One eats popcorn at the movies......my interpretation is, 'I'm just sat here, watching'.

Getting in a couple late season rides on my 1959 Schwinn Traveler three speed.

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Had a trip around town for a few grocery items. Pleasant early winter riding along the pathways. Tick, tick, tick goes the '53 AW. Need to do something about that saddle. Maybe a C17.

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I have a 54 alloy shell I need to get back on a bike I would ride! Beautiful pic.

Thanks! My '50 FM I bought from clubman is alloy and runs on the Wasp - the alloy SA hubs are fun survivors to encounter. I rebuilt the steel shell '53 AW running on this bike - the bits inside were in really good shape, just needed fresh pawl springs and axle key. The guy gave it to me for almost nothing since he figured it was trash, and now it runs me along to wherever I want to go. Originally this bike came to me with a 1980 S5.1 hub, I really have no idea what year the bike is, since it also has non-drive side cable guides for the five-speed left-side indicator. It may be that its a 1960s bike that came with an original S5 hub that went wonky, and was replaced later with an S5.1 that works but slips in super-low. I'll share some pics later this winter of the overdue rebuild of that hub. In the end, I think one day I'll build an alloy set for this bike using a '50s steel shell FW I have in the parts bin for toughness and the extra gear. The wheels as-is in really bad shape.

Age 8, before riding the bike into the back of that car that really should not have been parked in my way !
https://i.imgur.com/1LjLirL.png

Awesome pic, I hit the back of a parked car delivering papers. The wald basket was bent but not broken.

I'm 3 years older than my brother. I never had these 'incidents'.
He, however had a long cycling history of finding parked cars to hit or hedges to tangle with.

Here's an opinion which just formed in my wayward mind....

Whatever negative features of steel rims, real or imagined, the fact that they are relatively heavy by modern standards is a reason their revolving weight has the advantage of being effectively a pair of flywheels.

After a recent ride I noticed the oft referred phenomena where, once one gets up to a chosen speed the cycle appears to become effortlessly propelled.

I imagine the rotating mass of the rims do indeed become flywheels.
Of course all wheels will have this characteristic, but the heavier the rim of a gyroscope will have stored the energy you expended to get it up to speed.

So not all that extra effort you put into accelerating those heavy rims goes to waste; the rims have stored it and contribute towards your progress down the road.

These 3 Speeds are meant to be ridden in a leisurely manner.
By not fighting the weight of the rims, but taking your time to get to 'Raleigh Supercruise', remember one aspect of your progressive effort is put energy into your gyroscopic wheels, which to some degree conserve it.
A continuous uninterrupted journey should highlight this. Also coasting distance will be enhanced.

The negative side to this is that energy laden wheel will take more effort to stop it.
:backpedal:
That's my 'Juggernaut' theory.

The two main issues with chrome plated steel rims are weight/acceleration, and braking surface.

I have a Raleigh Clubman with early Dunlop alloy Westrick rims. The rims have the same tires as some of my steel westrick steel rims, so the main difference in the wheels are the rims themselves.

Comparing them to chromed steel westricks, the alloy wheels are much lighter, accelerate more easily, climb easier, and stop better. They must have been a revelation for sport riders back in the early postwar era.

The chromed steel westrick rims stay in true better and give a more comfortable ride over bumps and are easier to repair. The steel westricks are legendary for durability and longevity on a utility bike.

In between are the Dunlop stainless and lightweight steel endrick rims. They're a middle point between the chromed steel and the aluminum alloy. They would be in between the chromed steel and alloy in the characteristics named above. I have a set on my 1953 Lenton, which are very comfortable riding wheels indeed.

I would ride a good condition set of any of the rims named above. They're all well-made, just different in what they do well. The alloys are hard to beat if you're pure sporting rider, and the chromed steel is nice if you're a utility rider looking for durability. In between, the dunlop stainless and lightweight steels are a good balance.

