sykerocker 

Having finished that Bianchi Nyala, which has worked out wonderfully by the way, I got started working on the men's Raleigh Sports which was one of the three freebies thrown in on the deal. Have spent the last two weeks disassembling and cleaning. It's taken a while as I was sidetracked with a carburetor problem on my '69 Triumph Bonneville cafe racer (my rocker bike) and, quite frankly, I wasn't sure what I really wanted to do with the Sports once I started reassembling.

While I was happy to get another one (it's a '72 according to the Sturmey hub) just for the memories of 35 years ago, I knew bloody well I wasn't going to ride it very often in stock configuration. I live three miles from my small town (a very hilly three miles), and 35 miles from downtown Richmond. Obviously, not prime three speed conditions.

Then the inspiration hit: Do a retro copy of a 50's Raleigh Clubman, using the stock components as much as possible, and the bars, etc. are in good supply on the shelf. Something that'd be passable from five feet away, and a bit of fun at the coffeehouse in Ashland on Sunday morning when I pull in amongst all the Colnagos, Treks, etc.

A proper Brooks B-17 or Brooks copy was the biggest missing bit, so I got in contact with the guy who's occasionally selling Favorit parts on eBay, and he still has a few more of those NOS saddles. $31.00 covers shipping, it goes out tomorrow.

I can use a bit of group input on a few remaining areas. Stem is no problem, I've got the GB left over from the Raleigh Gran Sport (which will probably never be restored, as the frame's too damaged), could use the bars from the same bike, or more than likely will use up one of my sets of steel bars. As I'm sticking with the original frame and fenders, weight is hardly an issue.

My big question is brake levers. No doubt most of you have looked at the Clubman pics on Retro Raleigh. Anyone have any suggestions as to brake levers that look reasonably close to those that the Clubman came with? I've got the GB's from the Gran Sport, but would really prefer to save them to use with their matching centerpulls. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Long shot request: Anyone have access to a Cyclo three-speed SA freewheel conversion and is willing to sell? Yeah, I'm looking for hen's teeth, but that would be the real finishing kicker (as well as bringing more memories back from 35 years ago). No I don't need the complete setup, in the first place I couldn't afford it, and who am I to deprive a Huret Allvit of the only task it was any good at?

No pics at the moment, just a lot of cleaned parts spread on the workbench. I hope to start assembling early next week, will update then. Oh yeah, whoever made that suggestion of polishing the frame with black shoe polish (the Raleigh DL-1 thread), THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I had realized that trick back when I worked at the shop.

nlerner

Here's a pic of my '49 Clubman taken by its previous owner that shows its brake levers reasonably well. In that year at least (they changed to GB alloy levers the next year) they were pretty standard steel Raleigh levers. So stick some of those on there.

Neal

MnHPVA Guy

Why not just flip the North Road bars over, for a shallow drop and use the stock levers? At least till you find what you're looking for. Probably more appropriate for a Sport anyway.

As for the Cyclo 3 cog conversion - I have a spare 15-19-23. A bit wide ratio, but perhaps just what you need for your hills. It has very few miles on it, almost none on the large cog. I'd like $35 which would include postage.

I'd try to find a Huret Luxe or Svelto, not that they shift any better, but they have the right look for such duty. Modern SRAM 1/8" chain is actually narrower than derailleur chain of 30 years ago. Back in the day, we used to add thin washers on either side of the idler and jockey to use a derailleur with 1/8" chain.

BTW For my "Faux Clubman" project I have a complete NOS Cyclo conversion with shifter and derailleur, waiting to be mated to an FM, on my 1958 RRA Moderne. From what I hear, the Cyclo RD is a real pain as the spring tension and friction are so high. I intend to get around that by adding a Simplex Demultiplicator Relais. The '58 RRA was available fixed, with an FM or with a Cyclo 5 speed derailleur. Putting a Cyclo conversion on an FM will be "reasonably" authentic. I'd like to choke whoever crudely sawed off the Cyclo shifter braze-on.

mswantak

Tell me you're not running Monoblocs...

sykerocker 

Amal Concentrics - and I gotta give them a little bit of slack, as they're still the original carburetors. I've been promising that poor bike new carbs since they started making repops ten years ago, and have yet to get around to it.

