What I really want is a Raleigh Twenty. Has not happened and those seem to be a rare item around here. So the game plan is simple, get something else and a Twenty will suddenly show up!

Really, owner of the LBS was cleaning out the back room and this was heading out back. I asked him how much and free was the price. So I brought her home. She’s not English but Italian. Probably a nice rider in her day but that ship has sailed! Plans so far are to strip, clean, lube and hopefully put it back together without running afoul of proprietary components or expensive buys.

i leave the thread for now with pics.

I had a whole list typed out and the dang site said I wasn’t logged in! ARRHH!

before starting with the Cinzia breakdown I was hoping I could do this one right then transfer parts to a Raleigh. Not the case, these sizes are strange. It’s okay, I’m going to have fun with folder.

Some serious rust abatement tomorrow then a trip to Lowe’s for some chrome paint.

Thanks Bob,

It does look like the same frame and style at points. It’s encouraging to think there might be new replacement parts out there which would match the stem, handle bar and seatpost sizes. Those are going to be the rust monsters which get treated and chrome painted. But it’s raining again.

For now it’s clean up, pics for documentation.

being the “ Elite “ model, the front and rear were lights. They ran the wiring through the frame then up under the edge of the mudguard to the rear. I do like that the decals seemed to have survived intact.

Today’s progress. Took a Drexel to the levers to separate them from the bars. Flimsy, solid rusty and was not going to use them. Now I could get the stem off. Have that soaking in a container of OX. The bars I went after with brass brush, sandpaper and files. Not much chrome left underneath, not too pretty.

Took the polish to the fender with nice results. Went back to the bins for levers, grips and seat choices. Both QR skewers on the handle bar and seatpost had sheared off so still looking for one more QR set up. I will reuse the original collars.

Hunted through my BB’s and came up with a Shimano Italian BB 70 mm width like the Cinzia’s shell. It screws right in! Thinking I will use a GS crankset 42t for a trial fit. Chainline and compat with the chaingaurd a consideration.

Oh yeah, frame and fork weigh in right about 10 lbs.

Another bit of info for future owners of these folders.

Wheels: both rims are 28 hole and aluminium. Sized 406, 20 X 1.75
frame: both where the stem and seatpost inter the frame there is no tube support. The frame tubing flairs out right after the clamp collars end.

Because it’s there, and in my care.

The seat that came on the bike was original but not going to see anymore riding. I pulled this other brown one I had from the bin and put it with the parts pile. It’s also quite tall so will help with the seatpost extension. With the saddle, I will use these early brown grips I have. The original white grips are in good shape but are so tiny, hard I decided otherwise.

took the bare frame, opened the fold hinge up for a good rust conversion spray bomb inside. Also sanded the destroyed chrome cap on the fork crown and sprayed rust converter on that.

Wheels next. Tires are Kenda both and new, so are the tubes. I have the PO to thank for that. Brass wooled the rims and cleaned the spokes and outside of the hubs. This is a SS model with a 16t rear. Hubs spin well. Ran out of time so lube those tomorrow. Need to soak the chain, it still has life left and will put it back on.

Hopefully I get the final clean done to the frame and start putting parts back on tomorrow.

just for build fun at the present. I’m looking forward to experiencing the ride of a 20” wheeled folder when I’m finished.

Do you have a folder?

Thanks Rob!

i wish it would have come with an IGH. This one will stay SS AFAIK. I want to use the rim it came with and it is a 28 hole count. I would have to get another to mount the IGH I have and don’t want to right now.

If and and when I get a Raleigh Twenty, that’s when I’ll do the switch-a- roo.

How’s the 59 coming along?

42T front and 16T in rear should make for good cruising speeds.

Some progress today.

after cleaning the rims, spokes and hub yesterday, it was clean, grease and rebuild the inside hub today. The tires and tubes are brand new so got a very nice break there. Both hubs spun fairly smooth before the new grease. Once inside I found both were in good shape. The old stuff had turned to a waxy material but kept it safe. Bit of a chore to clean out but went smoothly. New grease and a good adjust has them spinning fine. I did not try to remove the SS FW. I will save that for another day.i did put triflow down between the threads and hub and cleaned the exposed threads of the FW so good there.

buffed and polished both fenders again so now only need to spray the stays before mounting them.

crank: since the Italian Shimano BB fit so well I decided to use it. Found a nice Gran Sport Campy crank in my stash and on it went. Chain line good and looks to be a good fit for the chaingaurd.

More progress but a lot of little stuff which never gets noticed but always holds a project up.

clean up of the original crankset. As the rust came off, the faint mark of Gnutti came out. Having second thoughts about the Campy crank on there. I like how the old cranks cleaned up but still show its age. The old BB is still in great shape so it sounds like I am talking myself into switching back. Man that Gnutti is heavy! It’s no wonder when we did survival training in Scouts, I used a cottered DS crank for chopping wood, digging holes and fending off any possible wild dogs!

i did a temp mock up of fit size for pics. The bottle bracket on the front fork will stay. It’s new function will be to hold a Serfas 750 lumen light for night runs. I am fabbing a knob to clamp it on from a piece of aluminium steerer and cap. The chain has been soaked for 2 days to loosen the hard mud, grease which has protected it all these years. I was surprised to find out it is silver colour.

Trying to envision a bottle cage placement other then the handle bar. The reflector bracket might get switched and a blink used. I definitely will be using a Carradice with this Cinzia.