make me want to modernize another one.

Incidentally, has anyone ever seen a 1980's Sports with a 25 inch frame? The '80 and '81 catalog show both 24" and 25" frames as part of the lineup. I've seen a Sprite from this era in that size, but not a Sports.

-Kurt

I have not perused the catalogs but have never seen a Sports larger than 23" (and I have one gents' and one ladies'), and I have seen the taller Sprites.

I've got an old bag around here that could use some fixin'.

.... I’m not gunna touch that one.... lol

I'm a couple hours out of NYC and about an hour out of Philly, there's bikes all over for sale that don't sell, even for cheap.
There's a half dozen used bike guys around here with rows of beach cruisers and old three speeds for sale and nothing seems to move.
All last year I listed about 8 bikes, two sold, one was a Sprite 27 the other a Schwinn Collegiate 5 speed. I had a pair of what looked to be never ridden Raleigh LTD models in 23" frames that Iisted for $200 obo all year, One finally sold to someone who drove here from Virginia, the other sold to someone who was here visiting relatives over the holidays.
There doesn't seem to be any shortage of bikes here at all. The only issues lately have been getting parts, mainly tires. The cost of tires has gone up 5 to 7 times what they were before last spring. That cost increase seems to mostly be at the dealer level because the wholesale prices haven't gone up nearly as much, some not at all with minor back order issues.
What I've run into locally is dealers who won't stock or order vintage tire sizes, they will only order one at a time which ads shipping charges to every order.

My local dealer, Hamilton’s bicycles in Richmond MI, seems to always have a the 26x1-3/8 in stock but I don’t remember the brand of tire. He doesn’t change his prices very much. It’s hard to tell if all this is coming from factories being shut down due to Covid or companies taking advantage of the situation. Either way it stinks.

I am startled to hear this. I think last summer's bike shortage here actually got some national news coverage. You couldn't find a bike to buy, new or used. Bike shops were open as essential businesses but after April or May supply disappeared. People in lockdown, or "lockdown," had more leisure time and wanted to go riding, and people who had to go to work wanted to avoid public transit (no connection between riding the buses or subways and Covid was ever established). Vintage three-speeds were pricey before the pandemic. I'm always embarrassed to mention here what I paid for my two.

Bought a couple Chinese tires by CST in 26x1-3/8, online. Model name is Classic Breaker. A terrible name. I have no idea what's up with that. I don't want a tire that breaks my classic. But so far so good. I'd bought some Kendas I liked from Harris, but they were a limited purchase and were all gone when I needed a couple new tires. The Schwalbe blackwall Delta Cruisers, there were none to buy. I wish Panaracer would offer the Ribmo in this size.

I think its fair to say that these bikes that we collect/restore have a limited appeal to the general public and they'd rather go to Wal-Mart etc and buy a shiny piece of junk that will barely last 2/3 years.
My neigbour gave me her not so old box store bike last week and I said I'd fix it up and find a suitable home for it.
What a piece of junk! Rusted fasteners/chain, cables all siezed, front suspension siezed , seat post stuck etc.
She did leave it outside.
The quality of British chrome is amazing.
The new/crap bikes are already rusting on the showroom floor.....

I did some dumpster diving at the co-op this week and came home with some 26 x 1 3/8" Continental City Ride tires as spares for my Sports. Knew about this tire but had no idea it was available in this size, so it might be worth your consideration. Labeled as "Puncture Protection" and they have reflective strips on the sidewalls. I looked them up online and they're available--whatever that means these days--from several sources and they're reasonably priced.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26cf0321f0.jpg

These are GREAT tires. My ladies' Sports came with them and they lasted and lasted and lasted. I'd love to know where you found them for sale, my searches came up with nil.

Mountain from a molehill. Gave it a few taps, it popped right off.

A pair of his and hers @ $600.00
These often tend to be lightly used.
Bought to get in shape, ridden for a month or so and
then relegated to the basement...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba25546799.jpg

Good. I always start with tapping a sharp knife blade around it until you can get a safe purchase with a screwdriver. Never destroyed a fork or crown, yet anyway. Tap them back down with the appropriately sized pvc or copper pipe.

Well, I saw them listed and foolishly assumed they are readily available.

You did great. The Contis were on my Sports when I bought it at least six years ago and I ride the bike around the city a lot. I replaced them with the CSTs last week. The Contis still had plenty of tread, but were so soft I was starting to get a lot of flats.

23" ladies' frame, rare nameplate, ancient baby seat, FIFTY bucks. What's not to like?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...49998259555406

https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...ef&oe=60906D13

The same people I know who (no mistake have limited means) will gab about the vacation they've just booked, the latest gaming console they ordered on the first day, the new car someone in the family has just bought, and the new, larger TV each year, are shocked and annoyed that a good bike will set them back around $700. It must drive bike shop owners nuts.

$700.00 sounds about right for a decent new bike.
Of course I'd rather spend $100 on a vintage 3 speed and another $100 fixing it up.
But fixing things is currently out of style.