Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
DL-1, are you talking about the vintage Raleigh with cottered crank and rod brakes that has been around for over a century?
Yes. Mine has been modified with canti brakes as they stay in adjustment. And stop the bike. And are pounds lighter. Initially had cotterless but have gone back to cottered.
Most of the year an errand bike. In winter the balance and stability on wet roads is just wonderful. Have slid out a few times on black ice and managed to recover. In some situations where others are falling the DL-1 does not even notice. Riding two or three mph slower means it is warmer. Maintenance is vastly simplified and the old bike seems to take anything in stride. In olden days many did ride long tours on these, don’t think I could.