oldroads

Yeah, and both my daughters (19 and 22) started working on bikes at that age, though not with a hammer.
Matter of fact, the 19 year old, still home from college, is coming into to help me out in the shop today!!

Velognome 

Better solution: Bolt the vise to the garage floor. The technique is to grab the tire on either side of the offending area and rock and pull to seat the bead. Then reposition the gripping device closer to ground zero and repeat. Took me about a half dozen pinch-rock and pulls to get the tire seated. Good luck, I used close to 100 psi in a 70 psi tire.

sekaijin

Welcome to the forums.
Great find!

Doohickie

What hub dates do the bikes have? They are on the rear hubs, usually in a format like 74 6 (which would mean June, 1974 in this example). The reason I ask is that the bike pictured looks older than 1974, based on the chain guard and the rear reflector.

Amesja

I've never had a serious problem with the Kendas on my Stock steel Raleigh-pattern "Westrick" rims. Before I had the Kendas I had a couple of older tires that were on the bike when I took possession of it (not the original Dunlops as they were long wore out 50 years ago even). I put them on and took them off a few times while messing around with the bike and a few times they didn't quite want to seat properly and since they were so old and deteriorating I was loath to over-inflate them.

But it wasn't a problem that couldn't be solved by deflating the tire and re-adjusting the bead a little bit on the rim and reinflating. I don't think it ever took more than two tries to get one to seat. Then again I used to race motorcycles and getting certain tires with wheel-locks to seat on an abused/raced off-road rim is much more difficult sometimes. Bicycle tires/rims are cake in comparison.

But the Kenda K35's were no problem at all for me. I've heard that people who have replaced their rims with alloy CR-18's report some fitment issues sometimes. Some feel they are made a little large or something.

LuckyChow99

Doohickie, the hub on the pictured bike is January of 1974. The lady's bike (not pictured) was December of 1973.

David Newton

I'm probably not telling anyone anything new, but I use Turtlewax vinyl protectant, a product like Armorall, but cheaper, when mounting tires. I spray the rim, wipe down the tube, and wipe the seating surfaces of the tire. It all slithers together, and when airing up, just oozes into shape.
It doesn't seem to hurt the brake shoes, after the first scrubbing-off stops.

I learned this on motorcycle tires, which are much harder to deal with.

Amesja

I use Ideal Yellow 77 Cable Lube for mounting motorcycle tires.

kingfish254

Your looking a little stiff there!

LuckyChow99

Sixty Fiver, that's a really beautiful bike. I've never seen a Twenty in person. They look very ruggedly built.

I have a general question that I'd like some input on from the forum. I've got to replace the tires on my Tourist's bikes, as they are original. Should the tube be replaced as well? The tubes are the ones with the threaded stem all the way to the rim. As far as I know, these are not made any more. So any replacement would not have threading all the way down. Correct?

noglider 

I just started a thread: What should I do with my Raleigh Twenty?

matchswain

Hello all,

While in a dusty garage looking at an old Schwinn last night, I saw this hanging in a dark corner...and wanted it. Without the dust it's in nice shape. The AW hub shows "78," so I presume the rest of the bike would be dated the same (I can picture those graphics coming out of the 1970's anyway).

Clearly there are quite a few things that need to be upgraded (vinyl seat, disgusting - and stretched - chain, rotting tires) and I know that it's probably a lower-end Sports model, but the appeal is, well, probably much of the same appeal that keeps many of you posting your new 3-speed finds here.

My question is: have any of you found a Sports with the bars pictured? I've looked through every photo I can find, and non of the stock Sports bars look nearly as high as mine, though it could be a trick of the cameras. They're about 9" from the stem to the curve near the grips. I'm just curious how close to a stock bike I have, or what may have been changed over the years.

Also, if it looks like a bike that I should get rid of and try again, I'd like to hear it.

Thanks for looking.

Sixty Fiver

There was no bottom of the line Raleigh Sports and your bike just had had it's bars and saddle replaced... am guessing that it's previous owner really liked to sit upright.

The colour is great and if it fits it won't take much to change the bars and saddle.

Doohickie

Hmmm... I thought they had switched to the dorky reflector by then.

Sixty Fiver

You can still buy tubes with fully threaded stems for Schraeder valves... Michelin and Schwalbe make premium tubes like this.

It seems like a lot of people have never seen a Twenty here as many people have been asking about my little bike and a few have been amazed to discover it is also 37 years old... it really could not have come to me in better shape and I then upgraded the wheels and brakes.

LuckyChow99

Thanks Sixty Fiver for the reply. Are you in agreement that the tubes should be replaced when the tires are? Also, I've not seen these premium tubes offered anywhere. Do you know who sells them?

matchswain

That's good to hear; I'll search out a B66 and some bars. What's a good source for period-correct north roads bars?

Sixty Fiver

Tubes can last a very long time as they are protected from what kills tyres, namely UV radiation.

I have pulled supple tubes from tyres so old they were crumbling and used them.

mkeller234

I had a 1970s Malaysian built Raleigh sports that I have been told was the budget model. It had a few differences like no pump peg, no lamp bracket, a vinyl brooks saddle and maybe the rims were different. Other than that is was just your basic sports.

matchswain

Did the Malaysian models still have the "Made in England" script on the top tube? Mine does, but it makes me wonder...

Sixty Fiver

Your basic Raleigh Sports is a really good but rather basic bicycle... leather saddles, lamp brackets (along with a lamp and generator), and pump pegs are what came with the Superbe as standard equipment.

sekaijin

Like hearing that - I just did exactly that, and wondered if I'd regret pulling such a velo cheapo move. Your comment helps my peace of mind!

FishBiscuit

Holy cow! That's quite a haul! Great find! They're wonderful bikes- I love mine. We've got three at my house now, only not in as good of shape as yours!

FishBiscuit

I put Schwalbe tubes (model AV17) and Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires on my DL-1s, and I couldn't be happier. I ordered my tubes and tires from Calhoun Cycle, but I know they're around. Harris Cyclery also offers them. The tires are offered both with and without a reflective stripe (I think you can get them in 28 x 1.5 in black too).

This photo was taken before I mounted the Schwalbe tubes:


Oh, and I'd recommend changing the tubes and tires at the same time, just for the fact that removing and replacing the wheels on this bike is a pain in the butt due, to having to readjust the brake stirrups, brake pads, fenders, chain tensioners, and 3-Speed indicator chain every time you do.

FishBiscuit

... makes for one of my favorite photos! What rims did you put on your Twenty? That's the next upgrade for mine.