Using my three-speed with steel wheels for general utilitarian use, including running a heavy grocery load homeward, has proven this theory time and again in practical experience on the road. When heavy laden with all the items in the bags I drop to low gear, but once up to speed its easy to keep running along, if you're lucky to have relatively flat paths along the canal / rivers like we have here. Sometimes I even drop to High gear and get up to a good clip. I do have a 20T cog though.

This discussion of theoretical physics really hits the mark. It certainly captures the essence of my recent experiences rambling a 24" roadster on paved and gravel rail trails; and how fun that has been! Why would I want the brakes?

In addition to the Juggernaut theory of flywheel propulsion, there is the sheer momentum that 42 pounds of moving steel brings to the road after getting up to a little speed. Roll on mighty Columbia! Roll on.

Don't forget to include the weight of the rider! That's only the engine. :speedy:

Late season ride - Raleigh Model 35 light roadster.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...102_173351.jpg

My latest "For the Love of English 3 Speeds" influenced buying decision. A 1954 Raleigh with rod operated drum brakes, in a small frame size. Is it a Sports, Roadster, Superbe or other model? From the decals it was an export model destined to Singapore.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d4565312ab.jpg
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Seat tube decal. Reads " Choon Seng 155 Hill St. Singapore"
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Seat tube decal.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9f18a1b2e.jpg
Upper seat tube decal.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c0ec048753.jpg
Headtube lug decal, reads "Special"
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...df416db356.jpg
Downtube decal "Robinson & Co Ltd, Singapore & Kualalumpur, Sole Distributors"
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...093ad142b5.jpg
Chaincase decal.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e80431dc3.jpg
Rear hub stamped 6 54
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...435925ad23.jpg
Front hub also stamped 6 54
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5a801a196a.jpg
Serial number.

Someone at work was tearing down his shed, and asked me if I wanted his old bikes. Now I have two more DL1s:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d46976bda9.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fd4a9bf43.jpg
The gentleman's bike has a Nexus 7 speed hub--that was a surprise. I'm trying to figure out what to do with them.

They're in spanking nice condition. Nice one, er two.

Nexus 7 on 28 x1-1/2" Wheel
 

The gentleman's bike has a Nexus 7 speed hub--that was a surprise. I'm trying to figure out what to do with them.[/QUOTE]

Having recently rhapsodized about my experience riding the DL1, my first and favorite vintage bike, I have most of a second one in parts, and have been fantasizing about finding or building a roadster wheel with 7 or 9 speeds for it, which I hope would be a pretty fun and capable touring/bikepacking steed for riding long rail trails. I haven't seen or heard of 7speeds on 28 x 1-1/2" wheels before this. Does anyone know where such a wheel might be found, or where they were used? I'd also appreciate an opinion of how well such touring bike would work out in reality.

I am also curious how wide a span at the rear dropout is necessary to handle the Nexus 7speed. and if it would be necessary to spread the frame to accommodate one.

What to do with them? Ride them of course? Short of thatr, sell one of them to me!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...95032a91f3.jpg
Here's how to triple the value of my 'Chiltern'...
just got a fine pair of 'historic' pedals off ebay...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d01ca4926.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b5bcd2bcc.jpg

Made by Holdsworth, right? Nice race pedals.

Quick and well spotted, indeed they are Holdsworth pedals.
Got to be better than the bearingless standard ones fitted to my Raleigh.

Is this the bike you wanted to pick up before you left on your trip? Did he hold on to it for you? It looks great. It sure looks like a proper roadster to me, with the full chain case. Have you been able to compare the size of the wheels with some 26"? Have you ridden it? I'd like to get a roadster one day.

I don't think I've seen a set for sale before. Certainly not in that fine condition.

The initial 'A' caught my attention (my own first initial).
Did a little research, to find they are out of the ordinary.

Ebay has 2 other sets for sale. 3&5 times the cost of what I paid!
Nice to feel I'm a 'Winner' for a change.

Well, I already have a DL1 of similar vintage, though this one is in better condition, plus a 7 speed hub:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3ad2668c9.jpg

I'm trying to decide if I should sell mine and keep this one. The lady's is too big for my wife and daughter, though one of my coworkers is rather tall and she may be interested.
I'll go measure the rear dropout and report back.