Classic & Vintage - A super newbie with an intro and a couple of stupid questions

I'm new here, having just been bitten with the vintage bike bug. I have a CCM Grand Touring (bike guy rebuilding it for me) and today I bought a '72 Raleigh Superbe in almost unridden condition (saddle/pedals look completely new, not one spot of rust anywhere including the rims!).

I've been surfing the net trying to find the answer to a couple of really dumb questions (I'm trying to learn how to do stuff to my bike - I've never even changed a tube).

1. My Raleigh has a frame pump but I cannot figure out how to get it off. I don't want to force it. I assume you're supposed to push it together and lift it out but it seems stuck. I can't believe I have to ask this!


2. The guy who I bought the Raleigh from kindly removed the front wheel so I could drive it home. I managed to put everything back together ok (fender, dynohub etc), but wasn't sure about the arrangement of nuts and washers at the axle. The inner nut has some sort of seating shoulder which fits perfectly into the washer, however I cannot put the wheel on (forks not wide enough) with the washer inside the forks. They way i have it currently is the inner nut, then the fork, then the washer then the outer nut. Is this correct?

Thanks so much in advance and please excuse the newbie-ness of these questions!

1. Push the pump together. It should compress enough to lift off. If it is stuck, push harder, this should not hurt it.

2. Washers go outside of the fork. So you got it correct! Good job.

Welcome to C&V. Now all you need is to take and post pictures of your bikes.

Thanks so much in advance and please excuse the newbie-ness of these questions!

The Good Pastor covered your questions but the importance of bike pictures here can't be underestimated. We'll grant you newbie+ status if we get pics of these two machines! :)

Welcome!

I've always wondered how the pump braze-ons got mangled. The bottoms ones obviously from catching on someone's pantleg, but the top ones? Maybe the pump gets stuck and people get wild trying to take them off?

people get wild trying to take them off?

This brought terribly amusing images to my mind.

Welcome to the forums Rookgirl! I'm afraid those who have posted are far more helpful then I will be, but newbies are indeed very welcome as long as there's photos. ;) Enjoy your bikes! Did you ride the superb at all yet?

Welcome, once you get the pump off, extend it a bit and unscrew the plastic cap where the shaft goes in and give it a few drops of oil. The seal will then start working. To use it, you yank the fitting out of the end and out will come the fitting and a short piece of hose. Thread this into the end of the pump and off you go!

Congrats on finding a Superbe. Either you have one, or you want one..I am part of the second group.

I am working on this old bike currently. I think it's a 1947 or so.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5255029342_761c40ce21.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/)
side (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

Congrats on finding a Superbe. Either you have one, or you want one...

True


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5255029342_761c40ce21.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/)
side (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

Nice bike.

Congrats on finding a Superbe. Either you have one, or you want one..I am part of the second group.


I have just gotten one. I adore it, but I didn't know it was sought after. What makes that model so attractive compared to other vintage Raleighs?

Thanks so much for the responses! Now I just have to figure out how to fix the front brake! One side of it doesn't release.

Here are a few pics of the Superbe (from the kijiji ad; too dark to take my own right now) and of a CCM Catalina that lived here for a short time (frame too big and couldn't get new tires easily/cheaply)
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/8182b34_20.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/02843f6_20.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/00222dm_20.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/8357cn5_20.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/001-7.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/002-6.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/003-5.jpg

Oh my word! The front rack on that CCM is making me drool!

I didn't provide pictures once and everyone here neutered me.

Welcome, once you get the pump off, extend it a bit and unscrew the plastic cap where the shaft goes in and give it a few drops of oil. The seal will then start working. To use it, you yank the fitting out of the end and out will come the fitting and a short piece of hose. Thread this into the end of the pump and off you go!

Congrats on finding a Superbe. Either you have one, or you want one..I am part of the second group.

I am working on this old bike currently. I think it's a 1947 or so.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5255029342_761c40ce21.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/)
side (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5255029342/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

Wow, that is a cool looking bike

Oh, and I haven't had the guts to actually ride the Superbe yet. Brake isn't working and I had to adjust the gearing

Welcome to the fascinating world of vintage bicycles. There is so much to learn and fellow forum members have already proved helpful.

Since the OP is new to the interest of vintage bikes, he/she might benefit from a visit to MY "TEN SPEEDS" (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_1/FREE_SITE_1_HOME.htm). That website is designed with people just like the OP in mind.