I've messed with Monoblocs - which is why I stay with late 60's and up British.

tcs

Harris Cyclery claims to have NOS two and three cog blocks for hub gears.

TCS

sykerocker 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll send you a PM once I'm back from the weekend (M/C outing) about picking up that cluster, I'm definitely interested.

I like the thought on the Luxe or Svelto - managed to completely forget those models existed. I immediately considered a Allvit because that's what I used 35 years ago when I did my white Sports. There was a spare one laying around the shop, and it didn't even say "Schwinn Approved".

Be it bicycles or motorcycles, there should be a special hell for people with hacksaws.

mswantak

Slides getting a little loose, eh? Concentrics are good, simple carbs. Use aftermarket rubber-tipped float needles and they're pretty bulletproof. Synchronizing the three 929s on the early Trident (with the cat o' nine tails cables) was a pain though. The factory manual detailed a method using wooden dowels to equalize the slides.

BTW, +1 on the inverted North Roads; that's what I use on my daily rider. Only about half the drop, and two or three hand positions.

pastorbobnlnh 

Syke, I know I can help you out with the Allvit and possibly the brake levers. I'll try to take a few pics and PM you later today. Do you need a one lever Huret friction shifter? I believe I have a stem mounted one. Cool idea!

sykerocker 

The game so far: Finally got the last of the pieces I'm going to reuse cleaned up. I swear, I cannot afford to lose my job at the Honda shop if I'm going to continue refurbishing old bicycles. Having the large rotary wire wheels, bead blasting cabinet, etc. is just too priceless, and I don't have the room for them in my garage at home.

This is rapidly turning into the giggle project of the summer. 15 miles north of Richmond is a delightful town called Ashland which has a wonderful coffeehouse and folk venue that's the local cyclist hangout on Sunday mornings (as opposed to the local biker bar 15 miles south on I-95 - it makes a very interesting Sunday to be at one in the morning and the other later in the afternoon).

Very little vintage shows up there, actually Poguemahone is the only other person I can ever count on to ride something from the 70's regularly. I'm building this bike for some summer Sunday morning there, if only for the quizzical looks on the Colnago and Trek riders as they try to figure out what it is.

And of course, I'll hopefully be dressed accordingly, even if I have to make the clothes by myself. That's hardly far-fetched, as I was a reenactor (War of the Roses through American Civil War) for 20 years, and made my living half that time as a pre-18th century sutler. I'm the kind of guy who already shows up at the local sportbike hangouts on my 69 Bonneville cafe racer in full Rocker (if you're under 45, think swinging London of the 60's, Rockers and Mods) leathers and puddingbowl helmet, and my motorcycle club has put up with me on occasion on a 1930 Indian. I get my jollies from the history stuff.

As to the bike: First off, thanks for all the support offers. Bob, I'm definitely interested in what you can come up with on brake levers. I've got a set of Favorit's that might work, although I'd prefer to keep them with the calipers for a future project. Been looking up Huret Svelto's, and it would look better on the bike, so I'm keeping the Allvit idea on the back burner for now. And yes, anything Huret would be appreciated - I've gathered a good stock of Simplex over the past year, but have neglected the Huret stuff entirely.

Considered just flipping the bars, but, unfortunately they're the worst bit on the bike. These bikes sat out in the guy's back yard for about six months longer than they should have and the chrome on the bars is shot to the point that I may have them rechromed sometime in the future. Maybe. My stock of road drop bars are in fine shape.

