That Famous Raleigh Quality
 

Ok, so I got my Raleigh 4 speed (anyone feel like IDing it? 1965, I think, and with an FG hub). I promise I'll take good pics of it soon. This morning, I thought I'd take it out on my training ride, and, since I couldn't ride at a relaxed pace (it was a TRAINING ride), it was hard work. Anyway, had to power start in 2nd on a slight uphill for some lights, and I bent the pedal spindle! So much for the indestructible Raleigh quality.

http://i16.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/9a/aa/0cc1_1_b.JPG

Well, its not only Raleigh's. A gal at my office had her pedal spindle break right off just before the threads on a Schwinn Hollywood recently. A pain finding those 1/2" thread pedals when you need them fast!

I sheared a pedal spindle in my Falcon tourer climbing once. Anyway, I happen to have a pair of rubber block pedals that are probably threaded the same. I hope it doesn't happen every time I put some torque through them!

Yeah, I guess those pedals might be a weak point. But those were German made (Union) by then, right?! I've managed to bend them as well, and I weigh around 170.

Neal

NICE.. seems a bit more heavy-duty than what I'm used to seeing here states-side.

In 1964, pedaling home standing up on a flat, the non-drive side pedal sheared clean off on my high end Rudge 'English racer' Sturmey Archer 3-speed with then hot 27" wheels. One trip to the emergency room, nine stitches over my left eye, and forty some odd years later here I am. Had this happened today, in our litigious society, I might well own the company. When it happened, I was 165#.

The Rudge, sadly, was given away by my mother to some cousins in Montclair NJ while I was off adventuring on hiatus from college.

Who knows, the old bike might still be knocking around there in bridge and tunnel land.