Buglady

First of all, I must apologize for the lack of pictures. I really am sorry. There are two reasons for my failure to provide pics; first, I only had my cell phone camera and there wasn't enough light, and second, the owner of the Raleigh in question was already starting to look a little nervous and edge away from me...

I was at The Good Life bike co-op today, attempting to rehab a horrible mountain bike for one of my Pathfinders (I tried to talk her out of it... it's a Huffy and basically qualifies as a boat anchor, in my opinion. Even calling it a bike-shaped object is a bit of a stretch. But she loves it so I promised I'd get it running. 4 hours, 4 new cables, 2 new sets of V-brakes, a new derailleur, and a lot of very un-Guiderly language later, it's running about as well as it's ever going to and probably better than when it started its life).

So I was not exactly very focused on my own project, and then this fellow trundles in with a GORGEOUS old Raleigh. It was rather rusty but had beautiful lines. Then I noticed something odd.

It had push-rod brakes. And a Nottingham headbadge.

Didn't Nottingham stop making rod brakes about 50 years ago?!? I know they are still used in China and someone else said Raleighs in Argentina had them, but this was definitely an English-made bike.

Other details I noticed were a chainring that had 3 crane silhouettes, and a truly venerable Brooks saddle. I think it was a single speed freewheel, didn't actually get to play with it to find out; the hub looked too skinny to have internal gearing.

Yes, I had fun today

USAZorro

DL1's came with rod brakes into the 70's (at least). I take it this was a three speed at some point?

roseskunk

yeah, they're nice. i have one!

Buglady

It could have been a three speed. I honestly didn't get to look. As I said, the owner was starting to think I was some kind of crazy stalker

It really looked like the 1940s bikes that Sixty-Fiver posts pics of sometimes. Long top tube, tight angle on the chainstay, tall head tube, and very large wheels. Very different from my own mid-80s Raleigh (but mine was a Canadian build, too). Are there any pics of the DL1 that I could compare?

Buglady

OK, found some pictures. (yay Google). OK, it definitely could have been a DL-1. No chain guard and the handlebar grips were leather, though.

Sixty Fiver

The DL1 is a beautiful bicycle... mine is a 1948 Rudge Whitworth (but made by Raleigh).

Obligatory pic ?





If you changed the chain ring and added a Raleigh head badge no-one could tell the difference as they were pretty much the same models.

You should have been with me today as I believe I found a beautiful 1930's BSA ladies coaster bike with the curviest frame... I will be picking it up on Monday and will of course have to post a few (dozen) pictures.

Buglady

That's definitely the one I was thinking of! Love that fork rake.

So how do I convince the guy to let me get my hands on that bike next time I see him? I think we need a "How Not To Be a Creepy C&Ver" tip sheet...

Can't wait to see the 1930s bike pics!

bikerosity57

They stopped making the rod-braked DL-1 in 1984. They're heavt, but beautiful bikes meant to last a life time. I have two, a 1971 in rideable but well used condition and a 1978 in brand new condition, and try to ride both from time to time.

bikerosity57

Heavy

Sixty Fiver

Just tell the guy you think his bike is beautiful and that your friend in Edmonton also has one... mebbe he will even let you take it for a little spin around the block and if that old BSA is here you might like to try that out.

The next time you're up you'll have to stop by... I don't think you are creepy... a little buggy yes... but not creepy.

sailorbenjamin

I've run across some old rod brake roadsters with a 1 speed freewheel. Really old ones.

Reynolds 

My '80 rod brake, single speed, 3 crane chainring, Nottingham made DL -1:

sailorbenjamin

Those fat tires somehow make the thing look a little more low slung.

sciencemonster

It may _look_ low slung, but you look down on the roofs of SUVs on those things.

You are KING on a roadster.

Sixty Fiver

And the King got a new saddle today... well... it is probably as old as the bike and perhaps older.

The bike actually got more comfortable than it was with the vintage Brooks I was using. The original saddle was triple sprung but was a Dunlop rubber saddle... this is a Wright's Olympic 75.

cudak888 

A DL-1 that isn't gloss black, and a Rudge DL-1 have been since posted in this thread. What better then to mix the two and get a Rudge DL-1 that isn't gloss black?



'79 Curacao export model.

-Kurt

wahoonc

Not a roadster but a single speed rod brake, also has the smaller 26" wheels on it. This one was made in Birmingham by Hercules. There were a lot of British manufacturers out there until around the mid 50's when they started going away in droves.

Aaron