Folding Bikes - Restored Raleigh Twenty

I realize it's not a folding bike, but I had to share this with people who would appreciate it :) For my 30th birthday, I got an amazing present from my partner: a 1969 blue Twenty! It has new wheels, slick tires (Primo Comets), a VO saddle, and VO basket weave grips. I think it's super cute. The fenders and chainguard are rusty, so I'm planning to get it powdercoated in a few weeks and turn it into a commuter. I got a Bates Crate a while back for a different bike, but it looks perfect and fits nicely on the small rear rack. I just have to find a way to attach it permanently, as bungees aren't working too well.
:love:


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5378374863_ab1082af03.jpg

Now the two of us can go for rides on our Twenties together, yay!

:innocent: Purrrty!!!!:love:

Nice , I have been looking for a non folder but hard to find. VO has nice accessories.

Coat the fenders in heavy oil (http://www.valvoline.com/products/consumer-products/grease-gear-oil/gear-oil/61) let is sit overnight and wipe it off. It will work wonders, doesn't remove the rust but does coat is so it stops. I have used this technique on many of my older Raleighs with great success. I like the color just the way it is and wouldn't mess with powder coating. That is also a fairly early Twenty, probably UK market. AFAIK the fixed frames were never sold in the US.

I love that color of blue!

Aaron :)

Great info, Aaron, thank you! The sticker on the bike says it was sold by Keswick Cycles (just outside Philly in Glenside, PA), but who knows if that was new or second hand. We haven't had more than one occasion to actually fold our little green Twenty, and I've bruised my thigh more than once on the little arm in the center of the frame, so I really like the idea of having the nonfolding version.

I do love the blue and would do my best to match it if I repainted. The rust on the chainguard and fenders is pretty severe, but there's not much to speak of on the frame. If I could replace them I would, but I'd imagine finding the right size fenders and chainguard would be difficult, right?

I just ordered two Nirve retro style lights for the front of each Twenty, so we don't have to use little Knog lights that look all wrong on the bike and don't do much to alert drivers to our presence, anyway.

I see that it's fairly easy to come by 20" chrome fenders, so that would look fine as a replacement. But the chain guard is another issue...no idea where to find one of those that would look right. It would need to be chrome, I think.

Have your chain guard chromed.



http://www.yellowpages.com/philadelphia-pa/chrome-plating

Hmm, I had no idea that was possible. Where would I have such a thing done? Sorry, I'm new to this :)

I added the link above.

Thank you :)

Another option might be to replace the fenders and chainguard. With the wooden crate looking so good and matching the saddle and hand grips so well, I might be tempted to get wooden fenders to match. Take a look at woodysfenders.com they might even be able to make you a wooden version of the chain guard.

Russcoles, that's an awesome idea. I love the look of those fenders! I just might have to pull the trigger.

looks fine to me just the way it is

Another option might be to replace the fenders and chainguard.

Any suggestions on where to go for a replacement chainguard? (Sorry if this is an often-answered noob question, but I'm a noob here)

Beautiful bike, CFP, congrats.

Love the match up of the crate, saddle and grips. The crate seems a lot more practical than the portable tote I'm using.

Let us know when you resolve the problem of making the crate more permanent on the bike.

Would like to try a version of that on my R20. The tote I'm using is getting bothersome. I waste a lot of time strapping, unstrapping and re strapping the tote on/off/on the bike.


With the crate I can just plop my backpack and u-lock in the crate and off I go.

Plastic tie wraps could be used to fasten a crate to a rack.

I got a Bates Crate a while back for a different bike, but it looks perfect and fits nicely on the small rear rack. I just have to find a way to attach it permanently, as bungees aren't working too well.By the way, I have a wooden crate on my Twenty. You can see how I attached it here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/700699-Raleigh-Twenty-buildup-complete?p=12016410&viewfull=1#post12016410

Basically I drilled holes through the crate and used long bolts to attach it to cleats under the rack. Though if I had a Bates crate, I might not want to drill it.

Plastic crates work well also.

Plastic tie wraps could be used to fasten a crate to a rack.


Errrrr.....are the plastic tie wraps the ones I see cops use to handcuff suspects (they bag in a big sweep) with-----not that I would no personally mind you.:p

Harlond - I see the holes you drilled in the crate and the bolts. For the life of me I don't know what you mean by attaching it to cleats in the back of the rack. I'm a little hardware challenged here.

Figure I find out about both approaches.

Yes the same styles of plastic tie wraps. Easy to cut off if you wanted to take the crate off.

