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For the love of English 3 speeds...

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For the love of English 3 speeds...

Old 01-16-11, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by LuckyChow99
No, the Brooks is a recent purchase (last year).
The decals on the bike make it a '69 model (at the earliest) and suspect the bike is an early to mid seventies model... the derailleur gearing you removed will tell you a lot as will the serial number.
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Old 01-16-11, 07:58 PM
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Don't remember ever seeing a chain guard like that on a Sprite - the five speed models during the bike boom had a long guard not unlike the Sports.
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Old 01-16-11, 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
The decals on the bike make it a '69 model (at the earliest) and suspect the bike is an early to mid seventies model... the derailleur gearing you removed will tell you a lot as will the serial number.
Sixty Fiver, the serial number is 1416669. I couldn't find this sequence in any of the list I checked. Also, shown below is the derailleur.


IMG_0544 by LuckyChow, on Flickr
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Old 01-16-11, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by LuckyChow99
I thought some of you would like to see my 1965 Sprite.
Very nice!
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Old 01-16-11, 11:14 PM
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[QUOTE=LuckyChow99;12087278]Sixty Fiver, the serial number is 1416669. I couldn't find this sequence in any of the list I checked. Also, shown below is the derailleur.



This is a later model Huret Allvit so that points to mid seventies manufacture (if it is original)... the earlier Allvit had it's name embossed on the front plate and by '76 or so Raleigh was using Raleigh branded Suntour derailleurs.
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Old 01-17-11, 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by sykerocker
The Sports, in theory, was available in a 25-1/2" frame although I don't remember ever seeing anything bigger than a 23-1/2" pass through the shop. If you were really tall, Merle would immediately move you towards a 24" DL-1, which was his personal ride. That is, if he could even get the customer to look past a 10-speed. I think back to those days and probably 75% of our customers during the Bike Boom would have been much better served by a Sports (after dinner rides thru the neighborhood) . . . . . . . . but that wasn't the style. Gotta have a 10-speed, never mind that they were uncomfortable as hell for most customers, and the derailleurs took a lot of getting used to.

And no, you're not mistaken - I really believe that 21-1/2" frames were the majority of production for a roadster, no matter what the English brand.
Thanks for the info. I'll continue to keep a look out and hopefully I'll spot something in my size.
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Old 01-17-11, 12:39 AM
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Originally Posted by FishBiscuit
The largest Sports I've seen is a 23", and they show up for sale frequently. The 24" DL-1 Tourist (Men's) is fairly common (and available with a full Chaincase, less common). My Sprite 27 3-Speed has a 24-1/2" frame.

While my classic sensibilities prefer looking at the Sports, I prefer the Sprite on the road:
Very nice lookin' bike! I think there's hope for me yet!
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Old 01-17-11, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Schwinnsta
Are all the bolts on the Sports model Whitworth? I was having a problem mounting a 3 speed shift mechanism to the handlebar. It is the one with the plastic face and a specially designed nut. As is usual with this design the plastic face of the shifter has cracks. I think because the bolt is really too short, a design flaw by S-A. I went to the hardware store to get a longer bolt. Turns out the bolt is not English or metric. I assume it is Whitworth. The nearest to it was 10-32. I bought a few and tapped out the stock nut.

I have a rear rack that I would like to put on this bike. The bolts that hold the fender stays thread into the chain stays and have lock nuts on them. They will not be long enough to add the rack. Are these also Whitworth? I know that the Sports model did not come with a rack like the Superbe. So did the Superbe have longer bolts to accomodate the rack?
Yes, I'm pretty sure it's all Whitworth.
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Old 01-17-11, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by LuckyChow99
I thought some of you would like to see my 1965 Sprite.
[URL="https://www.flickr.com/photos/54549620@N03/5361630610/"]
I love your Sprite! That chainguard is nice. Besides the saddle, your rear rack is the most valuable part of the bike- In good shape, I've seen those go for well over $100 on eBay. Did you add that, or was it on the bike when you got it?

For your DL-1, luckily, you've got another DL-1 to compare to, so it should be a breeze getting it all back together. It wasn't until we picked up our 2nd DL-1, that I realized that I had assembled some things in an unconventional manner (although, I also did some things in a more logical and preferable way than whoever put the other DL-1 together).

Last edited by FishBiscuit; 01-17-11 at 02:10 PM.
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Old 01-17-11, 03:04 PM
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FishBiscuit,

Thanks for the comments. The saddle was added by me. When I bought it, the bike didn't have a saddle at all. The rack is nice and original though. This was the first Presto rack I'd seen. I know everyone likes them, but frankly, they're pretty weak for a rack. Being stamped sheet metal, it really isn't very strong. This one had a slight bow to it. I straightened it fairly easy once I had it off the bike. If I were rating it for load, I'd say 20 lbs woulb be it.