I'm out of town this weekend with the M/C on our annual drunken camping trip so it'll be early next week before I start assembling. First off, get it together and on the road, then start worrying about the three-speed derailleur conversion.

oldy57

Here is what I finished this spring as my Clubman style bike. Eatons Glider(Raleigh Built). It has a releathered Brisol Swallow, Lauterwasser bars, Aero 26 x 1 1/4" wheels, Sturmey Archer single speed drum brake hub(can be fixed gear) GB wingnuts. I also have the original 3 speed wheels(26 x 1 1/4). This is great to ride. It could use a 20 or 22 tooth rear freewheel.

I also have this 1946 Rudge Aero. I rode it at the 3 speed tour in Red Wing 2 weekends ago. It has the Glider wheels on it now. It is a fixed/fixed 26 x 1 1/4" wheel bike originally. It was great to ride on those hills.

apw55

Great project!

I went with the American version of the Clubman. I was fortunate enough to come across a 1947ish Schwinn Continental that was missing the seat, wheels, handlebars and fenders. Given that parts of this vintage a bit hard to come by, I decided to use components that were of the style that could have been available around this era even if they were, in reality, a good bit newer. The seat is a Brooks B15, the handlebars and stem are Cinelli, brake levers are Weinmann and the fenders Bluemels. I originally had wheels built up using a S-A AW on the rear, a Normandy high flange on the front and Sun CR18 rims in the 590mm size (for better tire choices). I later stumbled across an S-A FM which I swapped with the AW. The wheels in the picture are borrowed from a similar vintage Continental and are the correct Schwinn stainless steel S-6 rims with a 10-47 S-A AW and a Schwinn script dural front hub.

I don't like the looks of the seatpost bottle bracket and will probably go to some form of handle bar mounted one as on Oldy57's Rudge. I don't want to use a frame mounted one because the 60 year old decals are pretty fragile.

Not surprisingly, it's a bit easier to get it up hills with the modern (lighter) rims but it's also fun to get a sense of how the original would have ridden. Ultimately, I will probably swap the FM for an FW and return the vintage wheels to the other bike. It's pretty hilly here and the added range is very welcome. I ride this bike with more frequency than any other.

I'm curious if you've considered an FW instead of the derailleur option. For me, a great feature of the internal hub is not having a derailleur. I've certainly thought about the concept but, so far, prefer to stay with the internal hub only. I'll be interested to read your progress reports.

Regards,
Alan

wahoonc

Another Club Racer fan here (maybe we need our own forum ). Hey skyerocker I ride in the RIC area when I get the chance and you are right Ashland is kind of neat. When I am there I usually stay down on the southside near Phillip Morris. If you see some idiot riding in from the industrial zone on a Redline 9.2.5 or a Green Raleigh Superbe is is more than likely me My Club Racer is getting built up on a '76 Dawes Galaxy frame with an FG hub, 700c wheels, inverted Northroad bars, fenders tbd, and of course the Brooks saddle. I think the cyclo conversion is an interesting piece but not sure I want to mess with it or not. I am definitely not into speed, but making the rides enjoyable. As far as clothing I am quite often seen in a pair of wool knickers and a Kangol Cap..yes a red one

Aaron

sykerocker 

Progress report: Finally back from the M/C weekend, hung over as all get out, the ride back was 140 miles in a screaming downpour, and I had fun! Met a guy from the Touring Forum camped out behind our club's cottage (visionquest) who was on his way to either Phoenix or Portland on a Trek 520. Made me feel like a piker. I never did anything longer than 500 miles round trip 35 years ago, much less nowdays.

As it was pouring badly enough to not be able to wash the Harley, I figured I'd start on reassembly of the Raleigh. Now, I remember that standards were a bit different 40 years ago, but I still find it a bit creepy when I have to dig into my Whitworth wrenches to get a good grip on some of the nuts for tightening.

Fenders are back on, headset, crank, seatpost, quill pedals and clips. Should get the tyres mounted, but I decided to stick with the presta valves to match everything else in the garage, so I might end up doing a bike shop run tomorrow to dig up a couple of tubes. Using the old Gran Sport's GB stem and a set of steel bars (the alloys that came on the GS were always a bit narrow for me to be comfortable). At which point, I'm probably going to be stalled for a few days while I tear down the remaining two Raleighs and figure out what parts I'm going to transfer around.

