RaleighBikeGuy

Presumably cazoo wants to use appropriate 26tpi fasteners, as the fender/rack eyelets are threaded. I don't have a source for you, but I do think that you have the right idea in finding 26tpi fasteners and not jamming something else from the hardware store in there.

Bike Cottage

Hey all, here is the built up Dunelt that I first posted on page 92 of this thread. I'm beyond happy with how it turned out. It's not perfect cosmetically, but how many of us are at 45? The coolest part for me is, the owner hasn't been on a bike in 25 years and I had no idea. I guess it just hadn't come up in conversation. The maiden voyage was this evening for her, and it was a bit sketchy but her confidence will be back in no time.

FlatTop

Good job! And I like to see these bikes wearing their original chrome rims, they are just the right amount of bling to set off the simple paint jobs.

photogravity

She's a real beauty! I really like the colour of this machine. Old English 3-speeds are the bees knees atmo.

brianinc-ville

Herculeses and other English 3-speeds in use by USAF 8th Bomber Command, 1942:

blilrat

How about an Italian English 3 speed? 59 Bianchi Milano Sport with an SA 3 speed. I cannot find anything about this bike other than one post on somebody's blog.

I'm in the process of cleaning her up and she needs new wheels. Is Sheldon Brown the only place I can get replacement rims - 26 x 1 3/8?

Sixty Fiver

You can buy CR18 rims in 650A... they seem to be the standard replacement for 26 by 1 3/8 rims and alloy 650A rims of this kind of quality are hard to find.

I was lucky to receive a small supply of vintage double walled Mavic rims in 650A... these are insanely nice but as far as I know, you can't buy these anymore.

Bike Cottage

Wheelmaster still makes a 26 X 1 3/8 wheel in chrome plated steel. Neat bike

auchencrow

Wow, that is novel! I have to ask how did you come by that?

blilrat

I was hoping to find aluminum rims. I missed the CR-18 part number. Looks like there are a lot of sources, thx.


It was on the local CL and I normally wouldn't buy something this rough, but it seemed unusual. There is a lot of rust and most of the decals are shot so I am just doing a clean up to get her on the road. It has really nice hand painted gold pinstriping to go with that black paint.

Sixty Fiver

Bianchi is best known here for their road bikes but across the pond they manufactured and distributed a wide range of bicycles, many of them with a focus on urban transportation... sort of like Italy's answer to Schwinn or Raleigh.

Sixty Fiver

RMD80 is the CR18 650a model IIRC...

HercRider

Speaking of English 3-speeds:
Picked this up yesterday; saw it on the Anchorage CL as "1970's Raleigh 3 speed" with a few grainy pics. I'm lucky enough to know folks who fly into Anchorage regularly who could pick it up and (eventually) deliver it to me in Sacramento for free.









Sturmey Archer says '73, and there is rust everywhere, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The chain guard, rims and the chrome all need work, but the fenders had surprisingly little rust-just paint oxidation and no dents. The Brooks saddle is trashed, but I figured as much from the pictures.

Looking forward to tearing it apart and getting it cleaned up.

Brynley

I just picked up this '70 Rudge Sports off Craigslist and haven't done anything to it yet, except take off the leather saddlebag that needs to be fixed. I haven't seen many other Rudges around here (Boston area) and I just had to have that lovely chainring. The decals are in surprisingly good shape and there isn't too must rust. But the wheels, bottom bracket, and headset are all pretty gummed up and in dire need of servicing. The front of the Brooks saddle unfortunately ripped off as I was riding it to the car. I paid $100 so I hope these issues don't turn into too much of a headache

Anyone know much about the Rudge Sports? I understand it was one of Raleigh's top-tier 3-speeds, but I can't find much other information on rarity, where is was sold, etc.

cazoo

I was hoping to keep all the nuts/bolts to the original measurements. It doesn't seem like these are common enough to find anywhere. Thanks anyway.

rmisiano

I found this 1970 sport in my neighbors basement just as you see it, for 100.00 all original right to the tires and tubes great ride.

Velognome 

Picked up a 24" Rudge Whitworth frame. Going to build up a set of 700's for some 45 or 47's tire for a plush ride. Drum brakes and 3 speeds will come via SA hubs. Planning on making this my errand runner around town.

cb400bill

Looks great!

HercRider

Very nice Rudge, looks to be in great shape and I think you made out-I've seen them from $150 to $250 on CL.
I assume youve read Sheldon Brown's info on 3-speeds?

HercRider

Goodness, that looks like it hasn't been ridden 10 miles. Nice score!

auchencrow

Neat looking frame Velognome. Any idea on the age?
( I'll look forward to seeing how you build this one up! )

Velognome 

Thanks, don't know the age for certian, i was told by the seller 1923. It was a 28" wheeled rod brake bike. The badge reads Rudge Whitworth Limited.

Gonna be a workhorse with a nod to it's heritage, definatley not a restoration. What I've decided so far is:

Brooks saddle
SA Hub brakes & IGH
VO's fluted fenders painted black with a white tail
Full chain case from Yellow Jesey
Rack? either a period rack with Brooks Bricklane panniers or Wald wire baskets.

I'll post more when the wheel set gets installed.

djkashuba 

Could you please share your process for painting the V.O. fenders?

Thanks,

-D

noglider 

Brynley, you did great. I looked for a Rudge for 30 years before finding mine. It's the only English 3-speed that I like better than the Raleigh. Mine is a 1962 or so, and it doesn't have the cool chainring, so I'm envious.

Raleigh bought most of the English bike companies in 1960, including Rudge, and it continued making Raleighs with various names stamped on them, including Rudge. The Raleigh-made Rudges (such as yours and mine) have some Rudge-specific parts, such as the chainring (not mine) and the fork. I love the look of the fork.

The repairs are likely to be straightforward for you. It's a matter of disassembling, dissolving the grease, which has now turned to glue, regreasing, and reassembling.

Those saddles are still made, and you can get one, used or new. A couple of us on bikeforums are learning the craft of saddle recovering, which involves replacing the entire leather piece. They are very good saddles, and if you take care of them, they last longer than other types. Mine is original, and it has many cracks, but it's not falling apart.

Read about mine earlier on in this thread and also in the thread I started here.

Velognome 

Pssst.....psssst..........psssssst...... was planning on a rattle can job

sorry?