Narhay

I've put some more work into my 1978 Raleigh Superbe.

noglider 

Calling Floridian three-speed lovers! I spent a three-day weekend at my mother in law's place in Palm Beach, where I store my Hercules and my Rudge. The Hercules is a lost cause for me, because I don't have time to fix it up, and having a shop do it isn't worth it to me. Does anyone want it? It needs a dozen little things. The fender rubs. The shifter needs changing. Worst of all, the fork might be bent.

I don't have a recent picture. Pictures are here.

IMG_3555 by noglider, on Flickr

BigChief

I'm just up the road in Loxahatchee, although what I usually look for are bikes in worse condition than that. Still, if nobody else shows up, I could repair her and find a good home.

noglider 

@BigChief, that doesn't sound so far. Would you like it? I'll ask my mother in law if she'd be willing to facilitate a handoff. She may prefer me to be there. I hope not, because I don't expect to visit her there until April 2016. She's a snowbird and has a place in White Plains, NY in the warmer months.

Email me at the address below if you're interested.

gster

I like 'em just fine...

gster

Looks brand new!

gster

Some footage from the Toronto Vintage bicycle Show last summer
https://youtu.be/8EfbBle4SZM

markk900

Looks like she won't go for you either..... (Unless you upgrade to a Bendix 2-speed - then you never know.....)

gster

It's a funny truth. I remember when I was growing up in the 60's that I wanted a Stingray/Mustang style bike. I didn't get one but my Dad took me to Canadian Tire and we bought some parts to re vamp my bike. Banana seat, ape hanger bars, monkey fenders etc. It turned out quite nice and then some kid from school stole it! My Dad and I went to his house and got it back a few days later. When it was time for a bigger bike I wanted a 10 speed as I imagined it was cooler and more mature than those old fashion 3 speeds. Years later I rediscovered the joy and simplicity of the English bicycles and look at most derailleur bikes with pity... I never got the hang of changing non indexed gears and even the modern derailleurs are constantly filthy and collecting debris. I rode my old (1998) CCM North 44 for 15 years and rarely used more than 3 of the 18 gears offered.

markk900

Those of us who grew up with Canadian Tire all must have done the same thing - flipping through the bike accessory section of the catalog over and over again - dreaming of saving enough paper route or allowance money to buy stuff for our bikes. Like you, had a 3-speed banana bike but moved up to a "real" 10 speed when I was 11 or 12 - wanted to be a "real racer" so none of those english 3-speeds for me! Though I did like to take my mom's glider out for rides in the neighborhood - just to see how bad it was (it wasn't!).

gster

I've got some of those old catalogues around and will try to scan a few pages...they did have a good selection of accessories.

Narhay

Thanks! Certainly a far cry from the "Free Raliegh" ad I responded to a couple years back. I wasn't even the first to respond. He just left it on his lawn and told me where it was. That free bike has cost quite more than expected and stuck around longer than I had thought. But I think it is deserving of it.

gster

Here's a 1967 5 speed Sprite for sale in Niagara Falls, Canada. It's got the cool throttle shifters.. Price is a little high @ $525.00 but then again $500.00 isn't that much these days.

forestine

Wow! It looks fantastic!

PalmettoUpstate 

They have 45+ years of dings etc. but they'll clean up nicely. Suggestions on decent white saddles appreciated.

michaelz28

i still have one ..

gster

Red Lines?

Chesterton

What kind of rear racks do you folks like on your 3-speeds? There's a Raleigh Sport locally that I'm considering picking up as a backup bike for my roadster (which is having IGH problems right now), but I would need to put a rack on it to use it as a commuter. What's readily available but period and stylistically appropriate?

Narhay

Thank you. I take it to work every now and then but usually end up in a collapsed pile on the side of the road halfway up some of the hills I have to traverse. It wants another lower gear even with the larger cog but it is great everywhere else. It is very relaxed to ride and I feel like I've done the right thing by putting it back in service.

forestine

Think when these were new people had stronger legs? Or did they only ride them in flatland? I've been wondering about that, too.

noglider 

England is extremely hilly, and the roads date back to before switchbacks were invented. Walking your bike up a hill was a common thing. Nowadays, people want to pedal up all hills.

It still doesn't explain why gears were quite so tall. They were very, very tall. Maybe they didn't believe in cadences over 60 rpm?

Salubrious

Plestcher. If you look at a coop bike shop you might find one for only $5-$10.

michaelz28

not for the straight stingray . that's a stik/shift model which got you hand brakes and the shifter . the stingray got just a plain slik in back . the krate bikes got the red line tires . that the original date coded tires on the bike ( feb 69 ).

gster

Very nice..

forestine

Anybody know anything about the Halfords Catkin? I came back to my bike to find one parked next to mine. Isn't that a UK store? It's a three speed with brass (?) fenders and super frilly 70s decals. Where's the heart eyes emoji when you need it? If I had some paper I would have left a note. "I am in love with your bike." Here's a similar one from pinterest.