rhm

I recently picked this up on ebay. I'm not entirely thrilled; it turns out to be a pretty late model Lenton Sports, with a plain steel frame. But it's pretty interesting. 26 x 1 1/4 tires with standard Raleigh Sports style chromed fenders.


Oiler on the right side of the BB shell, and what's that on the side of the chain stay? Not the black tape, but that round thing? Oh, it's missing the clip at the front / bottom of the fender.

Benelux two-speed derailleur, AW 63 1 hub, cyclo two-cog adapter with 16 and 19 tooth cogs.

Compe (Japanese) aluminum stem, mounted in a shim because it doesn't fit. I'm not sure the handlebar is original either.

Cyclo shifter attached to Huret bracket mounted upside down, so a pump won't fit.

I'm afraid I can't ride it with the original tires, or with this stem. I have a GB stem I can switch in, but that's probably not right either. I'm tempted to put on a different style handlebar; what's out there that would be appropriate-- something like a Lauterwasser would be nice (but impossible, right?) or moustache bar might do it, but it has to be 3/4". Suggestions?

mackerel

Soma Fabrications has a new "Major Taylor" style handlebar that would look cool on that bike. Of course, a Lauterwasser would indeed look awesome.

mparker326

That is a pretty cool bike.

Why can't you ride it with the current stem?

nlerner

Well, it's not the 1950s variant, but it still looks pretty cool. I have a GB stem from the 70s with longer reach, if that might help. Let me know, Rudi.

In terms of tires, Kenda still makes a 597mm BSD tire (Schwinn S6 size):

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/597.html

Here's the 1962 catalog entry for the "Lenton Convertible." No additional specs listed, unfortunately.

Neal

385xza

The round thing on the chainstay should be threaded, it is to attache a full chainguard.

John E

I really liked my 12-speed hybrid drivetrain, which comprised a Sturmey Archer AW hub and a 14-16-18-20 cogset. The only thing I did differently was to tuck the Sturmey Archer trigger shifter under the left brake handle, so that I could shift both transmissions simultaneously. 19-16 is a good ratio to use with the AW, nicely splitting the hub's tall gaps.

Otis

Here's a '63 Sports Deluxe I'm building a sort of "poorman's Lenton or clubman" out of. Or something in the spirit of a pre-war "scorcher". It's converted to 700c. Just need to run some brake cabels and come up with some pedals.

rhm

I may be able to use the current stem, if shimmed properly. It is cool looking, and period appropriate, just not original. Neal, thanks for the offer, but I have a GB stem that's also about right. Thanks also for the catalog page; I've seen something similar. Mine clearly has a different crankset than what's in the illustration.

385xza, thanks for the suggestion. I suspect you are right, though frankly it doesn't make much sense; this bike certainly never had a full chaincase, which would interfere with the derailleur, nor probably any kind of chainguard as Neal's catalog page shows. I will check for threads.

Otis, what are those bars? Also, could you give me a closeup photo of the triangular decal near the top of the seat tube? My Lenton has traces of a decal there, which appears to have been intentionally scrubbed away ("!@#$%!").

Otis

Bars are low-rise "3-speed" bars flipped upside down. I've depleted the stock of about 20 NOS pairs from the LBS, so I'm reduced to buying bikes to get them. Look for ones with a nice round bend off the stem. The too angular ones look crappy.

Decal is a "Raleigh Hi-Tensile Steel". It's pretty cool with an illustration of a blacksmith. I will take better pics when the bike is finished. Remind me and I will send you a closeup.