Forty plus years old, thirty in storage.
06-27-11, 12:50 PM
#1
Oldie but Newbie
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Monadnock Region, New Hampshire
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Bikes: 1969 Raleigh Sprite
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Forty plus years old, thirty in storage.
When my wife and I decided to get back into bicycling we first checked out new bikes -- amazing technology! -- and then new bike prices. Eeek! 
My son, of course, got a laugh out of our reaction to both. His look said it all: "My dad thinks it's still the `60s."
As the shock and awe cleared another idea crossed my mind. Forty one years ago, for our first wedding anniversary, my dear one and I gave each other bicycles. Bikes that for me at least fulfilled the dreams on my youth. 1969 Raleigh Sprites. The model with 5 speed enclosed hubs.
We rode them on and off for transportation and recreation for about ten years and then just put them away. When we moved to semi-rural New Hampshire the old bikes moved with us and went from one dusty shed to another. And there they have sat without so much as a single ray of the sun.
Could these bikes be put back on the road? I went down to the shed, rolled them back to the house, sprayed them with a mist of Simple Green, and hosed off thirty years of dust and detritus.
A few drops of Three in One and some air pressure later and I was riding mine. A little time with some polish gave me this:
Then a bit of searching through the house provided this:
My bike is in the shop now getting a "tune up," a new chain, and having the crank bearing repacked. Other than that the shop's knowledgeable tech assured me, she seems ready to ride. (Yes, even the 40+ year old tires and tubes seem just fine)
Next weekend I pick mine up and we drop off my wife's for its going over.
Anyhow, nothing fancy or esoteric, but folks at the shop -- both costumers and the people behind the counter -- went gaga for her, so I thought I'd share.
Cheers!
-don
My son, of course, got a laugh out of our reaction to both. His look said it all: "My dad thinks it's still the `60s."As the shock and awe cleared another idea crossed my mind. Forty one years ago, for our first wedding anniversary, my dear one and I gave each other bicycles. Bikes that for me at least fulfilled the dreams on my youth. 1969 Raleigh Sprites. The model with 5 speed enclosed hubs.
We rode them on and off for transportation and recreation for about ten years and then just put them away. When we moved to semi-rural New Hampshire the old bikes moved with us and went from one dusty shed to another. And there they have sat without so much as a single ray of the sun.
Could these bikes be put back on the road? I went down to the shed, rolled them back to the house, sprayed them with a mist of Simple Green, and hosed off thirty years of dust and detritus.
A few drops of Three in One and some air pressure later and I was riding mine. A little time with some polish gave me this:
Then a bit of searching through the house provided this:
My bike is in the shop now getting a "tune up," a new chain, and having the crank bearing repacked. Other than that the shop's knowledgeable tech assured me, she seems ready to ride. (Yes, even the 40+ year old tires and tubes seem just fine)
Next weekend I pick mine up and we drop off my wife's for its going over.
Anyhow, nothing fancy or esoteric, but folks at the shop -- both costumers and the people behind the counter -- went gaga for her, so I thought I'd share.
Cheers!
-don
06-27-11, 01:13 PM
#2
Riding like its 1990
No, you must send them to be promptly so I can dispose of them properly.
OF COURSE! They deserve to be put back on the road and you are now 10x more stylish than any other rider out there with their new bikes that *gasp* copy the originals stored in your shed! You bought them, now have fun riding them again! Don't be ashamed of your old bikes. You'll probably have people ask you about them when you go out because they have so much more personality than many modern offerings.
I bought my mother in law a 63 raleigh sports, the same type she had as a teen. She loves it as it brings back memories and she rides it weekly now.
OF COURSE! They deserve to be put back on the road and you are now 10x more stylish than any other rider out there with their new bikes that *gasp* copy the originals stored in your shed! You bought them, now have fun riding them again! Don't be ashamed of your old bikes. You'll probably have people ask you about them when you go out because they have so much more personality than many modern offerings.
I bought my mother in law a 63 raleigh sports, the same type she had as a teen. She loves it as it brings back memories and she rides it weekly now.
06-27-11, 01:33 PM
#4
Photographer
Beautiful Don! Welcome to C&V .. you're in Pastor Bob's neck of the woods, I'm on the coast in MA. Look forward to seeing more photos of the Raleighs.
Scott
Scott
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06-27-11, 01:41 PM
#5
Ride heavy metal.
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That is amazing, and the only thing I'd suggest (which you said you're doing) is putting on a new chain.
Have an amazing time out there! Old Raleighs are tanks, and it takes a lot to ruin one. Hope it brings you years of active enjoyment for you and your wife.
