Here is a link to tri sports website - home of supplies for the triathlete. 650c is more common than we think. I kept seeing this size crop up in various places relating to triathlons. Surprised me.

I believe it is for smaller sized bicycles. I don't know the history behind how the 650c is having a resurgence among the triathlete crowd, but I'm sore information could be sourced for the curious minded.


650c Racing Corner

Here is an article from cervelo.com answering the question regarding 650c tires.

http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineerin...cyclists-.html

Excellent and thorough account of the "Raison d'etre" for the 650C size. Tx

We'll be there. My daughter is coming, too. Spent a pleasant afternoon cleaning, oiling, and adjusting:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450310

Tektro 800As work really well on Raleighs and are easy to modify in this manner. I did this on my wife's bike a couple of years ago. @JohnDThompson showed how to do it a few years back (probably in this thread).

Cool. See you there!

The reflector would seem to date it from ~ 1963 to 1971 if what you have over there conforms, more or less, to what we have here in the usa. Is the reflector a recent aftermarket job, looks like it may be...

And a couple of other things...

Rims original? And do the wheels roll OK; those are mighty big tires on there; look like Schwalbe Big Apples from here...

Schwalbe fat frank roll ok and it is great when I drive across the tracks from the trams in the city,of course rims are in origin 28x1/2 i have 26 now,the reflector is a little bit older-prewar- but not english make
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450580http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450581http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450584http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450583http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450582

I know I'm late to the thread, yet I've only joined the forum an hour ago. Back in 1959, as a six year old child, my parents got me a Raleigh 3 speed "English Racer". It had the SA internal gears with the "trigger"shifter and the seat stay mounted dynamo for the head and tail lights. It was a very nice bike that I rode until I out grew it. That bike gelled my aesthetics of what a bike should be. Hadn't thought of that bike in years and yet just last week, I bought a vintage T700 which is not exactly like, still the lines and vintage styling are what appeals to me.

My love of English bikes started when I was 12, back in '65. I was always out at dawn on junk day. The goal...3 speed "English racers" and parts. All these years later and I'm still the same. There's no rational explanation for my love of English bikes, motorcycles and cars of this period. I just took to them right away. Well...maybe seeing Emma Peel on TV in her Elan roadster might have had something to do with it.

1960 Popular Special Sports Model
 

Hi, I was wondering if anybody could help me find information on my bike. I've had no luck researching online and I'm just looking for information so I can have it restored. It rides well still, Dynamo light cable needs to be replaced, but I know next to nothing about it other than its a Popular Special sports model 1960. Any info would be appreciated. Will add more pictures soon.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450610http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450612http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450613

It looks to be in excellent condition. Do you want help here overhauling it, or will you be bringing it into a local bike shop (LBS)? This one might be Raleigh-made, making it almost every bit as good as a Raleigh. There were only a few component changes, e.g. the chainring and rims.

It's a Raleigh made bike, but Popular? That's a new one to me. So is the upside down SA logo on the shift trigger.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450624Here are some other pictures. I'd like to overhaul the bike myself. I've had it tuned up at a local bike shop in KC. The gears have a tendency to slip and I want to restore the Dynamo light. I'm a novice if you haven't noticed but looking to learn as I go.

Gear slipping is most likely just a cable adjustment issue. Sometimes, people screw the indicator pin all the way in, or worse, torque it down, bending the little chain. If you disconnect the cable from the chain, you can unscrew the chain/ index pin from the hub. Examine the chain. Replace the chain/pin assembly if it's bent. If it's not bent, screw it back in until it stops then unscrew it one turn. That's the way it's supposed to be. Not tightened down.
From there you can adjust the cable until all 3 gears are stable. I mention this because I've seen tightened down index chain/pins and even bent chains that make gear adjustment tricky. Nice bike!

You're definitely at the right place; this thread has a huge amount of useful scoop - but I'm sure you noticed that.

Nice bike!

@Lastillluce - Welcome! You can definitely do it! These enablers...I mean forum members :p Encouraged me when I came upon a 1955 Phillips with Sturmey Archer dynohub. I knew nothing about 3 speed mechanics. Sturmey Archer has a Heritage site with all sorts of instruction for adjusting, disassembling, etc Fantastic site.


