Bike Forums - View Single Post - For the love of English 3 speeds...

06-29-17, 07:13 AM

#13114

DQRider

Old Boy

Join Date: Jan 2016

Location: Minnesota

Posts: 2,127

Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChief

@DQRider It sure did turn into a beautiful bike. Building an upright roadster style on a 531 frame with quality components has been a daydream of mine for years. Your bike is downright inspirational!
VV's post was 3:44 PM EST Thats almost noon out there.. Still no clue about the secret new project. Hmmmm

Hey BigChief, when you are ready to turn that daydream into reality, let me know. I can help you source all the parts you need, and avoid the ones that don't work so well.

Oddly enough, in the process of building this bike, I gained a new appreciation for what Raleigh and their competitors did with the old 3-speeds. They built bikes that last, and can be refreshed any number of times to keep them going for a lifetime. That "solid" feel of an English 3-speed isn't just an attribute of heavy tubing; it has to do with geometry and the inherent properties of steel components as opposed to alloy.

When the ABCE (All British Cycling Event) comes around this year, I will be astride my Raleigh DL1. There's nothing else that rides quite like it.

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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.

USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!

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