gna

Who's it for? B72S, I suppose.

wahoonc

I would use a B66 on it.

Aaron

PalmettoUpstate 

Brooks B-66S here: permaco.com

1. clik on Brooks Saddles in the left column
2. clik on Tour/Trekk Saddles
3. scroll down to B-66S @ $69 plus shipping [reasonable]

oldroads

It would have come with a vinyl Brooks

_dylan

Haven't been around the boards in a while, but I wanted to show off the fact that my 64 Sports got a girlfriend cut from the same year. Oh--and I think if I had boarded that train it would've taken me to Hogwarts. I should have taken my chances.

oldroads

Great combination.

sarahmel.a

You guys seem to know your stuff. Could someone please tell me anything you could about these two bikes. I've recently picked up both and I would love to sell them in NYC and then buy myself something decent unless I can make something special of either of these. I don't know much about bikes but this is a new obsession, reading everything that you all have to say. I wish I could become mechanically inclined.

thank you! Sarah

noglider 

The black one looks to be English-made and from the 60's. The blue Ross is probably from the 80's and is American-made.

erileykc

Not sure what makes for a 'decent' bike in NYC but these look like fine urban rides. My perspective is from DC so a few million less elbows than The City but still, as long as your rides are not excessively hilly these bikes seem like a good choice. Older bikes are always a theft deterrent in themselves ( that part probably translates well between any city ). Add a rack & panniers as needed and I would be happy with either one - well the mens versions anyway. Ladies frame scare the crap outta me. Always think they're gonna fold up under me but then I'm 200 lbs so I'm always grateful when any bike survives the ride.

noglider 

Good point. I admire the prolific use of English 3-speeds here in NYC. Are you sure you want to trade yours in, sarahmel.a? You could bring it to HUB. They'll get it in excellent running order for you.

michael k

The Ross (made by murray?)looks to be in nice condition but is at the bottom quality wise.

SirMike1983 

As Vinny says, a vinyl saddle would have been original to that vintage. Raleigh eventually converted its utility bicycle line to vinyl. I would go with a B66 or B66S depending on your preference, though a Brooks vinyl mattress saddle is actually among the better vinyl saddles of that era. I had one on an export model Raleigh that actually wasn't half bad. But I still like the 66 best.


The Ross is a low end bicycle you can flip without regret. You won't get much for it though.

The other bicycle may actually be somewhat better than it lets on in that picture. I am having a hard time telling, but it may actually be a Hercules from right around the time Raleigh and Hercules merged. It looks like it has the pointed chainguard and a different chainring than the usual 1960's Hercules. That said, I'd need a better picture of the drive side to tell.

PalmettoUpstate 

I have a few Ross 3-speeds and they are good "beach" bikes; meaning we can ride them to the trail head at the edge of the dunes & leave 'em unlocked without fear that they'll "walk away" - which is sort of laughable when one considers that a 3-speed - ANY 3-speed - works famously in low-lying terrain such as DC, NYC, Charleston, or Myrtle Beach... I went out to the corral & looked over a vintage Herc that is from what I can see all original. It has the "Jetsons" chain guard that you see in Sarah's pic but the fork crown is different. I'd agree that it is definitely one of the Raleigh "variants" but can't say exactly which from the pic either. My aforementioned Herc has got a Persons vinyl saddle on it. From what I've been able to glean, AMF brought in the Raleigh bikes nearly complete and then put a few parts from domestic mfrs. such as saddles & kickstands on them before shipping them out to retail vendors...

bwilli88 

I have another thread about converting a Raleigh Grand Prix from 10 speed to to a 3 speed AW rear. Thread here

My questions are
1. So I have decided to go with a 48t 170mm crank. I would like to stay with a square taper spindle and light weight, any good suggestions for one.

2. What are some good light drop bar brake levers that would allow routing the cables under the bar wrap.

3. Has anyone swapped to just a 3 speed and coaster brake and gotten rid of rim brakes altogether?

Additional question can I run the shifter cable thru the existing noodle for the RD cable now.
Here is the bike

JohnDThompson 

Looks like you already have a square taper crank. You should be able to source a 48T ring for it; run it on the inner plateau with BMX (single chainring) bolts if you don't feel like searching for a single-ring specific bottom bracket spindle.

Coaster brakes are not as effective as rim brakes, and thus are not suitable for anything other than low speed riding. If this matches your style, it should be ok.

Probably.

noglider 

Yes, some have switched to coaster brakes instead of rim brakes. It's still a good idea to keep a front caliper brake. You may find that the coaster brake is more than adequate for stopping, but if your chain falls off, you'll need another brake. This happens!

For brake levers, use the search term "aero."

You can't run the shift cable through that last bit of housing because the hub doesn't have a cable stop built in, but you might be able to use that last cable stop on the frame. It's facing the wrong way, but there's a chance you can make it work.

bwilli88 

I was thinking about the curved metal guide down by the crank to run the cable from the downtube to the rear axle. Thinking that I might use a single downtube shifter and running a barenaked cable from the shifter to the SA hub.

Over here in Cambodia probably half of the bikes have no brakes. They use the foot method either on the front wheel or the rear.

noglider 

Your plan sounds good but I don't know of any down tube shifter indexed for a three speed hub. If you use a friction shifter, finding 2nd gear is tricky and dangerous.

JohnDThompson 

I believe the new production Sturmey-Archer shifters will fit on a standard downtube lever boss. At least my S3X shifter does, so I imagine the other models might as well.

smontanaro 

Confirmed on the S-A website:

https://www.sturmey-archer.com/produc...d/3/id/10.html

See attached. If I read the description correctly (..."SLS30 R3T 3 Speed classic ratio..."), this shifter should work with older 3-speed S-A hubs as well.

noglider 

Waddya know. That's great.

bwilli88 

I like that.

sarahmel.a

Noglider/ Tom, thanks for your excellent comment and suggestion. I have been very hesitant to take my bike(s) anywhere in NYC because I fear they'll jack up the price due to my ignorance. I would love nay suggestions you might have. I don't know what to do as far as the hercules is concerned but there is something about it, that I've falling in love with. I really want to keep one if you think I can get it in good shape. I'm just dying to start riding a bike again in the city. Last year I sold my Gary Fisher bike after losing my job and apartment and now I'm back! Could you tell me which of these bikes is a good one to keep?! My aunt has also given me a Free Spirit that needs new tires.. wonder how much that would cost... thanks a ton for all of your help and I think I will start researching a safe bike route to work.

sarahmel.a

this is a gorgeous bike. I would be so worried about it getting scratched up etc. I should show you all a picture of our storage room in the apartment building. ugh, I guess i'll get a nice bike when I have a house to put it in. until then, I'll ride the old hercules.

sarahmel.a

Hi I realized that I went to HUB the other day! I looked ta their helmets and a young man told me that I don't need to wear one in NYC and I was shocked that he wasn't pushing the sale. I'm going to wear one anyway. Do you? It's good to know that I can go to this place to get my bike looked at. I wonder how expensive a tune up would cost for the hercules... do you have any idea?