Classic & Vintage - New (To Me) Raleigh DL-1

I just acquired a 1973 (judging by the date on the Sturmey-Archer hub) Raleigh DL-1. Mechanically, it's in fine shape. Everything works, and it's a surprisingly comfortable ride.

Cosmetically, it's a different story. The paint on most of the frame is in halfway decent shape. A little polishing compound and some elbow grease should make it look pretty good.

The fenders are a disaster. It looks like they've rusted under the paint. Polishing compound isn't going to do the job. Is my only option to strip them completely and repaint them or powdercoat them? Or is there anything short of that I can do?

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Bump, and another question.

I want a rack for this thing. I had an old Pletscher lying around. There's no way it's going to fit. The seatstays are just too narrow. What kind of rack did people put on these beasts back when you could buy one new? Is there anywhere I can get a rack like that (and yes, I've searched)?

Got pictures?:innocent:

I am not very familiar with the DL-1 however the racks used on the Sports were the Presstube Minor, usually painted to match. I used to use a Pletscher on my old Sports without any issues.

Aaron:)

Got pictures?:innocent:

I am not very familiar with the DL-1 however the racks used on the Sports were the Presstube Minor, usually painted to match. I used to use a Pletscher on my old Sports without any issues.

Aaron:)

I don't. I'll borrow a camera tomorrow and post some, though.

As to the rack, I'm familar with the Sports seatstays. They're different. The DL-1 has more of a wishbone, so the stays are very close together at the top. I'll look into the Presstube, though -- maybe it attaches differently than the Pletscher. Thanks for the tip.

Harris might have racks to fit these.
I took the fenders and chainguard off mine and it looks great, like some old old track bike or something.

I don't. I'll borrow a camera tomorrow and post some, though.

As to the rack, I'm familar with the Sports seatstays. They're different. The DL-1 has more of a wishbone, so the stays are very close together at the top. I'll look into the Presstube, though -- maybe it attaches differently than the Pletscher. Thanks for the tip.

The Presstube's can be hard to find, they attach like Pletscher but with a single bolt instead of the double bolt. They use a clamp on both sides of the seat stay. Hopefully someone has a decent close up picture of one.

Aaron:)

I checked a Prestube Minor rack off a Raleigh Sports to see if it would work on my DL-1. It appears that the rack would attach OK at the seat stays but its legs are a bit too short for the rack to avoid hitting the fender/mudguard.

I checked a Prestube Minor rack off a Raleigh Sports to see if it would work on my DL-1. It appears that the rack would attach OK at the seat stays but its legs are a bit too short for the rack to avoid hitting the fender/mudguard.

That would make sense...Doesn't the DL-1 have 28" wheels?

Aaron:)

That would make sense...Doesn't the DL-1 have 28" wheels?

Aaron:)

It does. I've seen pictures of DL-1s with the rack legs mounted to the seatstays with some kind of clamp, rather than attached to eyelets at the dropout (although the DL-1 has neither eyelets nor, strictly speaking, dropouts anyway).

At the moment I'm planning to drill a center hole through the clamp on the Pletscher and see if that works.

It does. I've seen pictures of DL-1s with the rack legs mounted to the seatstays with some kind of clamp, rather than attached to eyelets at the dropout (although the DL-1 has neither eyelets nor, strictly speaking, dropouts anyway).

At the moment I'm planning to drill a center hole through the clamp on the Pletscher and see if that works.

That's what I did for mine... (it worked).

Cycles Of Yesteryear has parts and accessories for DL-1s and any other 28" wheeled bike, including racks.

http://www.cyclesofyesteryear.com/

Cycles Of Yesteryear has parts and accessories for DL-1s and any other 28" wheeled bike, including racks.

http://www.cyclesofyesteryear.com/

Exactly what's needed! Thanks.