Hope it is a help and an entertainment.

Well, well, rookgirl, you've gotten yourself a couple of beauties!

That Raleigh is stunning!

Well, well, rookgirl, you've gotten yourself a couple of beauties!

That Raleigh is stunning!

Thanks!
That CCM no longer lives here, but was really nice. I should have come here first because I am sure I could have been hooked up with some new tires which is the only reason I sold it

. My new one is coming next week from a guy who is - get this - giving the bike to me, stripping it right back, rebuilding it etc and only charging me for the parts and a $25 donation to a charity.

Welcome to the fascinating world of vintage bicycles. There is so much to learn and fellow forum members have already proved helpful.

Since the OP is new to the interest of vintage bikes, he/she might benefit from a visit to MY "TEN SPEEDS" (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_1/FREE_SITE_1_HOME.htm). That website is designed with people just like the OP in mind.

Hope it is a help and an entertainment.

thanks for the link (sorry, should have multi-quoted)

Well, well, rookgirl, you've gotten yourself a couple of beauties!

That Raleigh is stunning!

+1 That bike's cleaner than my silverware.

That CCM is the schizzle, and I don't even know what that means!

Very nice Raleigh. Have you been to the English 3-speed thread here? Please post your pics in that thread to make everyone jealous. Also, have you been to http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html ?

I cannot believe how immaculate your Raleigh is. Congratulations! Oh, and welcome to C&V. (I'm a relative newbie myself, with a lot still to learn.)

Welcome aboard, and congrats on the Raleigh, rookgirl, it's a beauty!

After the nationwide vote, Newbie-Plus Status is granted.

After rookgirl's smashing debut, I also nominate her for Junior Corresponding Crusty Old Bike Person Status.

Keep up the good work, and you'll rise to Regular Wrenching Retro-Grouch in no time!!

Very sharp looking Superbe there rookgirl! - or at least I think it's a Superbe...After my most recent experience buying old Raleigh's I'm not too sure about it anymore :rolleyes: -but one thing is for sure: It's sure a lot of fun to ride and wrench on these old 3-speeds!

Congrats on your score!

If that Raleigh's original unrestored I would be afraid to ride it for fear of scratching it.

If that Raleigh's original unrestored I would be afraid to ride it for fear of scratching it.

LOL. Totally unrestored.

BTW, I'm an Aussie living in Canada and was in Adelaide before I moved here!

Welcome! Beautiful bikes. I love those fork locks on the Raleigh. Any chance you got the key?

As for the brake, you may just need to hit it with a shot of WD-40 or PB Blaster (and make sure you wipe any residue off the rim or the brake will really not work.) If it's still sticking, pull it apart and bolt it back together: Everything should slide off once you take the front nut off. Check to make sure the arms are sliding past the springs as well.

Tires for the CCM shouldn't be that hard to order off the 'net, even if it uses 28" wheels. It's too bad you got rid of it.

Welcome to C&V Rookgirl! No such thing as a stupid question, only a daft answer! Others have already answered your questions and Frank (FTWelder) gave some great advice on your pump. Your Raleigh is the cleanest I've ever seen - just gorgeous.

Those are some pristine vintage rides. Pretty good start to your impending addiction

I'd pull apart the calipers and really clean out the pivot holes as well as polish the ferrule they ride on until it gleams. That makes a huge difference in braking. Clean the fiber washer and grease it all up before putting it all back together and adjusting it so there is no play and both sides go together at the same rate.

I'd pull apart the calipers and really clean out the pivot holes as well as polish the ferrule they ride on until it gleams. That makes a huge difference in braking. Clean the fiber washer and grease it all up before putting it all back together and adjusting it so there is no play and both sides go together at the same rate.

Thanks - I did that this morning and it didn't help. But centreing the wheel did :)

BTW, there's a Raleigh Twenty on London Kijiji. I don't know if it's what you're looking for though. I think it's gold or brown, not sure of year.

ETA: Here's the link http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sports-bikes-Vintage-Raleigh-Twenty-Folding-Bike-W0QQAdIdZ283325802

I am unable to PM

That Raleigh is beautiful!
I'm recently addicted myself. But addicted I am.

Welcome, rookgirl, and congratulations on the fine acquisition. Talk about beginners luck...I've never seen a vintage bike in such pristine condition outside a bike show.