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09-22-06, 12:03 AM
So today I bought a couple of bikes, I stopped by a guy's house he said to look through his bikes and to take what I wanted and leave some money on his porch. It was dark so couldn't see very well and I just grabbed a Raleigh Sports (women's) because I figure you can rarely go wrong with a Raliegh (not for $20 you can't) and this Columbia 5 speed - because well, I've always wanted a columbia 5 speed.
So when I get home and have chance to look at the bicycles, the Columbia seems kind of odd compared to any of the 5 speeds I had ever seen. The serial number is N008933, which indicates 1963? - so it's the oldest Columbia 5 speed I've seen, it has an all metal Simplex deraileur, and the five speeds ratios are surprisingly close. The chainguard seems like it doesn't belong (it looks like it was meant for a children's bike because it doesn't reach all the way back to the seat stays - unlike the 70's columbias I'm familiar with) It also has an english style handlebar stem instead of an American style one - and maybe it's just me, but the pedal cranks seem longer than normal - haven't measure them, but my knees seem to come up far higher than they should with the seat height adjusted correctly.
Tire seem to be original, Kelly Springfields, 26x1.375 (is that size still available? - it looks like a 26x1 3/8" tire) and uncracked with plenty of tread still to spare. The rear wheel is way out of true, and the shift lever is missing, so if anybody has a Simplex shifter they could part with...
As intrigued as I am by this bike (finding any deraileur bike from the early sixties always seems cool, even if it is an American utility bike) it's kind of ratty so I was going to use it for commuting.
So has anybody seen a "Pacer Sport V" before? Know when they started making them? Is it desirable at all?
Thanks in advance.
So when I get home and have chance to look at the bicycles, the Columbia seems kind of odd compared to any of the 5 speeds I had ever seen. The serial number is N008933, which indicates 1963? - so it's the oldest Columbia 5 speed I've seen, it has an all metal Simplex deraileur, and the five speeds ratios are surprisingly close. The chainguard seems like it doesn't belong (it looks like it was meant for a children's bike because it doesn't reach all the way back to the seat stays - unlike the 70's columbias I'm familiar with) It also has an english style handlebar stem instead of an American style one - and maybe it's just me, but the pedal cranks seem longer than normal - haven't measure them, but my knees seem to come up far higher than they should with the seat height adjusted correctly.
Tire seem to be original, Kelly Springfields, 26x1.375 (is that size still available? - it looks like a 26x1 3/8" tire) and uncracked with plenty of tread still to spare. The rear wheel is way out of true, and the shift lever is missing, so if anybody has a Simplex shifter they could part with...
As intrigued as I am by this bike (finding any deraileur bike from the early sixties always seems cool, even if it is an American utility bike) it's kind of ratty so I was going to use it for commuting.
So has anybody seen a "Pacer Sport V" before? Know when they started making them? Is it desirable at all?
Thanks in advance.