Sammyboy

Our housemate has for some time been pleading her lack of a driving license and the fact that she can't ride a bike as her reasons for not getting a better job than working in a supermarket. So, when she asked me if I could lend her a bike, or help her find one, I jumped at it. As luck would have it, I'd seen a 3 speed with a basket outside a local place that does house clearances. From a distance, it had looked like a nice modern city bike, and I'd intended to stop and have a look, since the sticker said £35. When we got there, it was this super cool BSA 3 speed, with 23" wheels, rod brakes, built in front rack, old school child seat, and the coolest fenders and fork crown I've ever seen. It weighs a ton, but she fell in love with it instantly, and I bought it for her. Time to learn how to service an SA hub!

barba

Very cool bike. Where does one get tires/tubes for those wheels?

Sammyboy

I'd imagine that's a question I'll be asking before long. There are a couple of good vintage bike sites in the UK that might have them.

ilikebikes

[QUOTE=Sammyboy]Our housemate has for some time been pleading her lack of a driving license and the fact that she can't ride a bike as her reasons for not getting a better job than working in a supermarket. So, when she asked me if I could lend her a bike, or help her find one, I jumped at it. As luck would have it, I'd seen a 3 speed with a basket outside a local place that does house clearances. From a distance, it had looked like a nice modern city bike, and I'd intended to stop and have a look, since the sticker said £35. When we got there, it was this super cool BSA 3 speed, with 23" wheels, rod brakes, built in front rack, old school child seat, and the coolest fenders and fork crown I've ever seen. It weighs a ton, but she fell in love with it instantly, and I bought it for her. Time to learn how to service an SA hub!




[/QUOTE


All of the above statements are true! Great find! shes lucky to have a friend/housemate like you!

Katzenjammer

That's a GORGEOUS bike! Are you going to give it a working-over to get everything shining and rust-free, Sammy?

Your housemate is indeed one gae lucky wee besom.

Sammyboy

I'm not going to make a showbike out of it - this is to be her daily commuter - but I'm certainly going to give it a sprucin' and an oilin'. I probably also need to source some new brake pads.....

Katzenjammer

Those pads do look as though they're holding together out of pure spite for sure, for sure.

It'd make a nice show bike though, don't you think? All that brightwork, those funky mudguards....

Sammyboy

Sure it would, but she wants to get to work, dammit! It's always better if they're used for something.....

Sammyboy

So, it looks like this is my source for most things, including pads

https://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/

But they don't carry the tires. Harris have a Kenda 24 x 1 1/4, so I might be able to order that here as well.

Katzenjammer

aha...to me, 'show bike' only means one that's been brought to a high standard, as though for showing, not one that's reserved for showing (though I agree that's probably a more accepted definition than mine). Quite a few BFers ride 'show bikes', by my reckoning.