This sounds entirely plausible, because now that you mention it, I too cannot recall any fixation on "stand-over height" either. - So what we might consider a small adult-sized bike today, could well have been intended for a child.

-Indeed, it is more likely that mom and dad would have purchased a 21" frame for their nine or ten year-old (average height 4'2"), so he could "grow into" it (like his shoes).

New three speed...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217203

My dad bought my (now) 21" Sports in '54 brand new at the LBS when he was 13 with his own paper-route money. I'm sure that at his age the stand-over was about 3" too high to straddle. He soon grew into it as I'm sure was his plan.

Nice! I'm think of doing something similar to give to my girlfriend. Which hub did you use?

1964 AG (Aw with a generator)... wheels came off my now retired from winter service Kuwahara.

Got the headlight wired up to the generator and now just need to source some adequate fenders.

Sixty Fiver, what do you plan to do with it?

The studded tyres should give a hint... will use the Norco as my dedicated winter bike.

I don't think I've posted my ride yet in this thread:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217380

1980 Raleigh Sports, cleaned up, and the headset repacked.

First one I have seen in that color. Ride and enjoy! :thumb:

Aaron :)

It's been a while since I posted in this forum. Some of you may remember me asking a lot of Raleigh questions last summer as I searched for the right Raleigh.

I ride this bike daily and it seems like I get nice comments about the bike just about every time out. It's definitely a keeper! I love the Cadillac like feeling that this bike has. A good head of steam gets you down the road pretty well!

I do have a problem with the dyno hub rotating freely when the light are on--it eventually pulled the wires off of the contacts, so I don't use it presently. I'm one of those people that might try to work on something like that only to make it worse. Eventually I'll find someone more handy than myself to give it a look, but it's not crucial at this point.

Everything on my Superbe is original, including the tires. Anyone have recommendations on thick gum-walled tires similar to the originals? I really like those and want to switch them out before they're trashed.

It also seems like Raleigh--Sports, Superbes, DL-1's, etc--have really gone up in price just since last summer. Maybe that's just me. Either way, I love my Raleigh and glad there's a top-notch thread like this one devoted to these classics. (In the photos, you can see the sticker from the original LBS that sold this bike in Pennsylvania...almost 40 years later, this bike finds itself on the other side of the country!)

--Joe

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217469

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217472

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217473

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217470

the best riding tires I have found for a Superbe are Panaracer Col de Vie, unfortunately they appear to be out of stock world wide. Next choice would be Michelin World Tour. Harris Cyclery is showing those in stock at the moment.

Aaron :)

Niagara has them also... http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=706701

Another 3 speed joined the fold today... friend gave me a 1972 Raleigh Twenty to match my wife's Twenty as a wedding gift.

Was all original, tyres had all but perished so I installed fresh ones and swapped the front wheel for a spare alloy one I had and added Kool Stops so it will stop.

Bike does not seem to have any miles on it at all.

poidh

I need to find some better friends...

Wow, that is a super-clean Superbe. I just discovered this thread a week ago and read it from start to finish, so remember your quest for a bike - especially as I'm on the West Coast too. I've noticed prices going up as well...maybe this thread is the reason. ;)

Currently I'm in negotiations with the owner of this:



http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=217606

And this restoration has a few pointers I might use (not sure if it was posted):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyfixi...th/3284615181/

Will do that shortly... :)

Thanks Aaron and curb...I've look at the Panacer's before. What makes them so popular? They look like a great fit, though the price is a up there. I may just wait for them to be restocked.

I love the DL-1 Hercrider...have you had a hard time finding these 3 speeds in California as well? I had to find mine in NJ. Hope that turns out well and if you end up restoring it, post the pics!!

Thanks for the kind comments! I really like my bike. It's all I need.

jedge, the Panaracer is a really good tire. Actually, I haven't tried that Panaracer tire, but I've adored every Panaracer tire I've ever ridden. And I think the Col de la Vie is the only tire in 26x1-3/8 size that has a supple sidewall.

I've decided that my Schwalbe Delta Cruisers ride like rocks. I'm really sorry I bought them, and they were fairly expensive. They look good, though.

Hey Tom,

BTW, thanks for all of your help last year.

The Delta Cruisers have crossed my mind several times. Thanks for the heads up on those. I have heard that the Col de la Vie's are super smooth, so that's probably the route I'll go. I imagine Harris Cyclery will have them back in stock before long.


Anyone know which are the correct Kool Stop brake pads for the Raleighs? I think it's these, but wanted to verify that:

http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=479

Tom - My experience with Delta Cruisers has been very good, have used the tan walled version with the reflective stripe and run them at 60-65 psi.

Just did a few more tweaks to what is the fifth Twenty to come into our lives... changed the rack to handle modern bags, changed the pedals to some MKS 1000 for better traction and added a cup holder. New tyres and an alloy front wheel went on yesterday and will eventually build a nicer set of wheels and the only torch work this bike will see will be to add V brake bosses.

Nekkid...


http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...3&d=1315248285


Locked and loaded for my afternoon's errands... :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...2&d=1315248266

No surprise that riding this bike is not different than riding a full size Sports... ride quality is excellent with some 2.0 and 1.50 tyres at 70 psi, cruising speed is nice, and one has to like the quick acceleration and nimble handling.

Will not serve as a primary bike as the upright position does my back no favours but for short trips it will be fine and it will also be used as a loaner / spare.

My new mother in law loves riding the Twentys so when she comes to visit she will always have a bicycle to ride.

Sixty Fiver, then why is my Rudge so much harsher than my Super Course? Is that just the way it is?

jedge, yes, those are the right brake shoes. I tried the longer ones, but they didn't fit. I have these on my Rudge, and I'm very happy. They even work in the wet, but after they dry the rims, which I suppose takes one or two turns of the wheels.

Cool, thanks Tom.

SixtFiver, I never get tired of looking at the 20's that you get and revamp. I really dig those bikes.

Thanks! From what I can gather it's not a common colour. It is a Canadian model so that appears to have something to do with it. It reminds me of an old Vespa colour...

Nice!!! Congratulations!

Only problem with a 20 is that people constantly stop and ask about the bike... "does it fold?" "do you only ride it on the sidewalk?" in addition to the "cool bike" comments.

Have ridden 20 km today already and will tack on another 10 before I get home... have just been pootling along at a comfortable and relaxing pace all day.

Heh...in the last year I was given my hand built Moulden XC bike, this Raleigh Twenty, the nearly new frame for my winter bike, and an early Tom Ritchey mountain bike (which I passed along to another friend).

I hope to make a 20 my next ride. "Do you only ride it on the sidewalk?" --Hahaha!

Yeah, I like that green color on your Superbe...and yours seems to be pretty pristine.

It has been a bit difficult to find a 3 speed on CL at a reasonable price in the local area (The Bay area seems to have an inflated market). My local second-hand bike shop has a very sharp Dunelt I'm considering (an SA 4 speed hub, too), and I may buy it if the DL-1 doesn't pan out. A nicer DL-1 came up on the 'bay last week, and it was only 2 hours away; I waited for bidding to start, but the seller became impatient and put a "Buy it Now" price of $250 on it and it was scooped up before I could make an offer. I'm patient, though. The internet has made it easier to find one, and I've got time.

Surprised there isn't a tutorial out there on fixing a Dynohub...

Not much to fix on a dyno hub, they pretty much either work or they don't. The bearings are the only really serviceable parts in there. The only repair I made on one was to solder a lead back to the terminal with it sheared off for some reason.

Aaron :)