Fidbloke

It's probably 5/16 BSF. All the British Standard thread forms tend to be lumped together as 'Whitworth' as they share the same 55deg thread angle.

Salubrious

I've run into this problem on the non-drive side of my '72 Superbe. IMO it is indeed a QC problem- one that would never have happened in an earlier decade. The 70s was not a kind era to the British 3-speeds! You can't adjust it out if the crank is engaging the BB hardware. Are you certain though that you have the correct BB axle?


FWIW dept: When I was a kid I heard this a lot in reference to British 3-speeds (with upright seating) but Master Sheldon is emphatic that such a term should not be used in this way.

arex

Fairly sure...it's the one that was in the BB, and the grease was like putty, so I doubt it had ever been apart before.

I'm gonna take it all apart and make sure I don't have too many balls in one of the cups or something.

Loose Chain

I am quite certain it is evident I was using humor or tongue in cheek. I am also quite certain that I worship only one God and as fine a gentleman Sheldon Brown is he is not God and I am also further certain that anyone who rode bicycles with a chicken glued to the crown of their helmet did have a sense of humor and would know I was teasing.

And, since you are so serious, where I clearly was not, if you Google English Racer the photos that will result sure look like my little bicycle and even further certain that a huge percentage of baby boomers know exactly what an English Racer is regardless of what Sheldon Brown would wish for them to call it. I know, when as a boy, I raced everything I could on mine so that would have made it my English Racer.

And thank you Mr. Sheldon for all of your wisdom, humor and years of help to all cyclists everywhere.

Edit to add:

The new aluminum CR18 wheels weigh 1lb.1oz. each. The removed original steel wheels weigh 1lb.14oz. each for a total weight saving (rotating mass) of 1lb.10oz. total.



The new aluminum platform pedals weigh exactly 1/2 of the original Raleigh rubber block pedals, 10oz each vs. a total of 10oz. for the aluminum pedals.

So I took 2lbs. and 4oz. from the Raleigh Sports. I removed the frame crushing kickstand a long time ago. I have never owned a bike with a kickstand, I see no purpose to them (I saved it away). Of course I added a light system, dynamo and rack and will soon order the recommended B72 saddle. But I cannot resist removing rotating mass. The bike definitely feels more sporty with the new wheels and pedals and the wheels feel stiffer. I am pleased with it. I saved the original spokes, wheels and nipples. Just a data point for anybody interested in the future.

J

BigChief 

I also still maintain an affinity to the admittedly incorrect term "English Racer". Back in the early 60s, I had a paper route, little money, but still a knowledge of what real racing bikes were. The only way a kid like me was going to have a racer was to find an old beat up Nottingham made Sports model, strip all non-essentials off and flip the bars around. To me, it was a racer. Compared to the usual, at the time, balloon tired American tanks, they were like Ferraris.
Also, We do tend to call all British sized threads Whitworth. Spanners too. But to be fair, this is how they were sold to us.

bmthom.gis

Cool! My CR18 rims just came in the mail yesterday, and I am going to start lacing them up tomorrow.

Salubrious

You mean- I gotcha on that one? I was kidding too.


Those don't look like the usual Kenda tires. What sort are they (BTW, I run Michelins on my Superbe, they allow 85 psi for a little quicker ride).

Velocivixen

My Raleigh Twenty is April's cover girl....I mean Cover Photo for the Raleigh Twenty site. If you're interested, go here: https://raleightwenty.webs.com

It was a nice honor to be asked.

dweenk

If you are referring to a lamp bracket hung from the headset, I have a rusty one that you may have for free. PM me.

DQRider 

Beautiful job on that `20, V. I really like that shade of green - utterly English. How does it ride?

Loose Chain

They are the Bell Streetster tires. Several years ago I bought a few sets for a rainy day. They are actually pretty nice. Soft rubber, folding bead and roll nicely.

Thank you so much for the offer but I think you are offering the part that attaches to the headset and what I need is the part that attaches to the light:



I borrowed that pic from the interwebs so I hope whoever does not mind. I will trade a nice set of spokes and original rims .

Hey, when riding your British three speed bicycles (for Sheldon ) do you guys and ladies wear a helmet? I know my parents would be put in jail today for abuse but you know, I do not recall anybody wearing a helmet whilst riding upon their British three speed bicycles

J

Velocivixen

@DQRider - It originally has a nylon "collar" inside the upper head tube instead of the typical pressed cup for a headset - the bottom is normal headset. See photo:

Plastic Headset Bushing by velocivixen, on Flickr

I followed what a lot of people on the internet said about using a "normal" headset top & bottom. It makes the steering extremely light or somewhat "twitchy", so I'm almost tempted to put it back in. The collar also helped (I forget how) when folding, which I never do. The bike was rated best small wheeled bike in the '70's by an English "Consumer Report type" magazine.

