For the love of English 3 speeds...
02-21-16, 01:17 PM
#9601
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02-21-16, 05:59 PM
#9602
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From what information we've been able to obtain from various sources these models were given to dealers who excelled in sales, or as a more expensive display/showcase model.
Here's one, a Ladies model, for $2000.00. For that price you'd think they could clean it up a bit....
Budget Bicycle Center - Vintage 1966 Raleigh Ladies Sports All Chrome Dealer Model Bicycle Bike Sturmey
Last edited by gster; 02-21-16 at 07:58 PM.
02-21-16, 06:09 PM
#9603
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From the net:
From what information we've been able to obtain from various sources these models were given to dealers who excelled in sales, or as a more expensive display/showcase model.
Here's one, a Ladies model, for $2000.00. For that price you'd think they could clean it up a bit....
Budget Bicycle Center - Vintage 1966 Raleigh Ladies Sports All Chrome Dealer Model Bicycle Bike Sturmey
From what information we've been able to obtain from various sources these models were given to dealers who excelled in sales, or as a more expensive display/showcase model.
Here's one, a Ladies model, for $2000.00. For that price you'd think they could clean it up a bit....
Budget Bicycle Center - Vintage 1966 Raleigh Ladies Sports All Chrome Dealer Model Bicycle Bike Sturmey
02-21-16, 07:20 PM
#9604
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02-21-16, 07:39 PM
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@nlerner- all chrome?! I didn't know they came that way. So no paint? Or paint over all chrome?
Also cute kittie head. Who's that?
Also cute kittie head. Who's that?
The 1966 Chrome Raleigh was only available to Raleigh dealers and was originally meant to be a showroom example not to be sold to the public. Over time , bike shops around the US closed and these are starting to surface, especially with the rise in popularity of these great riding machines.
02-21-16, 07:43 PM
#9606
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Have had this a couple of weeks. Finally got around to a few pictures.
Located this on local Clist. Had a fair price ($80.00) and I jumped at the opportunity! 1972 Raliegh Superbe, hub dates to January 1972 AW code, 23 inch frame. Fits better than my Rudge. General pretty good shape. Nasty dent in front fender. Broken tail light is missing lens. Headlight does not work but not a big deal, this should be easy to repair. Plastic gear indicator on shifter gone. Seat does not appear to be correct. Still has all (I believe) of the red "R" nuts! Nothing wrong that can't be repaired or replaced. Rides, shifts and stops very well!
Another bring back to complete but no restoring example!
Located this on local Clist. Had a fair price ($80.00) and I jumped at the opportunity! 1972 Raliegh Superbe, hub dates to January 1972 AW code, 23 inch frame. Fits better than my Rudge. General pretty good shape. Nasty dent in front fender. Broken tail light is missing lens. Headlight does not work but not a big deal, this should be easy to repair. Plastic gear indicator on shifter gone. Seat does not appear to be correct. Still has all (I believe) of the red "R" nuts! Nothing wrong that can't be repaired or replaced. Rides, shifts and stops very well!
Another bring back to complete but no restoring example!
02-21-16, 07:47 PM
#9607
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Since I am posting pictures, here is one from Columbus Tweed Ride this past November. Me, my wife Mary, son McClain with his fiancé Rehma.
Last edited by look566 rider; 02-21-16 at 08:35 PM.
02-21-16, 08:11 PM
#9608
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Wonderful shot. Nice bikes, nice family, you must be very proud. And that is (as the British might say) a proper, pukka Raleigh Superbe as well. I see you've kept it all original - how does it ride?
02-21-16, 08:18 PM
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Have had this a couple of weeks. Finally got around to a few pictures.
Located this on local Clist. Had a fair price ($80.00) and I jumped at the opportunity! 1972 Raliegh Superbe, hub dates to January 1972 AW code, 23 inch frame. Fits better than my Rudge. General pretty good shape. Nasty dent in front fender. Broken tail light is missing lens. Headlight does not work but not a big deal, this should be easy to repair. Plastic gear indicator on shifter gone. Seat does not appear to be correct. Still has all (I believe) of the red "R" nuts! Nothing wrong that can't be repaired or replaced. Rides, shifts and stops very well!
Another bring back to complete but no restoring example!
Located this on local Clist. Had a fair price ($80.00) and I jumped at the opportunity! 1972 Raliegh Superbe, hub dates to January 1972 AW code, 23 inch frame. Fits better than my Rudge. General pretty good shape. Nasty dent in front fender. Broken tail light is missing lens. Headlight does not work but not a big deal, this should be easy to repair. Plastic gear indicator on shifter gone. Seat does not appear to be correct. Still has all (I believe) of the red "R" nuts! Nothing wrong that can't be repaired or replaced. Rides, shifts and stops very well!
Another bring back to complete but no restoring example!