Being my first Raleigh, I learned a lot about what works and what doesn't (re: cleaning wheels, chrome, etc). I also have a couple of girls bikes that I bought for parts. That's where my rear wheel came from. Almost everything I learned came off this board and internet. Having you guys around to answer questions is like having an expert living in the den! I read restoration threads for a couple of months before ever starting. I think my DL-1 will go much easier, as it is in much better shape and I'm not changing the drivetrain to something new. After riding the DL for the first time, I realized why they call the other bikes light weights! When I put those two Tourist's on my platform rack to bring home, it sure flexed it a lot when going over bumps. I think those two bikes added up to the max weight for the rack.
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Old 01-17-11, 05:13 PM
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What color options was available for the 70's Superbe Gents version? Was green the only option?
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Old 01-18-11, 12:48 PM
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https://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lc...6o97o1_400.jpg

Anyone has done this before? Does it hurt your top tube on a Raleigh Sports? What if just a regular weight of person sitting on the top tube during ridding, will the top tube bent...? Thanks!
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Old 01-18-11, 03:36 PM
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I don't think it would hurt much if it was done infrequently and the lady was not heavy. If she sings opera, or you are doing it every day, then it might not be a good idea...
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Old 01-18-11, 04:59 PM
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Any idea how thick is the gauge of the top tube? Is it OK to do this some time with a small lady on the top tube?

Originally Posted by biaddiction
https://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lc...6o97o1_400.jpg

Anyone has done this before? Does it hurt your top tube on a Raleigh Sports? What if just a regular weight of person sitting on the top tube during ridding, will the top tube bent...? Thanks!
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Old 01-18-11, 06:01 PM
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I've never heard of a passenger bending the top tube of a bike. It has its other safety hazards, but bending the top tube is not one of them.

I finally started wrenching on my 1962 Rudge. I got it at an estate sale many months ago, and this is the first time working on it. I trued the wheels. One needed a new spoke. I had to replace a few nipples. I banged some dings back in with a hammer. The hubs seem to be in excellent condition. I was tempted to interlace the spokes but didn't. The wheels are in good shape now, and I THINK the spokes are tight enough. I think the rims are heavy enough that the spokes don't need to be as tight as they are on racing bikes. There is a bit of rust on the sides of the rims. I guess I'll sand it off and won't worry about ruining the chrome.

I'm sure the bike will take a lot of work to get back into good working order. It appears to be ridden a lot. There were already a couple of replacement spoke nipples.

Tom
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Old 01-18-11, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ahson
What color options was available for the 70's Superbe Gents version? Was green the only option?
Depending on the year in the 1970's... Bronze Green, Coffee, and Burgundy. FWIW I have never seen a Superbe in anything but Bronze Green. Mine is a 1972.

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Old 01-18-11, 08:37 PM
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When replacing Weinmann brake pads with Kool Stop Continentals how do you get the alignment of the surface of the pad flush with the rim? Do you just let them hit just below the top of the pad and wear flush? Do you file the pads first to the profile angle of the rim and if so how do get the right alignment?

Somehow I feel like this a dumb question? But it would be dumber to remain ignorant.

Thanks
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Old 01-19-11, 08:26 AM
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Not a dumb question. I just let them wear in. But to create toe-in, I bend the calipers with an adjustable wrench.
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Old 01-19-11, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by wahoonc
Depending on the year in the 1970's... Bronze Green, Coffee, and Burgundy. FWIW I have never seen a Superbe in anything but Bronze Green. Mine is a 1972.

Aaron

I've seen a Coffee one. Most I've seen are Bronze Green, though. Aaron, very nice.
Bronze Green 23" Superbe is on my wishlist.
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Old 01-19-11, 12:40 PM
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I have a Coffee 23" Raleigh Superbe and I believe it was made in 1974. It is in rather decent shape but does need some work.
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Old 01-19-11, 01:48 PM
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i also have a 73 coffee ladies superbe, but instead of having a front dyno, it has removable wingnut axel bolts for the front wheel
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Old 01-19-11, 03:02 PM
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69 in Burgundy.Need to deal with cotters and service the BB when I get the time and courage.
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Old 01-19-11, 06:15 PM
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I am going to repaint my Superbe but not in bronze green. Might go for a custom but rather classic color, black. Will that looks strange?
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Old 01-19-11, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by ahson
I am going to repaint my Superbe but not in bronze green. Might go for a custom but rather classic color, black. Will that looks strange?
For me, there is no other color for a Vintage Raleigh. If I ever build another it'll be gloss black too.
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Old 01-19-11, 08:50 PM
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I'm currently cleaning up a black 21" 1969 Raleigh Sports Drop Frame (actually two- selecting the best parts to build one nice one)- of the coffee, green, black, and white Raleighs at my place, I like the look of the black ones the best (more "timeless", IMHO).

The Sports is/are cleaning up nicely:











Here's some before pictures:







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