I'll take a picture later this afternoon. No, it's not that cap. It is at what I would label the top of the shifter if looking down on it. There is a narrow piece/band of metal which seems spring loaded and snaps into the notches on the trigger when changing gears. It is sandwiched between the sides of the case.

Thanks for your patience. Even though I was sad to realize we have a mechanical failure, it was enjoyable to hunt for the cause. Now if we can only convince him the saddle will become more comfortable....

Neal has saved the day!

Question for anyone who's rebuilt 28" roadster wheels - does anyone know what the ERD is? I'm planning to buy a pair of NOS Westwood rims, I think Dunlop

40-635, 700B (700 x 38mm) = 28" x 1.5"

Thanks, but I'm looking for ERD for spoke length, not ETRTO for tire sizing

@slowtostart is referring to the pawl which has a pawl spring on it - you know, keeps the shift lever in desired gear.

@slowtostart: I assume Neal has come up with a replacement shifter....that pawl spring is replaceable but only if you take the entire shifter apart *and* have the requisite replacement pieces. For a 70s bike the shifters are readily available (usually only the plastic is broken....

A most perfect example of "woman speaks, woman translates"!

Vv, may I count on you in the future?

Mark, yes, Neal has offered a replacement. The damage exceeds the plastic. The missing, snapped off metal, coincides with the broken plastic.

Anyone else experienced this shifter issue?

Yes - I have one as well with the end of the pawl spring snapped off....but I also have a local shop with a box full of them if you don't mind scratched or cracked plastic....bought just the shifter for maybe $5....

This is not an English 3 speed, nor does it have a Sturmey Archer hub; but I have never seen a 3 speed hub with a coaster brake and the bell crank on the same side. Did Shimano do this?
Schwinn Collegiate Vintage 3 Speed Bike

Yes, @dweenk, that's a Shimano hub, and not a very durable one.

Yeeeaaaahh!!

page 420 ..

its not very vintage .. walmart bike . my 69 stingray uses a SA hub

Those are from '83 or '84 and made for Schwinn by Giant, I believe. Not a Walmart bike. A Decent, lightweight lugged frame. I thought that was a decent Shimano hub, though.

Just got home from a 44ish mile ride up to Salem and back on my '37 Raleigh roadster, including a fair amount of gravel paths. I know I really shouldn't be surprised by this, and I suppose I'm not, but I'm really impressed by how well it handled the gravel parts! I also saw a '70s DL-1 locked up outside a bike shop in Salem (an employee told me it's owned by someone who works in an office above them and rides it every day). A friend in Salem took some great pictures of my bike, too, much better than the ones I've taken so far.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...55881394_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...61821411_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...54678185_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...30430133_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...21935950_n.jpg


Here are a few that I took along the ride:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...509_145245.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...509_145254.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...509_145519.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...509_145803.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...509_161712.jpg

The bike and that path just look so awesome !

@agmetal - when you say "Salem" and I see you're in MA, I immediately think of witches. That bike seems like it would be home in Salem. It's very pretty.

We have a Salem in Oregon, but unfortunately there are no witches.

Yep, that's the one. I rode right past the Salem Witch Museum. I've been up there a few times, but have actually never had a chance to check that museum out.

It is surprising how well these roadsters handle unpaved and generally poor road surfaces. You would think, since they're so old fashioned, that they would be bone shakers on uneven surfaces. I think they ride just as well as the modern department store all purpose bikes on our rural, stoney, New England back roads.

I am always impressed by how well these bikes age. If you can find one that hasn't been left outside to rust, they develop a patina like faded denim or well-worn leather. Your `37 is a prime example of this. As long as you keep them lubricated, they will virtually run forever. Definitely built to last. I can't think of any modern bicycles that fit that mold, other than maybe a Pashley. But then that's just a modern copy of your roadster anyway. Are there any other modern bikes that will stand the test of time like an old Raleigh?

I don't find it surprising at all...I mean, think about it - you've got a bike that was used in rural pre-WWII England, and is still popular in the developing world. I can't imagine those areas had/have roads that are in great condition...

FWIW, its arguable that the original design from which the DL-1 derives was the world's first mountain bike. Much of the 3rd world's mail was delivered on such machines, on single-track in the middle of nowhere (or at least so close, you could see it from there).

Take a close look at the images in the background on the home page of the Tour Divide site. They are 3-speed rod brake machines, apparently doing a bit of bikepacking.

@agmetal: Beautiful bike, this shifter alone !