Harlond - I see the holes you drilled in the crate and the bolts. For the life of me I don't know what you mean by attaching it to cleats in the back of the rack. I'm a little hardware challenged here.The cleat (not sure that's the right word) is a piece of wood that goes on the underside of the rack and has bolt holes to match the rack. I used two cleats. Run the bolt through the crate and cleat and tighten until they grip the rack. I made cuts in the cleat so it fit the rack snugly, but you probably can get by without doing that.

I decided to give myself a birthday present and spring for a pair of wooden fenders and matching chain guard. Cody of Woody's Fenders did an amazing job on them, though the rear fender doesn't fit quite right (too tight), so he's going to re-do it for me for free. But wow, just a beautiful job on the woodwork.

The other problem I'm having is attaching the chain guard at the rear. The metal cuff that came on the bike and attached the original chain guard is too loose and too low on the rear triangle. Anyone know where I would find a replacement that would fit better? I may just try using a zip tie.

I'm definitely feeling a certain way about drilling into my Bates Crate, but Cole (the guy who makes them) said it shouldn't hurt. If I ever decide to put the crate on another bike, I can always replace the cork cover on the bottom and the wood beneath it should be fine.

I also added a Nirve retro head lamp for the front. I don't know if it will hold up well in rainy conditions, but for $25 on sale, I figured it was worth a shot. It's very strange but it seems to give the bike a personality :)

I will post pics for sure when the wood fenders and chain guard are done and properly fitted--they look so awesome, I'm really stoked!!

You need a P-clip to mount the rear of the chain guard. They are available at many electrical supply houses, hardware stores and home centers. They come in rubber coated steel, stainless steel and nylon.

Aaron :)

So glad I didn't lead you astray only for you to regret it. :)

Thanks Aaron! That's exactly what I need, I just had no idea what it was called or where I would find one. The one I have is just too loose.

Russcoles, I'd never heard of Woody's Fenders before, so thanks for the suggestion! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to post a photo of them on the bike.

Thanks Aaron! That's exactly what I need, I just had no idea what it was called or where I would find one. The one I have is just too loose.

Russcoles, I'd never heard of Woody's Fenders before, so thanks for the suggestion! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to post a photo of them on the bike.

Glad to help...especially a fellow Twenty owner ;) FWIW here is another wood fender company (http://mkfenders.com/index.html) that has some super awesome stuff. I have seen a few sets of their stuff while I was out in Iowa. Don't own a set...yet. I probably could build my own, I have the skill set and probably most of the tools needed, but their prices are very reasonable.

Aaron :)

I wish I had the option of buying a set. Shipping and taxes to get a set sent to the UK kinda puts them outta my price range :(
On the plus side my Balsa and veneer mudguards are cheaper and lighter and no-one has seen anything like them over here :)
http://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae269/Russcoles11/PICT0037.jpg

It's finally coming together! I just need to find the right hardware to secure the fenders, and I think I need to sand down the inside of the chain guard a bit, or it's going to rub. Cody did an awesome job matching the shape and size of the original chain guard, but the wood is a lot thicker than the original metal.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5478787513_c50d78c227.jpg

A Raleigh Woodie, must be a first. Very nice.

Wow, that looks awesome

It's finally coming together! I just need to find the right hardware to secure the fenders, and I think I need to sand down the inside of the chain guard a bit, or it's going to rub. Cody did an awesome job matching the shape and size of the original chain guard, but the wood is a lot thicker than the original metal.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5478787513_c50d78c227.jpg

I love it! You should carve down a skateboard and add a fin so the it looks like a miniature surfboard and use it as an accessorie.

Sweet job!

Aaron :)

Those look like compound curve 20" guards? Very spiffy!

You need to post piccys of this on raleightwenty.webs.com
Get a really good pic and you may make the cover photo for a month :)

Jur yes, they are compound curve 20" fenders, 1.75" wide. I love them! They don't rattle at all. Now I just need to take care of the squeaking noise coming from the cranks...ah the joys of a 42 year old bike :)

Thanks Russ! I definitely need to get a photo of this bike out on the road. Actually our other Twenty (1971 green folding version, now really my girlfriend's, since this one is mine) made the "cover photo" a few months back, I think it was 2 photos of Twenties in urban vs. country settings.

The Twenties went on their first "date" Saturday night:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5486328160_5cc5691522.jpg

One of these days I'll get a nice, non-cellphone photo :)

Alright, here's the glamor photo!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5494992235_7410e9276e.jpg

Now I just need to take care of the squeaking noise coming from the cranks...

Awesome restoration ! Turn up the volume on your MP3 player, problem solved. ;)