Have an amazing time out there! Old Raleighs are tanks, and it takes a lot to ruin one. Hope it brings you years of active enjoyment for you and your wife.
06-27-11, 01:53 PM
#7
It's MY mountain
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06-27-11, 02:10 PM
#8
Senior Member
Beautiful
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
06-27-11, 02:34 PM
#10
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Reading this put such a grin on my face. Good for you guys. As they say, if it ain't broke don't fix it. So if there ain't an actual need to buy it shiny and new, don't replace the old.
Some things were just built to endure.
Some things were just built to endure.
06-27-11, 02:39 PM
#11
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Bikes: 1971 Raleigh International; 1972 Raleigh International; 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer
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Beautiful bike!!! If it was a great ride 40 years ago, it is still a great ride today!!!
06-27-11, 02:41 PM
#12
Chainstay Brake Mafia
06-27-11, 03:03 PM
#14
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I had a 1970 5-speed Sprite in the same color, but with an Alvit-Huret derailleur. That bike was great! Now aren't you glad you held onto those bikes!
06-27-11, 03:08 PM
#15
Cottered Crank
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Try not to put 3-in-1 in the rear hub. It's the #1 reason these hubs go bad. The stuff dries/gums up and turns to shellac. Anything petroleum-based it better than a vegetable oil. Mobil-1 synthetic works fine but just about any motor oil will do. It's not rocket science. But I've disassembled and had to boil out some pretty gooked up hubs that had vegetable-based oils put in them over the years. That stuff turns to sludge.
I love those pineapple grenade motorcycle-type rubber grips. Those things were ultra-comfortable back in the day. Had them on all my motos in the 70's and early 80's.
I love those pineapple grenade motorcycle-type rubber grips. Those things were ultra-comfortable back in the day. Had them on all my motos in the 70's and early 80's.
06-27-11, 03:36 PM
#16
Lost Again
Wow. You had in your garage (or where-ever) what the rest of us strive to find. Sweet bike.
06-27-11, 05:42 PM
#18
SE Wis
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Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Cool! I had to find mine in someone else's garage!
Oil the front hub too and spring for some Kool stop continental brake pads. It'll stop better unless it's raining out.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...tm_medium=base
Oil the front hub too and spring for some Kool stop continental brake pads. It'll stop better unless it's raining out.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...tm_medium=base
06-27-11, 05:53 PM
#19
multimodal commuter
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A matched pair, how cute! My wife and I have never gone for that cute stuff. Great bikes, though! I have a couple of those five speed hubs (built into older bikes than that) and I love 'em.
Just out of curiosity, why replace the chain? If you have your wife's chain replaced too, I want the old ones. I'll pay shipping. Honest!
Just out of curiosity, why replace the chain? If you have your wife's chain replaced too, I want the old ones. I'll pay shipping. Honest!
06-27-11, 06:08 PM
#20
Half way there
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Excellent. Nothing like old bikes that share your own history.
-G
-G
06-27-11, 06:45 PM
#21
Papa Wheelie
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sweet Brooks B-72 Saddle with those loops da loops. It's funny how things go back around. About ten years ago, at a church rummage sale, I bought a matching mens and women's raleigh three speeds for like 30 dollars. The kids rode them around they were eventually swallowed by the community. Enjoy!
06-27-11, 08:00 PM
#24
Cottered Crank
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seriously? Then what is it that is gunking up all these old hubs? Because they are so bad that mineral spirits and other solvents can't even touch it. The stuff has turned to hard sticky wax and the only way to get it off the parts I have found is to boil them in vinegar.
06-27-11, 08:23 PM
#25
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Re the 5-speed hubs: Are those the two cable versions with a bell crank on the left? The control for the bellcrank has a tendency to be unreliable, so what a number of people, including Sheldon Brown reccomend is to use a friction shifter for that cable and a regular 3 speed shifter for the drive hand side cable. If the stock shifter works great for you, use it until it wears out. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-...spd.html#4and5
As far as the crank bearings go, why not pour some motor oil down the seat tube? This revives the bottom bracket grease. Just pour some in and ride it until oil stops leaking out. The 50s version of the Sports had an oil cap on the bottom bracket similar to the oil cap on the Sturmey Archer unit.
As far as the crank bearings go, why not pour some motor oil down the seat tube? This revives the bottom bracket grease. Just pour some in and ride it until oil stops leaking out. The 50s version of the Sports had an oil cap on the bottom bracket similar to the oil cap on the Sturmey Archer unit.