02-21-16, 08:24 PM
#9610
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Sorry to mislead you. This is my '51 Rudge Sports in this picture. Unless you mean the red tandem. There is not a clear history on the tandem. Although, you can almost see that the "stoker" has to share steering duties with the pilot! There is a chain and gear attaching steering inputs together! Rode this a bit with my son. Very odd feeling. Also has kickback two speed gearing.
02-21-16, 08:26 PM
#9611
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Maybe my Rudge is a 19 inch? Have not measured either bike, but the Superbe does fit me much better. I am not near as cramped for space.
Good eye nlerner! Just measured both frames, both 21 inch! Will have to ride them back to back and figure out why the Superbe feels bigger.
Good eye nlerner! Just measured both frames, both 21 inch! Will have to ride them back to back and figure out why the Superbe feels bigger.
Last edited by look566 rider; 02-21-16 at 08:34 PM.
02-22-16, 08:28 AM
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"..Although, you can almost see that the "stoker" has to share steering duties with the pilot! " Sounds like back seat (saddle) driving to me!
02-22-16, 12:48 PM
#9613
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
It was in post war Britain that the Raleigh Sports really came of age as it was a lighter and "sportier" alternative to the heavier English roadsters and remained in production well into the 1980's.
It was the "All Steel bicycle" and for most of it's production life was fitted with a Sturmey Archer AW hub although through 1957 and 1958 it was fitted with the poorly designed and ill fated SW hub.
The 1950's were the peak of Raleigh production and quality and they were a household name in most of the English speaking world and on this side of the pond they were referred to as English racers.
But they were never racing bikes.
This was a well made and sturdy utility bicycle that was designed to last 100 years and they did not see many changes during their production life... latter models have alloy stems and brakes and the Superbe was always completely fitted out with generator lights and a locking fork which brought it's weight up to 42 pounds without a full chain case.
I know this because I owned a 1978 model and only sold that when I could no longer ride in an upright position due to a back injury.
My Superbe roadster... my friend now enjoys this bicycle and it has been his daily driver for several years and still looks even better than it did when he received it as it now sports a new honey brown B66 saddle and matching Brooks saddle bags.
I also owned a beautiful 1948 Rudge roadster which was Raleigh made but because of my back issues decided to sell it to a young lady who is longer of leg than I and enjoys this bike immensely.
So for the first time in many years I found myself without an English 3 speed and that could never do as my daughters and I love riding our English three speeds together.
I have a beautiful 1955 Raleigh Lenton fixed gear road bike, but it is not a 3 speed...
So I set about building up an English 3 speed that I could ride...
It was the "All Steel bicycle" and for most of it's production life was fitted with a Sturmey Archer AW hub although through 1957 and 1958 it was fitted with the poorly designed and ill fated SW hub.
The 1950's were the peak of Raleigh production and quality and they were a household name in most of the English speaking world and on this side of the pond they were referred to as English racers.
But they were never racing bikes.
This was a well made and sturdy utility bicycle that was designed to last 100 years and they did not see many changes during their production life... latter models have alloy stems and brakes and the Superbe was always completely fitted out with generator lights and a locking fork which brought it's weight up to 42 pounds without a full chain case.
I know this because I owned a 1978 model and only sold that when I could no longer ride in an upright position due to a back injury.
My Superbe roadster... my friend now enjoys this bicycle and it has been his daily driver for several years and still looks even better than it did when he received it as it now sports a new honey brown B66 saddle and matching Brooks saddle bags.
I also owned a beautiful 1948 Rudge roadster which was Raleigh made but because of my back issues decided to sell it to a young lady who is longer of leg than I and enjoys this bike immensely.
So for the first time in many years I found myself without an English 3 speed and that could never do as my daughters and I love riding our English three speeds together.
I have a beautiful 1955 Raleigh Lenton fixed gear road bike, but it is not a 3 speed...
So I set about building up an English 3 speed that I could ride...
6 years later and nine thousand, six hundred and fifteen posts later we seem to have written quite the book here... with credit going to the many people who keep contributing knowledge on a near daily basis.
02-22-16, 01:04 PM
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^^ with most topics being revisited a number of times
But this is one of my favorite threads on C&V.
But this is one of my favorite threads on C&V.
02-22-16, 01:49 PM
#9615
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02-22-16, 04:23 PM
#9616
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This is my favorite thread, as well. I've learned so much here that I don't think I could have learned elsewhere, except maybe at Sheldon's site.
02-22-16, 06:03 PM
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02-22-16, 07:03 PM
#9618
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02-22-16, 08:46 PM
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C&V houses!
02-24-16, 07:33 AM
#9621
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A tall 60's Raleigh built Glider single speed with a coaster brake.
On closer inspection, it appears to have a 5 speed cassette on the back....
Last edited by gster; 02-24-16 at 07:46 AM.
02-24-16, 01:32 PM
#9623
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That's a photo from an advert, but here's a nice Glider 5 speed from the bike show last summer
Last edited by gster; 02-24-16 at 01:36 PM.
02-25-16, 07:48 AM
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Raleigh 1969 Catalogue from RetroRaleighs page 03