The Lenton is currently running the stock 4-speed freewheel (14-16-18-20) and the 46/48 chainwheel. Which means it doesn't climb any better than my Ranger 3-speed.

My first thought is to install the setup on the Ranger. I'm having some second thoughts, since the Ranger is a '68, and the derailleur is at least 8-10 years older than that (the seller got in touch with me and said it came off a '60 Schwinn Racer). I'm starting to think that this is an excellent excuse to clean up the Cyclo, temporarily bag it, and start searching for a '50's British roadster (or another Lenton) to restore. And build up with the conversion. As my restoration skills sharpen, I'm really in the mood that every keeper bike that now passes thru the shop should be a few years older than the one that preceded it.

No doubt replacing the axle is easy - lord knows I did a lot of them 40 years ago. Biggest fumble at the moment is that I haven't torn apart an S-A since 1975, and that's the one procedure I can't seem to do in memory. No doubt it'll come back as soon as I start to tear one down.

Thanx. I need to get over my fear of screwing up. Im going to buy the CR18 rim and then we will go from there.

- james

Dale - neat Royal...you might find the RI stamp (Raleigh Industries) on the drive side crank arm and/or the stem (might be lightly stamped) if it was made by Raleigh....sure looks like it from the photo though. That shiny chainguard sure looks nice!

Mark

They aren't hard once you get started. Enough of us have built them we should be able to give you the spoke lengths and walk you through it.

Aaron :)

In case you missed this in the "Are you looking for one of these? " thread.
A '36 Raleigh Golden Arrow on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1936-Raleigh...-/270832811656

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...13344678_o.jpg

Complete with original catalog:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...13347149_o.jpg

Ya know... my birthday is coming up... :D

Nice original cycle.

Woah, that Golden Arrow is lovely. Right up there with this Lenton Sports:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270831373116...84.m1423.l2649

It seems expensive, but it's really unusual to find a bike of that vintage in that kind of condition. As far as I can tell, it's all original except for the pedals and maybe the handlebar (original handlebar should have a swoopier bend).

Darn rhm! I was sniping at that and now you go and advertise it to the whole world!
(Just kidding. My upper limit was exceeded by the second bid.;))

Sorry, Sir!

Honestly, I just bought the exact same bike, in deplorable condition, and as I face restoration and the many compromises I will have to make, I find this nice one tempting. Original mudguards, original saddle, original paint, original headlight... this is pretty much unobtanium. I don't think it's overpriced (yet). But (like you) I will not be bidding.

I think that is the original handle bar, they are just tilted up a bit too far. Nice find but too small for me.

Aaron :)

Yeah, you may be right. The handlebar on mine --of the same vintage, within a month-- doesn't have the long straight section at the top, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I can't prove mine is original, I can't prove the other one isn't; maybe they both are, maybe they both aren't. At any rate, here's mine:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/...bd1b65e8_b.jpg

In spite of the condition, I love that bike! It's a crying shame you saw it before I did, because I'd have definitely plunked down the cash...have you figured out yet what shifter you'll use on the bike? I think the one currently on it is rather quaint. :p

I have what might be the original shifter for it! It's going to have a 1951 FM hub, 700c rims, 1965 dynohub... I think it will look pretty convincing. Did I mention that the frame is bent? There's a buckle/ripple on the down tube. No matching ripple on the top tube, though. I look forward to finding out how it rides.

I don't recall you mentioning that the frame is bent. I take back my comment in that case. Bent frame, but no bent fork?

No, the fork is def. not bent; and the front wheel appears to have been original. Maybe the frame isn't bent. Well, the ripple in the tube has that distinctive shape, but the location is wrong; it's like six or eight inches back from the lug. Not the usual location. On butted frames one often finds a ripple of this kind right where the butt ends, which would be a bit closer to the lug. Anyway, this frame is straight gauge 531, very tough stuff.

I was comparing it to the one in the brochure right below the bike. At that age who knows what is really original and what might have been added at the dealer. I have bought more than one new bike and promptly swapped out components to serve my needs.

Aaron :)

My 1955 Lenton has nearly, if not identical bars... seems like these were in use for many decades and despite the lack of modern brakes and hoods they are very comfortable with those long flat ramps.

Spent my evening tweaking out my winter bike and installed an old fashioned headlight and with a fresh bulb it throws a decent amount of light at very low speed... will look at building up a battery pack to provide a stand light feature and keep me from over driving the bulb.

Has it started snowing in Edmonton?

We might get a skiff of snow this weekend... the winter bike has been pretty much ready since the end of July although I still need to pick up a set of Cascadia fenders tomorrow to finish things off.

Aberdale & Royal
 

Thanks everyone for the nice comments on the Aberdale and the welcome. If I can find out any more about it I will be sure to post, and if I can get it into running shape there will be photos. Someone pointed me to Classic Transfers in the UK, who have what looks to be the right fender decal in case anyone needs one, though I think I will leave the original.

Somewhat unsure how to proceed re: the bent fork, I hunted down what may be a better short-term candidate... a 1964 Royal with no apparent frame or fork problems - and the next day or so later Dale Clyde posted the same model!

More spookiness: my gf and I just finished fixing our - her, really - first E3S, a 1974 Sports step-through in cream like jamesj's, though w/o the beautiful additions.

So many similarities... led to a double-take on all those images! It is fun to see & be part of so many having fun with these bikes.

Noooooooo... on the snow. It seems a tad early even by our standards.

Hooray, I finally got a good saddle for my Armstrong! Nothing was technically wrong with the Wrights mattress saddle, but it never agreed with my butt. ;)

(As usual, sorry for the crappy pics.)

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ong/armb72.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/b72close.jpg

Shortly after taking these pics, I pulled it back off and gave it a coat of Proofhide, top and bottom. The saddle must have been thirsty, because it went from that "greasy" look to the "waxy" look in no time! (The lighter spots also darkened up nicely.)

I know the thing is old, but I can't find a date code anywhere on the leather or frame. Hmm...

- Scott

I'd not worry about the actual age of the saddle, but instead the condition. It looks to be in very nice condition and looks plenty comfy. Enjoy it and the bike!

Great looking Armstrong...and cool orange tabby. The Brooks looks perfect on the bike, as well.

Black and Orange? Almost time for a Halloween thread...I have three b72's/ 68's... like 'em all and they all ride slightly differently. Age, bike geometry, or saddle angle I guess. Everyone needs a black 3-speed.

-D

There's a nice looking men's 3-speed for sale in NJ.

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/bik/2640475614.html

I ordered a few of the plastic ones from a guy in England a couple of years back. 10 of them shipped to the states cost me less than Harris gets for shipping. Unfortunately I can not find the link. OK, found it but they have gone up a lot, 2.5 english pounds, that is like $4ea. http://oldbiketrader.co.uk/display_S...p?options=gear is the link, scroll down looking for "HSA106 hub shell oil nipple". If I recall correctly he did not charge anything extra for shipping.

Good of you to share that link... seems that it is easier to find some parts across the pond than it is here and agree on the shipping costs from Harris, I find them to be a little out of line when it comes to small parts.

Came across a box of odd parts the other day at the co-op and as I like to collect odd little bit bought a box of NOS bottom bracket lock rings... mostly for the lovely little Phillip's box they came in.

Thanks, I appreciate the link! I asked my bike shop and they said they might have some old hubs and parts lying around, so hopefully they'll get me one. If not, 2 and a 1/2 quid isn't too bad!