I really wanted that bike, but I've got too many already.

BBM,
He finally emailed,
G O N E :(

Airwick

BlankCrows,
Your bike for sale? Please PM me the information?

Yes, it is for sale. I'll send you a PM.

Raleigh Sports in NYC. Looks like Coffee, can't really tell. Needs work. Not sure if seller is offering 2 bikes for $140, or $140 each. NYC is not exactly a bargain market either.

It's a black '66-67.

-Kurt

Gentlemen,
That's not a vintage, true Raleigh Twenty, right? (never seen that color)

It is, but a later variant from the '80s - probably badged the Shopper.

-Kurt

The Raleigh has been found! Pictures as soon as they come to me and details soon. 1975 mint! I owe all of you a huge thanks and a steak dinner to JunkYarkBike.

Now can I trouble you to help me locate an authentic hub generator, cyclometer, and anything that one would have used to bicycle across country when Elvis was still the king?

Airwick

ps I believe she shall be named, Emily.

I can help with the hub generator...but you will need to build it into a wheel. I have one on hand and another on the way...you will need lights...are you going vintage?

Aaron:)

Congrats! So you got the one in NJ? Anxious to see the photos. I must add, 1975 is a superb vintage, for both people and bikes!

Going vintage my man! Everything must be something that a cyclist from 1975-1976 would have access to. Kurt was nice enough to warn me about the steel wheels and poor braking. Well, I don't want to die but I really want to stay "true". :) Thus, since I am new to vintage I am depending on you guys, my vintage new friends. Airwick says, "or else, his blood will be on your hands." He's a little dramatic.

Take the problem of carrying all our gear as an example. Simple solution would be to attach an Xtracycle but not going to do it. But where to put Airwick? Most likely wicker basket in front, poor russell will be embarrassed to death. Need info on bicycle trailer options circa 1975 too.

Need to find vintage clothes or at least something that makes sense.

You guys point me the way to the vintage accessory catalogs.

New journal (not enabled yet) will be www.ADA.crazyguyonabike.com and if bike arrives in time, we'll start two weeks from tomorrow.

Airwick

Yes Indeed! Your lead was the winner,..... Terrific guy selling the bike too.

Now find me a vintage trailer, JYB and I'll make that two steak dinners (or 4 McDonalds)

Airwick

Okay Airwick...this is going to cost you some serious milk bones;) :D

They make some really nice Baskets just right for riding in. (website is down at the moment) I do have the phone number...somewhere. For riding apparel you have several options. For a really vintage look and very comfortable too I would suggest wool knickers:p As far as the trailer is concerned...when did Cannondale start making the Bugger? It would be vintage and it came out about that time. Going to be a major trick to find one of those monsters. I had one back in the mid 90's. As far as the rims I would seriously consider using Alloy Rims for safety as well as durability. The original steel were very durable but left a lot to be desired in the stopping department and you are going to be fully loaded.

Aaron:)

Another thought...go to ABCE Tour and click on "parts" on the left side, might make a good upgrade to help minimize the break downs. Three speed parts are getting a bit hard to find along the road. And while you are there you can check out some of the pictures and stories:D

Aaron:)

Basket, yes - seems perfect for the time period. Knickers, no ( good way to get hurt in a lot of cities ) Rims, yes - I consider myself warned on steel, but does seem a shame. I googled Cannondale bugger. Extremely interesting but doesn't seem right somehow. We'll probably go with authentic backrack and bungee some neat English something but that wont be enough. Looks like I will have to "bikepack" some of the gear,... I see a lot of that in pictures even today in Britian.

So I can get a complete authentic light set from you, Mr. North Carolina? Let me know the details please, sounds great. Where to go to find a proper rack for back? I think Kurt mentioned the name of brand somewhere.

Truthfully, I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew here. Anyone want to give odds for a trip from San Diego to St. Augustine then home to Greenville?

