banjo_mole 

I got a Armstrong Ross 3-speed today. I don't know anything about it, and there isn't much information on this particular bike online.

Is "Ross" a reference to the department store?

The hub is an SA-AW, stamped 02-74, but the staping is to the left of the usual SA-logo. Does that still make this a '74? I'm used to seeing the date stamped inside the triangle on the bottom of the logo.

Hmm... Not much else to it, except that I got that cool Brooks bag today as well.

I hope you all like it, and can share what you can about the frame! (I also wouldn't mind a bigger rear sprocket, it's currently geared like a MONSTER.

The cones on the SA hub are a little loose. Ugh.

Any tire suggestions to replace these Michelins, other than the Col De La Vie?

-Nick

rhm

Nice Raleigh, there, Nick!

You can tell by the dropouts and the lugs, it's a Raleigh-made bike, and 1974 seems pretty likely to me. Pre-Raleigh Armstrongs were made in Birmingham, and say "Birmingham" on the badge. Their slogan was "the better bicycle."

Ross, I can't explain at all. Might have been the owner's name for all I know.

Chris_in_Miami

There's plenty of info on those, just google "Armstrong + bike" and see how many results you get

In all seriousness, I've never seen one with that Ross decal, but I have seen plenty of other Armstrongs, and helped a friend rebuild a single-speed that was nearly identical to yours. I believe they were one of the many manufacturers absorbed by Raleigh in the 60's.

I like these Nimbus tires a lot, though they don't look very period correct, but they're much better than the Kenda K40 in my opinion. If you can find the Schwalbe HS159 for a reasonable price, they're pretty nice and look right on an English roadster.

Yours looks like a beauty, that's a fantastic gift!

djkashuba 

Beautiful bike. Can you tell me which brooks bag that is and how you like it?

-D

WNG

It's in great condition. Congrats on a very nice gift! That Brooks bag is icing on the cake!

Pompiere

Changing to a 22 or 24 tooth rear sprocket and adding a couple links of chain is a pretty easy fix for the gearing problem. That would give you about 40, 54, and 72 gear inches, which is good for climbing moderate hills, flat cruising, and a tail wind. For down hill, you can just coast.

clubman 

Cones on an SA rear hub are supposed to be a titch loose...not too much of course.

auchencrow

Beautiful bike banjo - the brooks bag adds some class too!

I would suggest Panaracer ST Daily Commuter tires. I have them on my Golden Arrow and am pleased with them.

Be sure you don't overdo the gearing - I went to a 22T cog on one of mine and I'll be going back to an 18 because I feel like I'm spinning even in top gear.

gna

Compromise on a 20T or a 21T cog.

Very nice looking bicycle. The rear cones do need to be a bit loose, but when the axle nuts are tightened there shouldn't be much play at all.

olddurace82

Very nice. I picked up a 66 Raleigh sport from a church basement a couple of week ago. It's in rough shape but I wanted to have it. It has a Brooks saddle and bag. The bag is so moldy I don't think it can be salvaged. I already have it stripped down and ready for rebuild.

noglider 

You did well, Nick! Did it come with that saddle? It looks new.

My area is hilly, and a 22T was not overkill. I'm going to get a 24T eventually.

cooperryder

Great looking bike. Nice Find. Thanks for sharing the pics.

jeepr

Nice bike! I have one of those around too. If I remember correctly, mine is a 64. Also says Ross on it.

Maddox

Schwalbe Delta Cruisers come in blackwall, whitewall, or cream in the 590mm size. I really really like them for old 3-speeds.

Otherwise, you've gotta go with something like the Panaracer ST Daily, Col De La Vie, Michelin World Tour (which I take is what you have now), or one of the cheaper Cheng Shin/Kenda things.

Maddox

A few more options I didn't know existed... (currently working on a 3-speed myself)

World Tour Gumwall: https://www.mybiketinley.com/Michelin...l_p_17108.html
A 590/26x1-3/8 Marathon: https://www.petracycles.co.uk/product...ource=googleus
Schwalbe HS159:https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Bicyc.../dp/B000UJ43CW
Vredestein Perfect Girando (looks like overkill to me): https://www.bicyclehero.com/us/vredes...tire-tyre.html
Continental City Ride: https://www.bikeworldusa.us/Continent...B000NJ1PMK.htm
And a really good price on the Delta Cruisers (whitewall - not 'original' at all, but still nice): https://www.petracycles.co.uk/product...ource=googleus

EDIT: another good price on Delta Cruisers, this one has the option of gumwalls, which I'm thinking of getting for my project: https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Delta...5503545&sr=1-8

HercRider

That's a nice looking Brooks saddle and bag-great score for your birthday! The frame/paint look to be in great shape, too! How does it ride?

Doohickie

Yes.... be careful about tightening them.

Maddox

Did you put orange Kool Stop pads on it, or were they on it when purchased?

ThermionicScott 

Looks much like a bike I've been watching. Beautiful!

banjo_mole 

Hey everybody! Thanks a bunch for the compliments!

First- I have a theory. Maybe Ross the department store badged those stickers onto the bikes if they were sold through that store, IF they were sold through that store. If this is true, that sticker should come off. Mine is both mangled and a little ugly, and feels out-of-place visually on the bike.

The bike did come with the Kool-stop pads on it, like new, as well as new cables and housing. It saved me money I'd've spent doing the exact same thing.

Today I took it for a ride around portland and decided two things.

First, the Brooks Glenbrook is a nice bag, but isn't suited well to the frame right now. I'm going to put a cork spacer between the bag and the seatpost, and a spacer between the bag and the loops on the Brooks. It'll help it sit. I'll post pictures when I do.

The Brooks is a takeoff from my other main bike. I do like this bike so much that I'm going to buy a brown sprung Brooks for it. If you have a used one to sell, I'll take it! If not, I'll buy one. No big deal.

I love this bike!

The handling felt a little "twitchy" to me at first, I was surprised, but after riding it all day it felt pretty stable.

I've also become accustomed to the gearing, right now it's got 46 x 19, which I like a lot. Maybe I'll try a 21.

There's 1mm of play on my rear wheel, which seems excessive.

Finally, those gumwall Michelin's are going on order very, very soon. I like those.

-Nick

Sixty Fiver

Armstrong was another captive brand of Raleigh that was acquired in the 50's... Ross was of course an American manufacturer but cannot see them outsourcing the production of three speeds to England and leaving the Armstrong name on the bike.

There are a number of very nice re-branded Raleighs out there... the Eaton's Glider springs to mind as being a bicycle that is every bit as nice as a Raleigh Sports in fit and finish.

BigPolishJimmy

Nice gift!!!!

I would like to know the history about this 'brand' Ross as well. I had assumed it was the bicycle company Ross importing 3-speeds for the states. I'd never heard of the Ross department store, but that would make more sense.

Armstrongs all around, we could be triplets with the 'Ross' stickers









p.s. ...I rode this bike back in the early 90's when I was courting my wife.

Sixty Fiver

The seat tube decal does not look like your typical Ross decal but will admit that the number of Ross bicycles I have seen in the wild here is very small as they do not seem to have been sold here or imported in any numbers.

Sixty Fiver

I gave my wife an English three speed while we were courting... they seem to have magical abilities in that respect.

noglider 

I know, the steering is very light, but I wouldn't call it twitchy. It's a surprise at first, but it's also the thing that makes my smile when I ride these bikes. It only takes me a minute to get used to. In a few weeks, I learned how to corner at high speed.