Heres a link to a 1951 Service Manual. It will help. Have fun and be sure to post what you've done.

http://www.sturmey-archerheritage.co...-detail&id=322

I'm curious if you're somewhere in the Twin Cities. I have a Lady's Popular Special Sports Model that I have been fixing up for a friend's wife. I got the bike from MMRB, and Mike seemed to think it was a brand sold by Wheel Goods in Minneapolis many years ago. When I got the bike, this is what it looked like (just a frame):

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450784

I've overhauled the headset and bottom bracket, straightened the fenders, and I'm putting it together from parts I have laying around:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450785http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450786http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450788

It seems to have aluminum brake calipers (yours seems to as well), which I thought odd, but even though it seems to be a Raleigh, the front fork doesn't seem to use the spigotted cones to hold the wheel in place. A regular hub with locknuts should fit.

Edit: I see from your other post you're in the KC area. Oops.

Servicing Sturmey-Archer 3-Speed Hubs

the best web


http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturm...her-parts.html

if you must buy something

Is it certain that these Popular bikes are Raleigh products?They look a lot like the Raleighs, but those aluminum brakes -- Raleigh didn't start using those until the mid to late 70s, I don't think. And the front fender little chrome accent looks quite a bit different. White tail on the rear fenders is not typically Raleigh and I'm not sure of the fender shape. Raleigh Sports models from the 50s through the 70s also had pressed steel fender stays spot welded to the fenders. These look like drawn rod stays and I can't see the attachment. But, the rear dropouts look like Raleigh as far as I can tell.

I'm sure not saying that they are not Raleigh bikes, just that they are different from the other sub-brands that Raleigh cranked out on the Sports production line which seemed to be pretty much Sports without herons and without the thimble crown.

The stems look like Raleigh, too, but the one in Minnesota looks real, real high.

edit: I got the bikes confused. Looks like it's the one in KC that the stem height looks too high. Too high for all the old stems of that style that we've had, anyway.

I think I've found another one and can't seem to talk myself out of its purchase. No good pictures yet, but it's a step through Rudge with Prestube rack, sprung leather saddle, and Dynohub. It looks like a Superbe, but I can't find any images like it in my Rudge searches. The body of the front light is the same color as the frame.

The pictures are fuzzy and the only damage I see is a slightly bent white tail on this black, I think, bicycle. It may have holes for a skirt guard. The seller describes it as more dirty than rusty. Pump pegs are there, but no pump. I don't know if the Dynohub is functioning, but I've already worked on one of those.

I already have an extra set of new tires so I think more time than money will be invested.

Would the slightly damaged tail be a deal breaker for you? Did these ever come drilled for skirt guards or would that more likely be a modification?

Thanks for any advice you may offer, including "Don't buy it!"

STS

@slowtostart: what a silly question.....of course its not a deal breaker....sounds like a great find.

The bike was originally purchased at a yard sale in the Kansas City area in the late 70s early 80s by my father. It could certainly be rational to have gotten here via Minnesota. My father modified the pedals and handles at one point I believe, but the bike has been in a temperature controlled garage since the early 90s. He recently gave me the bike as he is now a full time race cyclist and hasn't used it since the early 90s.
@desconhecido I talked to a couple of bike repair guys in KC and both were stumped by the Raliegh question. They had the same concerns. Parts of it fit for raleigh and others don't. I will post a Better picture of the rod stays in a little while.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450870 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450871
@gna I'm curious if during your restoration you had any issues with the spokes being too long?

I've found a dynamo replacement. Curious to know if you all would replace the headlamp with something more modern and efficient like LED, or keep it original? I don't want to affect the value of the bike.

Hi Guys

I was interested in the idea of getting an old Raleigh 3 Speed but this thread pushed me over the edge so I have just bought one from ebay. I have to say it isn't at all like the lovely examples you have all been showing off.

I would love it if someone out there knew a bit more about this model as I cannot seem to find much about it but I have seen a few ( just a few ) for sale here in the UK.

The model is called a "Riviera" according to the top tube sticker. The rear hub is stamped 67 as are the other two I had seen for sale over the last 6 months. I do not be able to seem to match the frame number to any lists though - unless I am looking in the wrong places ?

It looks like the number is 77241HB

Anyway here he is ( I am guessing it is a he ? )

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450862http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450863http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450864http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450865

Hopefully one of you will know more about it

... Rob

Yeah, The fenders and brakes are very different than other re-badged Raleighs I've seen. Still, I'm saying Raleigh because of the rear dropouts, the shape of the head tube lug, the chainguard and the fork. I have a Royal Scot badged Raleigh with that exact same fork and crown cover. I can't see from the photo, but if there's a Sir Walter stamp on the crank, that would seal the deal for me.