Originally Posted by noglider (Post 13341358)

Super.bee, that's an interesting bike. I've never seen one like that.

And congratulations, el_spumante. After the LBS finishes the job, I recommend you start learning how to do this stuff. A 3-speed is a good learner bike.

Originally Posted by jamesj (Post 13341978)

My wife's 74. Its a tiny bit big for her but it fits if she has the seat down.
she added corck grips, petersboro basket, copper bell, and 2 legged kickstand.

Sorry about the non drive side photo.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../upload1-1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...or/upload2.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...or/upload4.jpg

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 13346635)

My friend has a Raleigh LTD-3 as his commuter bike. I convinced him to change his rims for a little lightness and because his rims are badly dented. He came over tonight, and we mostly built up the rear one. I taught him how, so this his first wheel build. He asked how many wheels I had to build before I had the lacing procedure down by heart. He also said that he found truing to be hypnotic and a bit obsessive. Wait until we get it to within half a millimeter!

We're using Sun CR-18 rims, of course. We completely relaced the wheel, this time interlacing the spokes. 40 spokes, 4-cross.

The hub says 1972 on it, and the spokes are in excellent condition.

Originally Posted by jamesj (Post 13346919)

I still need to learn how to build wheels. I need to find someone in the area who can teach me.
your a good friend Tom!

Originally Posted by gbalke (Post 13336554)

I hate you!!

OK, I really didn't meat that. I've been searching for a 1954 dated S/A hub for the past year or more for my '54 Humber restoration. I just missed one on e-Bay last week.

Post some pics and your address and when you'll be away for a good length of time. Let's see, 5 hrs to drive from St. Louis to Chicago, 1 hr driving around aimlessly; it is Chicago, 20 minutes seeing if the coast is clear........

Seriously, great find there. What date stamps are on the hubs?

Originally Posted by jamesj (Post 13346919)

I still need to learn how to build wheels. I need to find someone in the area who can teach me.
your a good friend Tom!

Originally Posted by sykerocker (Post 13341165)

On the 3-speed front, life just got interesting. Yesterday, I was notified that I won the following eBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250904055807...84.m1497.l2648

Yep, I Cyclo Benelux (claimed) 2-speed derailleur with lever, obviously originally made up for the S-A multi-cog conversion freewheel. I think I may have just found the answer to my complaints about my Ranger being too high geared for my riding area. I've had a Cyclo 3-speed freewheel in my parts box for about three years now, just waiting for something like this to happen. 40 years ago, I had my (then new) Raleigh Sports rigged up with one of these setups utilizing a Huret Allvit derailleur and lever. Seem to remember it worked quite well climbing the hill up Peach Street in Erie so I could get to work. Later transferred the setup to the Twenty that replaced the Sports.

What's nice is that in the past week, I've gained 131 miles experience with the Cyclo Benelux on my recently restored Lenton Grand Prix (I'd never held one of these derailleurs until I started on this bike - they weren't in use by my bike shop days) and find that it's a nice shifting unit - as long as you don't try shifting on a climb while stomping on the pedals. Action on these old derailleurs is definitely predicated on a light pedal pressure while in action, and planning one's downshift well before the climb.

Now, if memory is still good: I seem to remember getting around not having a longer S-A axle back then by taking a hacksaw to a S-A right side nut and thinning it down the thickness of the derailleur hanger. I'm tentatively planning the same action here, although the invention of the Dremel tool should make things a lot more delicate and neater. I seem to remember that, at one time, S-A offered a longer axle for conversions of this type but it's been almost 40 years since I last tore down an AW hub, and quite frankly it's the one memory that hasn't transferred through time.

Any thoughts from anyone else who's done one of these since my last effort would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 13347868)

Yes, I've done that. I used exactly that derailleur on an AW hub with two cogs on it (20 and 23 is a nice setup). I did not need to do anything to the axle or washers, but it would really depend on the frame. If the dropouts are thick to begin with, you may have trouble. If the frame is spaced for a wider hub, you may need to switch to a 6 1/4" axle (which is easy).

What bike is going to get this treatment? Your Lenton Grand Prix is actually an excellent candidate for this, with the braze on shifter and cable stops. You could get a twelve evenly spaced gears ranging from 40 to 88 inches.

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 13347574)

We've helped many folks build wheels right here. Go right ahead, and feel free to write here to ask when you need help.

Originally Posted by jamesj (Post 13350628)

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

Originally Posted by auchencrow (Post 13353378)

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

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 13358340)

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

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

Originally Posted by auchencrow (Post 13358370)

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.;))

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 13358340)

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).

Originally Posted by wahoonc (Post 13358472)

I think that is the original handle bar, they are just tilted up a bit too far.

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 13358608)

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: