Vinnems

While not lugged, I bought a steel Windsor from Bikes Direct that looked similar and had similar components for I think $300 shipped. That price seem really steep especially based on what Thinman says. You could get a lighter frame from Factory Five and build up with better components for like half the price. To each his own, though.

squirtdad

I wish that flat or "slightly swept" handle bars were not considered cool. I personally find them not good ergonomically....fancy for makes my wrists hurt. This was eve the case with the VO postino bars that looked great and are more than slightly swept.

curmudgeon post of the day done.....

lostarchitect 

Those are totally, totally different on every level from frame construction to fit and finish. I have had a few Bikes Direct bikes, and they're generally good deals for the money, but "craftsmanship" is not a word I would associate with them. The comparison is like comparing a very functional but no frills Toyota Echo to a luxurious Lexus LS. They both get you from A to B and they're both cars, but other than that they're pretty different.

noglider 

What did the Raleigh Sports sell for in the 50's? In modern currency? Maybe $500, maybe $1,000, maybe more. They were affordable to average people, but those average people had to save up for one. A lot of manufactured goods have become cheap, and we lose touch with how true that is.

iab

True.

And my point is that if you want to make a "cheap" bike like non-Pashleys posted in this thread, you need to spend a lot of time to learn the hobby. Or you can spend a lot of money for instant gratification. I think either choice is fine.

Fidbloke

Absolutely.!
Britain was a different place back then. There was still a lot of the 'make do and mend' mentality which had been fostered by years of rationing after the War.
Manufactured goods were (comparatively speaking) very expensive back then. They had to last and work. The idea of 'disposable' BSO's which are thrown away after a year would have been totally unacceptable back then. Although low-end bikes would have had basic components, they would have been very solidly made from durable materials and finishes.

For instance, a Raleigh Lenton would have cost about 20 quid in the Fifties, but the young people who were the target buyers would have taken home less than a fiver a week. After all their bills, they would have only had a few shillings left over each week. That represents several weeks, if not a few months, of saving.
That Pashley might seem expensive, but I think that noglider is correct to say that, in Real Terms, it wouldn't be any more expensive than a decent Fifties bike might be for a young Fifties working person...

The Golden Boy 

Dig.

trailangel

Yes, that Clubman is a nice ride! But... what is it going to take for builders to come up with correct gearing?
Front 52, rear 11.... that is a 128 inch gear on a 32mm tire. WTF are you going to do with that? Ridiculous!

nlerner

Here's the Raleigh USA price list from 1952:



3-speed Sports was $68.50, which translates to $606.97 in today's dollars according to this site. That said, I'm not an economist, but I don't quite think inflation can be universally applied to every industry equally. Somethings cost a lot more to manufacturer back in the day than they do now (e.g., consumer electronics).

The Thin Man 

Bars: Ahearne/Map (Not stock)
Bar Grips: PDW Bourbon leather grips; Brown (Not stock)
Bell: Origin8; Brass (Not stock)
Stem: Nitto Technomic (Not stock)
Saddle: Brooks B72; Brown (Not stock)
Drivetrain: Shimano sealed bottom bracket; Sugino RD2R 170mm cranks; Sugino 44T chainring (Not stock)
Gears: Sturmey-Archer 3-speed, XRD-3 (Stock)
Shifting: Sturmey-Archer shifter mount and lever (Not stock)
Brake Levers: Tektro FL750 (Not stock)
Brakes: Sturmey-Archer front and rear hub brakes, X-FD (Stock)
Chain: SRAM PC-1 (Not stock)
Wheels: Aluminum alloy Regida; 26" rear and 20" front; 36 hole front/rear (Stock)
Tires: Schwalbe 1-3/4" Marathon Plus (Stock)
Fenders: Steel; Painted to match (Stock)
Pedals: MKS GR-10 (Not stock)

sced

I don't see many serious cyclists buying the Pashley. While probably functionally up to snuff, they are most likely trinkets for well-heeled occasional riders that are doomed to dusty lives in storage.

Velognome 

Not, so. I am far from being "well-heeled", I ride daily and for years have been wanting to purchase a Clubman Country. I have built/restored several "classics" and ride them aggressive for my age. I still want the Pashley and may one day sell off what I have to buy one. To me, it's a well sorted all arounder, just a lovely ride to grow old with.

noglider 

Agreed. How long did it take to earn $68.50 back then?

The Golden Boy 

I think there's also the difference between a Hi-Ten Sports and a 531 Clubman to consider. I don't know how to do any sort of inflation calculator between pounds, dollars and the postwar British economy- how much does £26. 16 s. 6 d. really come out to?

nlerner

Uh, I'm not a mathematician, but I'll guess that depends on one's pay rate!

browngw 

I like the look of the new Clubman, and I am willing to accept the fairly realistic pricing but:
Down-tube shifters on a recreational bike?
Toe-clips?

As an alternative, good buys are still out there in CV land. I purchased this Robin Hood 3speed this summer in excellent original condition for $165CDN and have just ordered a new Brooks B67 (honey) for it at $170CDN. Add 40 bucks for some new Kendas and my Clubman desires have been sated for a mere $375!
@3speedslow Sorry, I found another opportunity to post the Robin Hood.

3speedslow

Browngw,

Post the pics indeed There'll be no complaints out of me ! Can I see a close up of the brake levers ? Idea who made them ?

Waiting to see the honey brown B67 on there.

3speedslow

That just bodes well for future C&V fodder! Yay !

browngw 

There are no markings on the levers or calibers. Assume then to be Raleigh generic. They are unremarkable other than their condition.

noglider 

Good point. I found a census report of family income in 1952. Based on the distribution of income in the chart on page 1, median family income seems to be between $4,000 and $5,000. I assume this is gross income. Let's say to have $68.50 in hand, you had to earn $95.90. I'm assuming 40% of your money went to taxes, though that could be off. $4,500 gross annually works out to $86 per week, so it's more than a week's gross pay for a family earning the median income to buy that bike.

Today's median income is around $50,000, I think. A week's gross pay is 961. After 40% taxes (though it's really closer to 50% when you consider excise taxes, etc.), you have $686. Hmm, maybe bikes haven't gotten more expensive or cheaper. That's about the price for a bike that will last a lifetime.

Slash5

My dad was making $32 a week in 1950 and $45 a week in 1953. Not sure if that was before taxes or take home.

Robofunc

It's nice, but I know most of the folks in C&V could do more for less.

BigChief 

I'm glad to see such beautiful bikes being produced in England again. I'm sure the low production volume adds considerably to the price. Still, it is disappointing to see such an out of place looking crank set on their internal geared bikes. You see this gorgeous frame, paint and graphics, then your eye travels down to the chainwheel and ouch! It's like a finger poking you in the eye.

The Golden Boy 

I totally agree with you- but what are your options for new, "quality" cranks?

I don't know- I'm actually asking- not just rhetorically.

Where I look at the Ultegra 6600 and Dura Ace 7800 stuff and it looks nice- except for the cranks. To me, the last nice looking cranks are the 6500 and 7700 stuff.

Vinnems

Just gave it a good look, but I see what you mean. Shame, especially since there are a few options for classic look cranks out there, like the IRD Defiant, I know FSA has one, I even see a few no-name ones showing up on ebay for very enticing prices.
EDIT: And it looks like they offer better cranks on their other bikes. Weird. I like some of the components on their other bikes. They had one with Major Taylor handbars that had half the drop of the Soma ones. Wouldn't mind having those bars.