What is a Roadster?
 

Can someone give me a definition of what exactly a roadster is? I did a search and turned up several pages, but nothing really helped. I could only find one definition, and it referred to frame geometry and components, but didn't elaborate much more than that.

Can you help?

I concur.

See also oldroads.com.

28 inch wheels, rod actuated brakes, lax frame angles, usually with a full chain case. Raleigh "Sports" are not roadsters, but Raleigh "Tourist"s (DL-1) are. Forever, and Flying Pigeons from China are as well.

Thanks CardiacKid. That was very informative and will probably come in very handy when I start at my new job in March. The owner of that shop restores roadsters for fun.
Oh, and thanks Sheldon! Your site continues (after years) to be fun and highly informative.

'raleigh sports' are called "light Roadsters" in old catalogs.

And usually weigh as much as a compact car:p But the ride is like nothing you have ever experienced! Think of the Queen Mary and plowing thru a fleet of lesser vessels and the wake you leave behind:D BTW if I can ever find one for sale where I can bring it home, and it is the correct frame size, I stand ready to plunk down my hard earned dollars for one.

Aaron:)

>BTW if I can ever find one for sale where I can bring it home, and it is the correct frame size, I stand ready to plunk down my hard earned dollars for one.<

Where are you, as I have two, one of which may go.

Thanks folks for the straightforward answers! Looks like I may be a "roadster" fan in the making. :) Now that I think back, I believe I may have stumbled across one in a antique shop in Cody Wyoming. I definitely remember the rod actuated brakes, and vaguely, a full chain case.

But this was 2-3 years ago, and I had other concerns at the time. Again, thanks!

Just how bad are rod brakes?

I live in central NC work in the Low Country of SC. But would be willing to travel a bit to get one! Shoot me a PM with the particulars.

Aaron:)

If properly adjusted no worse than the cable actuated brakes. Problem is most people don't or don't know how to set them up properly. They can be a bit of a PITA and take some fiddling.

Aaron:)

Me too! fortunately my dollars are not hard earned, unfortunately there are not many of them (Social Security). I would love to find a 24" frame rod brake roadster with full chaincase close enough to go and get it (200 miles) that I could afford, and mostly needs only a lot of tender loving care to restore.

This makes me think, an audio forum I am a member of has organized a relay where people who are traveling volunteer to haul stuff. It seems to work for them. Someone in CA buys something off eBay, one of the members in DC picks it up. Another DC member is going to OH so he carries it there and turns it over to someone who lives there, another member picks it up and takes it to Chicago, etc. It takes a month or so for something to get there that way, but it is free. Old audio gear is usually not oversized, but it is heavy and costs a bunch to ship. Would there be any interest in trying to set up something like that on this forum?

Graywolf...same sized frame I need;) maybe we can stumble across a couple and get a twofer deal:p

Aaron:)

Would this be considered a Roadster? - a guy on ebay is selling these brand new China made bikes for around $200.00.

[IMG]http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...nk/c7ea_12.jpg[/IMG]

Interesting. Is that a cottered crank I see? I took a quick look in Ebay but didn't find an auction with a bike looking like that. I wonder if the wheels are steel too.

look up "Flying Pigeon" I think it is listed in the Vintage/transportation category

Oh man, I used to ride one of these all the time growing up in India!

My wife was telling me that she bought one while she was in China for $17.00. She bought it just so she could have something to putt around in and gave it to her friend a couple months later when she was done with it.

Yes that would be considered a roadster. Biggest problem with most of current Chinese/India built ones is that they are of a very low quality. But sell for big bucks over here due to shipping and tariffs. The original British built ones are much better quality.

Aaron:)

:D Yep, and somewhere between here an there.