I built up a winter commuter from an old 'hybrid' bike frame. I didn't use the canti-brake braze-ons; instead built wheels using Sturmey Archer drum brakes front and rear with a 5 speed SA IGH drum combo. The bike uses 700c rims with studded snow tires. Its held up really well but I've only been running it three years and I do try to clean it off. I went with drum brakes since I figured they would stop the bike regardless of ice.

Looks about a '67 in very nice shape.., with some extras, too!

My first few winters of regular commuting I used a late model Norco Indie (Norco is Canadian, well they used to be anyway), and it had disc brakes and a lower end Shimano group. The bike could fit 35mm studded tires, which were great, but otherwise it was a mess. The disc brakes were noisy after being gummed up by winter road nasties and were impossible to keep clean such that they'd stop squealing, and the derailleur/brake cables would constantly freeze up.

With the three-speed bikes of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, the only thing I'd wish for is the quality, variety, and availability of multiple tire types for 650a like has happened with 650b. I'd like to run Soma Cazadero type tires for winter at 42mm wide and aggressive side tread, but the 38mm Panaracer Col de la vie will have to suffice. I'll just need to be more choosy of which days I go into the office.

I do like the 650B x 42mm Cazaderos for winter commuting, particularly in loose snow:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24ce0ae24a.jpg

I have found that 50s/60s 3-speeds can work with 700c wheels and fenders. Here's my 1950 Lenton Tourist with 700 x 32mm Paselas:

https://live.staticflickr.com/5476/3...a92992dc_b.jpg

Could be a bit of a stretch to get 700 x 42mm tires AND fenders on there, however.

Such an interesting bunch of bikes you have hanging around, Neil! Is the International your Gugieficazione! machine? I'm thinking about what I want to do with my Competition...650b really appeals!

Yes! It received the full @gugie treatment. It's been my primary commuter this fall, particularly since it's outfitted with fenders, dyno hub, front and rear lights, big-ass front bag.

From previous threads it looks like you have a 73 and a 75 Competition? Either of those would make great starting points for a 650b conversion. It's the model that got me into doing it after I bought an already modified Competition frame from the master, Peter Weigle. Here it is built up and ready for a credit card tour:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b5ca172e51.jpg
Note room for 650b x 42's and proper fenders

PM with some questions inbound!

Thanks.

A couple of Craig's List finds: A '67? Rudge Sports and a '70's Raleigh Superbe.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79f491d540.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fd1a7e09a.jpg

I came across this site this morning, in case it's new to anyone else:

Sturmey-ArcherParts.com

Very clean, if confused, Twenty for $150 in MI.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...97776674220752

https://scontent.fric1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...IQ&oe=63918A1D

Yes, I got a brake pawl assembly for an SA S3C (internal coaster brake) hub from them. Was happy to find it!

- Ed

Rudge-Whitworth sports (1973). Nearly all original. With the Sturmey-Archer 3 speed.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c6959315a.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dcc757535d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44981b948f.jpg

That is a cool one, Lucas - the red against the black is very sharp.

Very nice. How long have you owned it?

Perhaps it was made in the Netherlands? The fork dimples, rims, chainguard and crankset are not what quite what you'd expect from the typical Rudge.

An exchange in the "drop bar three speed" thread got me thinking about lamps and dynohubs. I was originally planning to run a late '40s Sturmey Archer lamp set using a tire-driven dynamo on my Sun Wasp, but now I'm thinking I could source a 700c 32h CR18 rim and make a dynohub wheel for a more British C&V esthetic. I have a few options, as a few years ago I gathered dynohubs thinking I'd build another early '50s Raleigh, but now that I've found the Triumph I don't think I will be doing that. Hubs are below dated June 1946 and November 1947 respectively. I also have a GH6 dated 1962 out in the garage bin, but its earmarked as parts donor for the '75 dynohub on my Triumph. My only concern is in using the bakelite-clad version, because this hub will probably see many years of service, potentially to its centenary in the 2040s (well, hopefully, hah!). One would have to take care when tightening not to crack it, but I never had that problem with the 1950 AG hub on my Superbe. I suppose if it cracked, I could just replace the guts within the hub shell.

Has anyone built a standlight circuit and paired it with the Nicelite LEDs for these lamps? I run those in the Triumph's lamps, and I don't mind the flicker at low speeds, but it might be fun to try and build such a circuit and occupy myself over a winter weekend.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dfec2894_h.jpgPXL_20221209_202457876

Thanks!

Couple of weeks! :)

Rudge at a certain moment fused with Raleigh in England. This bike is a mix of that fuse-time, I figured. As far as I could reconstruct Rudge bikes were later marketed as Raleigh. The bike is all original though; got it from son of the first owner who received it new as a gift from his parents. I love bikes with a personal story!

I'm thinking I could source a 700c 32h CR18 rim
 

I ordered a 32h + 40h CR-18 for my Raleigh in May 2022. The 40h shipped but the 32h was backordered until I received it last week.
So Sun probably does a limited run of these 590 rims and if you want them get them NOW.

Raleigh bought the Rudge name in 1943. If the badge says Nottingham, it was made by Raleigh.

The CR18 in 590 flavour are harder to find - I may search some up eventually for my Sturmey five-speed Triumph Sports - but I'm building a 32/40 622 wheelset for my '51 Sun Wasp - the 40h being a Sun Ringle CR-16 I found NOS on ebay, being a US-made older rim from that company. The front will be a CR18, they look pretty darn close a match. For those of you looking to build drop bar or 700c rims, CR-16s in 40h are out there if you can't find a 700c CR18 in 40h, which seem to be rare now.

Lucas, the earlier Raleigh-Rudges (and the other Raleigh- built brands) had different chainwheel and front forks than the Raleigh and the ones with fork lock had a different frame too.
Here is a 1963 catalogue image for the different (26 inch) front forks :
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1313526f65.png
From the mid- sixties onwards, most (or all ?) non- Raleigh brands got the generic fork.

Peter

This looks interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...45971024102837

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7A&oe=639D89C8