Classic & Vintage - Looking for opinions/info on this Raleigh mixte

Here is the listing. (http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/509332003.html)

My girlfriend has expressed interested in a townie-type bike - something with a step through frame, fenders, chainguard, basket etc... for runs to the library, errands, and riding around the neighborhood.

This looks like a good potential candidate (and just in time for xmas!), but I'd like to make sure I'm not getting myself into a money pit. I'm between jobs right now and money is tight so if I can pick up this bike for $15 and make it nice/rideable for under $100 I would love to do it.

It appears to have an internal hub and 26 inch wheels but I can't tell for sure. Can anyone identify the model or shed some light on the rim/rear spacing situation (I would convert to singlespeed by rebuilding the rear wheel if the internal hub is shot, but steel rims would be a dealbreaker).

I normally don't post bikes I'm considering picking up so please be considerate and don't try to buy this out from under me. Thanks for your help.

Call quick! Spend the fifteen dollars then we'll talk.

26" EA-3 sturmey archer 3 speed and you've got a pair of steel rims there, still not a deal breaker though.

Did you get it yet? That is a DEAL! In fact if you don't want it, buy it and I will double your money;)

Aaron:)

Did you get it yet? That is a DEAL! In fact if you don't want it, buy it and I will double your money;)

Aaron:)

I e-mailed the seller as soon as I saw it. No response yet.

On things like this, you need to email them and tell them you will buy it for the posted price and ask when you can come pick it up. This sounds like exactly what you want.
I just bought a 1969 Raleigh Sports. When my 18 year old daughter saw it, it was all over. I haven't been able to get her off it and it's a men's version. Women love 3 speeds.

On things like this, you need to email them and tell them you will buy it for the posted price and ask when you can come pick it up. This sounds like exactly what you want.
I just bought a 1969 Raleigh Sports. When my 18 year old daughter saw it, it was all over. I haven't been able to get her off it and it's a men's version. Women love 3 speeds.

Hey CK if I was closer I would offer to trade you one of my women's frames for it;):p

Raleigh's are very scarce around here, so I grab off the ones I can find and they are usually women's frames. I have gotten a couple off to the ladies at my shop.

Aaron:)

my question is, How do you not buy a usable bike for 15 dollars?

my question is, How do you not buy a usable bike for 15 dollars?

Too many of them decorating the house/yard already? :rolleyes:

Too many of them decorating the house/yard already? :rolleyes:

Ding ding!

To answer some of the other posters, money is tight right now and I expect to have to spend some money getting this in rideable condition.

I would like to really put some love into this to make it a nice gift, not a clunker that will not get ridden. If she won't like it I don't care if the bike costs me nothing.

Ding ding!

To answer some of the other posters, money is tight right now and I expect to have to spend some money getting this in rideable condition.

I would like to really put some love into this to make it a nice gift, not a clunker that will not get ridden. If she won't like it I don't care if the bike costs me nothing.

I think the most I have ever spent on fixing up a Raleigh 3 speed was a bit over $100 but that included a brand new Brooks saddle. The basics shouldn't run more than $50 on a bad day and if the cables are in decent shape, a new set of brake pads and tires are only about $25 or so. Most of the work will be general cleaning. FWIW my wife has a very nice 24 speed GT hybrid that she would ride occasionally, we "won" a 1972 Raleigh Colt at a nutters event (http://abcetour.com/). Added a wicker handlebar basket and it has become her absolute favorite ride. She has ridden more in the past year than the past 5 with the GT.

Aaron:)

Too many of them decorating the house/yard already? :rolleyes:

I have yet to reach that stage...but I do live on 40 acres 3/4 mile off the paved road:D

Aaron:)

Uh, that's not a mixte. But that shouldn't stop you from making a townie out of it...

Update!

This bike is now cleverly hidden in my garage. Fortunately the garage is a mess. I don't think she'll notice that I shuffled some things around to stash it. :D

It's a Raleigh Sports 3 speed ("2030" tubing). It is seriously heavy. The dropouts appear to be stamped.

The seatpost and stem are NOT stuck. :beer:

The wheels are pretty close to true and the frame, bars and seatpost are pretty clean and rust-free. There is lots of spot rust on various components and around the spoke nipples but it should clean up. The chain is a rustbucket and will be replaced.

The tires will not hold air so I was unable to test the shifting. Once I get that resolved I'll decide what to do. The rims are steel and the braking kind of sucks from what I can tell. If the shifting is really lousy I may build her up some singlespeed/fixed wheels on alu rims as the rear spacing is 120mm give or take.

The post appears to be 26.8-ish. The saddle is in rough shape but I found a nice slightly used ladies' Brooks at the shop in my neighborhood I plan to pick up tomorrow. I'll have to either find a new post or a new bracket to mount the Brooks as the current saddle is one of those vinyl dual rail sprung jobs.

She made off with the good camera and my flickr account is off limits for hosting (she'll see the pics there), but I should be able to take some better shots on Monday, which is when I'll be able to start working on it. If anyone wants to host, PM your e-mail and I will send you pics.

Thanks, everyone. More news soon.

I have yet to reach that stage...but I do live on 40 acres 3/4 mile off the paved road:D

Aaron:)

You're now on my hero list. :) What part of the country?

OP - Hope she likes it. There's a lot to do, and not much time...

I think your girlfriend will enjoy her present. Those steel wheels are classic Raleigh 3 speed and designed to last forever. Just remember when you are buying tires, it won't take standard 26' mtb tires. You need to buy tires marked as 26" x 1 3/8".

You're now on my hero list. :) What part of the country?



Central NC right next to Fort Bragg, NC:p

Aaron:)

The shifting will almost certainly be fine, or at least easily and inexpensively remedied. Nice price!

great bikes. I love them. and so does everyone else who rides one. the steel wheels are your friends. give it a good bath and replace all the cables, tires(cheng shin no kenda), tubes, rim strips and brake pads tune the shifting and it's solid for 20 years at least. The best thing about fixing these bikes is that when you go into the bike shop(the older and dirtier the shop the better for these bikes) you want to buy the flat out cheapest parts available. the $2 brake pads on the hanging card, the $3 brake cable with the housing, the rubber rim strips. for me it's very fun being cheap as opposed to my mountain bikes and their 700.00 forks and 65.00 tires. depending on your locale you might want to get a bigger cog on the rear.

here's all you need to know re: these bikes. have fun, but watch out these 3speeds work their way into your psyche!!!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html

nice choice. raleighs are great bikes. if the rear three-speed is giving you trouble, flush it out with some wd-40, spray as much as you can into the hub, ride it, shift it, that'll loosen any old oil/grease. then replace it with new oil. i just recently replaced the steel rims on two of my three-speeds to see what difference it makes. haven't ridden them yet but i'll post a thread once i do. these are solid well-made bikes. nice score!

Awesome find!

26.8 post? Most old Raleighs seem to be 25.4