Beic

I've just received delivery of this nice 78' Twenty, paid £25, $40 for it.



Sellers photo.

Now that I have it I'm not sure what to do with it !!, just can't make my mind up.

My better half, the wife, wants me to restore it to its original "splendour"

Me, I fancy stripping it back to the bare essentials.

Decisions, decisions,...

Beic

gbalke

The answer is simple; Listen to your wife!! She obviously knows what she is talking about. Plus it's a good idea to have her on your side regarding your hobby. Ask me how I know! Once restored, present it to her and then buy another for yourself.

I can trace my original interest in vintage British bicycles back to one Christmas about four years ago when I bought a women's model Robin Hood 3 speed for my wife. Tore it apart, cleaned it up, reassemble it and surprised her with it. That was the first bike in the collection and you can see from my signature it didn't stop there.

I was fortunate to find a pair of matching 1970 folding Twenty's several years ago. Bought the pair for $100. I restored the one in the worst condition and sold it on e-Bay for about $220. I still have the better of the two in my garage waiting for a complete restoration back to its original state.

Here they are: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stl914/...7622590624640/

The Robin Hood: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stl914/...7622060439183/

Beic

Thanks gbalke,

Excellent stuff and photos.

You certainly have a good collection of "our" bikes. I must admit I never really knew that the English three speed had such a massive loyal following in your country.

I remember the Robin Hood and the decals.

I may well restore to original condition, maybe a different frame colour and more macho coloured saddle and grips .

Possibly just one concession though, alloy wheels maybe, what do you think? Although the ones on the bike are in reasonable condition.

My wife only got back into cycling a couple of years ago, then she had a nasty accident (not on the bike), broke her leg in two places, wheelchair bound for a few months, couple of operations and titanium plates.

I'm trying my best to convince her to ride again, but she is so scared now that someone will bump into her when out riding and damage her leg.

Maybe your idea to restore to original is the way to go, she may well take a fancy to its 70's charm!

Thanks.

Beic

randyjawa 

Those small wheel bikes do not fetch much these days. With that in mind, were I you, I would make the bike road worthy and safe to ride, without spending one unnecessary penny on it. After riding it for a while, I would then, and only then, make the restoration decision. But that is just me.

oddjob2

I'm sorry to say that Randyjawa, who is right 99.99% of the time, experience with Raleigh Twenty's doesn't agree with the marketplace, where some prime condition models fetch $350 US.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_saca...H_Sold=1&rt=nc

Beic

I agree,

There's not much value in them, guess I'm just nostalgic!

Beic

gbalke

Oddjob2 is correct in his assesment, at least here in the States. The Twenty is a highly sought after Raleigh and fetch a nice price. Like I said, my restored '70 sold for over $200. Perhaps in the UK they are worth quite a bit less due to the quantity available. So having one for yourself and one for your wife would be easily done. What a way to get her back on a bike, riding vintage Raleigh Twenty's with her husband.