As to the derailleur conversion: First off, as to "why?", well, to bring back a few memories from 35 years ago when I rode a setup like that in day-to-day commuting. Secondly, it looks strange, and is probably going to get more than a few looks at the coffeehouse - I love generating confusion. Still watching that Svelto auction, although I realized tonight while digging through the parts stocks that I have a perfectly wonderful Campy Valentino that certainly looks vintage enough to pass. Will have to come up with a single shift lever for that, as everything I've got are double sets. Hope to close that triple rear sprocket in the next day. Waiting for the seat to arrive.

Brake levers are then biggest worry at the moment - will probably hit Richmond Re-Cycle on Tuesday to see what Evan's got in the drawers. I may ending up mounting them in a most un-period fashion, rather high on the curve, since I'm normally used to riding with my palms on the top curve or spread between the thumb and forefinger butted against the caliper bases. And yeah, I need to find another handlebar bottle holder, as the one I've got is on permanent duty on my Tour de France.

Clothing: Since my last post I remembered that I've already got two pairs of wool knickers, er, plus fours (excuse me, I haven't been into wearing women's clothing in decades) from my cross-country skiing days. Yes, I skiied vintage, too, hickory skiis and cane poles - that was state-of-the-art when I started. Ditto wool stockings, a proper dress sweater, shirt, and tie. Obviously, I'm not doing the full kit bit until the latter part of October.

Aaron, will have to come down your way to try some of those roads out. It's only in the past couple of months that I've finally brought myself a willingness to truck a bike somewhere to go riding. Living 18 miles from anywhere, minimum, means that by the time I rode to my planned start point, I was already fairly depleated in energy and had to conserve another 18 miles worth to get home. Didn't leave a lot for local touring, maybe 20 miles worth at best. And I already know every inch of the roads between Montpelier and Lake Anna.

beeseecleta

Hi, my name is Richard and I have what I think is a 51 Rudge Aero Clubman . I was wondering if you could give me some tips in where to look for parts ? I want to build it up as original or similar as possible .
Do you think you could help point me into the right direction ?


Richard

nlerner

Richard, a good starting place is Peter Kohler's article on the Raleigh Clubman. As far as finding parts, eBay is your friend, and some parts are much tougher to find than others (e.g., Dunlop Special Lightweight rims). What are you looking for?

Neal

beeseecleta

Yes, I am finding out it is very hard to find original parts for my rudge aero clubman . I found a cottered crankset that look very similar to the ones pictured in Peter's K's article . It looks like that is the only part that I will have a close match to . Well, maybe the stem I can find . It just looks like a short english steel stem . I would even be happy with a rudge that has the "look" of the original until I see one that is totally orginal . Is it possible to find all original parts Neal ? Are most of these Rudge restorations I see on the web original or close to it ?


Richard

apw55

I can’t answer your questions regarding the availability of specific parts or the originality of Rudge restorations on the web however; I did face a similar dilemma a couple of years ago when I became interested in the Schwinn Clubman. I acquired a partial bike (standard, not Clubman) and quickly determined that the quest for original vintage parts would likely last years. Given the options, I decided that I would be much happier having a functional bike that conveyed the look and feel of the original than having a bunch of parts sitting in the garage until the final pieces could be located. Most of the non-original parts; Brooks B-15, Cinelli bars, Weinmann brake levers and S-A hub are ‘60’s or ‘70’s vintage but are not functionally much different from parts that would have been available in the early ‘50’s.

I’ve been very happy with the result and find that I ride this bike more than any other. Had my decision been to go with all period correct parts, I have a suspicion that I’d still be looking.

Good luck with your project.

Regards,
Alan

beeseecleta

I feel the same . Yes I think I'm going to go the route as you did with your classic looking Schwinn Clubman .