Airwick

Airwick,
Not the whole light set...just the dynohub...I don't have any lights. The original bugger was a silver frame with a red bag laced into it, and then had a black plastic insert for the children to ride in. What is wrong with a good set of knickers? Beats the crap out of the lycra stuff everybody thinks you need to wear!:p Couple of choices on the rack. Pletscher made a nice aluminum rack (think Schwinn) a lot of the Raleighs came with an all steel rack that was painted the same color as the bike. They were made by Prestube.

Aaron:)

Aaron,
Dynohub that would be available for the mid 70's would be great (how do I get the entire system?)
I do not know if the bike I bought has a backrack or not, will ask tomorrow. If not, I think I'd like to have a Presstube if possible.

Found this searching for trailers - Wonder what type of bicycle James T had? http://ucmmuseum.com/closeup1.htm

Airwick

Airwick,
The bike James T had is more than likely a three speed, possibly a 4 speed. Brand is indeterminable from the pictures. Note the LARGE cog on the rear wheel...you will need one of these. I don't know how much attention you pay to gear ratios/inches. But the Raleighs came geared ridiculously high from the factory. Not a big deal to correct. The lights are going to have to come from Ebay or someone that has some laying around. I have just started looking for some for another project that I have coming up. If I hit the mother lode I will share. :D

Aaron:)

The Bike!
 

Gentlemen,
Permit me to introduce you to Emily! Imagine being locked up in a box never seeing daylight for thirty years, rescued, and now about to attempt a cross country.............

Thanks again you guys, you chaps are the best!

Now to dress up Emily for the ride, here is my *wish list:

1) lighting system
2) Presstube backrack
3) Whatever else you tell me I should have

*whatever Kurt says buy, we will buy :)

Airwick

She's a beauty! Now we'll just have to wait for the post-break-in pics!

There's a Presstube Minor rack on ebay...you'll just have to buy the bike along with it! (Hey, at least it's in Texas!) Wrong color though, so you'll have to respray it too...:lol:

my local shop has odometers the kind that you bolt on with the wheel and a little piece goes on the spoke and hits it every turn looks 70's to me. He also has bell bottum clips so your pants wont get in the spokes. oh almost forgot a number of generator lights that would fit, one set is still on an early 70's schwinn. and a battery light that is way cool, it is double lights that look kind of like gogles and the batery is in a water bottle .The double lights would look great on that raleigh, I think thay might even be english I have a bottle cage that would look good on that bike, steel cage with a spring clip to hold the bottle 70's or 60's not sure but it is Italian. Vintage clothes, I got cut off jeans and a tye dye Tshirt dont forget the canves high top converse.

WOW! I have not seen a Raleigh that nice since they were new in the shop!:eek:

Dunno what Kurt is going to tell you but I would highly recommend Schwalbe Marathon tires for the trip. They make a high quality touring tire in the 26x1-3/8 size. Also just as a back up you can still buy that sized tire a Walmart in a pinch.

Aaron:)

JYB,
It does seem a shame to ride such a beautiful bike, especially on a cross country - I'm hoping Emily will appreciate the irony and feel liberated in making up for the past three decades. Would love advice on protecting her before the trip.

I take it that it's not going to be easy to find a coffee Presstube Minor? I've been watching that ebay Colt. I can't find as much info on the Colt as the Sports/Superbe. How did it compare and what do you think of that specific bike, value? Very pretty though.

Airwick

Hi tolfan,
Cycle on down and snap some pictures. :) Ask if he has a Presstube too and I'll owe almsot everyone in this thread a steak dinner.

I think I'm leaning toward keeping everything on the bike (mirror, cyclometer, rack, light) as authentic as possible but not go overboard. Keep our gear traditional and go back to towing a bob trailer. I don't want to be so over the top I can't get up the mountains leaving San Diego.

Airwick

She is rather attractive, no? Almost the equal to your Miss America Superbe.

I just received our Schwalbe Marathons (700 C) for Mary, our Trek 520. You're 100% right, best tires I've ever seen. How much would you pay for the eBay Colt, Aaron?

Airwick