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

I can fill you in on the Colt...my wife rides one;) They were a smaller framed bike for the "tweens" typically they are 3 speeds with a rear coaster brake hub. They are built just like the Sports but slightly smaller. FWIW my wife is 5'-1" and the 17" ladies frame Colt is a near perfect fit, and she prefers the coaster brake.

tolfan, I am interested in one of those little odometer thingies too!

Aaron:)

The reserve they guy mentioned in his add on is about the maximum I would think it was worth. IIRC they sold for about $25 less than a new Sports in their day. They were not an inexpensive bicycle by any means. My Superbe is very "shop" worn. It was stored in someone's garage and has a couple of different colors of overspray on it as well as various nicks, scrapes and scratches that really don't show up until you take close ups of it. But none of that affects the rideability of it and that is what I wanted. I can appreciate a beautiful show room nice vintage bike. But I ride all of my bikes and they show it. I don't abuse them, but I don't put them on a pedestal and agonize over every nick and scrape.

Aaron:)

Superbe
 

Aaron,
Now I think maybe you will owe me a steak dinner,. Take a look: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/airwickc...60762387047001
She's mine, bought her quickly on what I've learned here. You guys tell me how I did and any information on bike? I went by faith so give me the skinny.

So, I have an idea. (Speaking of, where are you tonight Kurt?, we need you) Take a look at this: http://www.extrawheel.com/index_en.php I've been struggling with how best to carry our gear and remain true to classic and vintage. These are new to me,... I was going to use bob but that doesn't seem right.

So, how about I now search for a Sports that can't be saved but has a "good" backside and turn it into a 1 wheel trailer like the link? Impossible? Not with Kurt's help, no? What do you think? Has merit, me thinks...

Airwick :D

From the pictures it looks pretty decent to me. How much if you don't mind my asking? The saddle looks to be shot, but you got your Prestube rack;) The light is a battery powered unit, pretty feeble but definitely vintage. I bought a similar vintage ladies Sports for way to much to strip parts off of... Check the rear hub for a date, but it looks like late 70's to me.

Aaron:)

Better to be told how much you would have given, first, then I can fib if the situation warrants :) I did buy it for the presstube. Based on what you said, however, it looks like I struck out on the light. If my trailer idea works, it'll be worth it,.. maybe. (but I don't want to dismember this lady, she's pretty and deserves a new home) I was thinking Mrs. Aaron should have her for when ya'll go a' riding.

Airwick

Airwick,
The frame is too tall for my wife. I have a 21" frame ladies Sport in that same color and even with the seat all the way down it is too tall. She can ride a 19" ladies frame but is not comfortable on it. That is why the Colt was such a great find, it has a 17" frame. FWIW I would have gone $100-$125 on that bike. But I am pretty cheap;) :p I may have a line on some lights but they are in England...they also have dynohubs. I am trying to research the company and make sure they are legit. Here is a picture of her Colt doesn't have the basket or the new seat on it...need to do some picture updating one of these days.

Aaron:)

Is there anything listed in the book of "Man Laws"on this subject?

I do know out West there is a stigma about guys riding side saddle;)