CuttersRidge

Very unique, the claim is a 1966 women's Raleigh Sport, all chrome I think, even the chain guard.

Very nice, the price is not. They are a real specialty store though;

Budget Bicycle Center - Vintage 1966 Raleigh Ladies Sports All Chrome Dealer Model Bicycle Bike Sturmey

I've never seen this kind.

streets

The all chrome plated Sports are pretty rare, particularly the ladies model it seems. I heard the same as the advert states- They were given to the Raleigh dealerships as a promotion piece. That price is pretty keen though, wow.

noglider 

@Fenway, that's a pretty special bike you have there. Are you running your modern lights with an old 1.8w dynamo hub? How well does that work? I wouldn't have thought it possible.

mirfi

Hello, I now have a 'carry' socket that fits the axle nuts on my R20. The axle nut being Whitworth 1/4, BSF 5/16, Metric 13.34, Inch .525 the closest "common' SAE size is 17/32 (.53 inch, 13.49mm). Ordered a deep six sided socket and drilled a hole in it that will accept a variety of levers. Note: access to a drill press eased the drilling.


It's not perfect, but it is close.

Also, besides this size is there another unique size that I should carry?

streets

I have this 1937(?) Raleigh, which I believe is a 27X model (thanks to a forum member for helping identify it).
It's complete but a work in progress. I started doing a few custom touches to it, like relocating the headlamp and tail light, bare metal (the original paint was long gone) but I'm starting to wonder whether I should do a straight-up restoration instead.
It has 28" wheels, hub brakes, full chain case and crazy high gearing! Lovely thing to ride though.
Can't find a lot of information on this particular model. Anyone have experience with them?

DQRider 

+1 for full resto. If it was a DL1, there are enough of those around that one could be forgiven for building a custom out of it. But how many of these still exist in riding condition?

Because the original paint is gone, "preservation" is out of the question. Restoration would be a long and interesting journey.

Salubrious

I dunno- just me I guess but I think the light looks better hanging off of the headset. My BSA gets lots of nice comments based on that location.

I think restoration would be good too. Its hard to find a machine that was equipped with a sector-style shift!

streets

I know what you mean, I have other bikes that I could customise instead and I think it would be a rather handsome bike once restored.



The lamp placement always looked too high for my tastes on these bikes. I thought the lower lamp mounting looked a little sleeker, but I suppose that's not really what these bikes are about!
I am leaning toward a restoration right now. Replacing the chrome has been putting me off though, that's probably going to hurt.



Just realised I've posted this bike before in this thread. Oh well!

artclone

+1 Restore!

Looks like a perfect candidate - - not much to do in the way of repair and parts. Really cool bike.

Loose Chain

Well, semi-offical garage door picture. I will have to wait until I get back from a business trip in Europe to order the Brooks saddle and find/build the headlamp clamp. But I took it for another spin today and it seems fully functional, even slightly spiffy. As it leans against the door it weighs exactly 35 pounds of English steel (with headlamp). I come to think eliminating weight from these three speed tanks is an exercise in futility. The portly poundage and soft frames ask to be ridden sedately.



Heck, the rack weighs more than some cf bikes in total . It is kinda cute!

J

DQRider 

Well said! I agree about the weight thing. Not much you can do when you start with that frame, and all the steel components. I suppose you could spend a fortune on alloy stuff, and maybe bring it down to as little as 28 lbs - but that would completely change the character of the bike, and probably not for the better.

Salubrious

If you gear it right, you can do pretty well, but they are no speedsters. I've had mine up to 26 mph but I was pedaling like mad. But if you don't push it hard, you can cover ground. Do you know about the Lake Pepin 3-speed tour (coming up next month!)? The Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour

Loose Chain

Maybe some year I can do something like that. But I will just be getting home from a business trip. I recall that I topped 30 MPH on my bike when I was a (pre) teen. It had a speedometer on it, till I broke it.

No offense, lol, but this frame is like a soggy noodle. Which, for the intended purpose is not a disadvantage, the ride is soft and pleasant and even a little sporting (possibly because my frame is the 21 gives it a taughter feel). I like it and will quite enjoy it.

Does everything of British origin be required by some law, perhaps in the Magna Carta it is codified, that oil leaking is specified? Is a puddle of oil under the SA mandatory? My wife does not particularly care for this charming trait .