For the love of English 3 speeds...
05-20-15, 10:09 AM
#7301
Senior Member
Hi, I was wondering if anybody could help me find information on my bike. I've had no luck researching online and I'm just looking for information so I can have it restored. It rides well still, Dynamo light cable needs to be replaced, but I know next to nothing about it other than its a Popular Special sports model 1960. Any info would be appreciated. Will add more pictures soon.
p2 by flog00, on Flickr
p1 by flog00, on Flickr
Last edited by Flog00; 05-20-15 at 10:14 AM.
05-20-15, 11:11 AM
#7302
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Bikes: 1971 Hercules, 1978 Raleigh Superbe, 1978 Raleigh Tourist, 1964 Glider 3 Speed, 1967 Raleigh Sprite 5 Speed, 1968 Hercules AMF 3 Speed, 1972 Raleigh Superbe, 1976 Raleigh Superbe, 1957 Flying Pigeon, 1967 Dunelt 3 Speed
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05-20-15, 02:38 PM
#7303
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I would start with a rootbeer colored 74 Grand Prix and take off all of the derailleur bits, the crankarms, and the bottom bracket. I would replace the rear hub with a S-A 3 speed, ideally a S-A S3x with a 16t freewheel. I would find a nice Suguino crankarm set and put a 44t or a 46t chainring on it. For the gear lever I would choose one of two options, 1. Run the cable up the seatstay to a pulley and mount the gear changing lever on the top tube near the stem or 2. Purchase a single gear changer for the down tube and run the cable like the rear derailleur cable. I would also change the rims to 27 x 1 3/8 aluminum rims and run the fattest 27" tires I could find.
The front brake cable pulled out of place and I didn't notice it till after I took the picture.
05-20-15, 06:15 PM
#7304
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05-21-15, 12:22 AM
#7305
Senior Member
I haven't ridden "Prince Phillip" in awhile, so I aired up the tires and went for a 10 mile ride. I used to have a 1964 Lincoln Continental - 18' long with suicide doors - ice blue. It rode like it was on air. That's what my 3 speed rides like. Just smooth and silent. I did have to add more oil to the rear hub because Phillip sounded "metallic" while coasting. I oiled him up once I got home and rode around some more and now all is well.
Wrong side shot but only one I got with the new Col De La Vie tires.
Col de la Vie Tires by velocivixen, on Flickr
Wrong side shot but only one I got with the new Col De La Vie tires.
Col de la Vie Tires by velocivixen, on Flickr
Last edited by Velocivixen; 05-21-15 at 12:27 AM.
05-21-15, 09:36 AM
#7306
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I'm thinking Raleigh too, but there are a couple of features that make me wonder if Raleigh sometimes sold incomplete bikes to other companies as well as re-badged models. I've seen that nice chainring before, but never on a Raleigh. Mostly on Phillips. And then, on this bike I see a lug mounted shifter pulley. Raleigh changed back to a clamp on in 1957.
05-21-15, 09:40 AM
#7307
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I haven't ridden "Prince Phillip" in awhile, so I aired up the tires and went for a 10 mile ride. I used to have a 1964 Lincoln Continental - 18' long with suicide doors - ice blue. It rode like it was on air. That's what my 3 speed rides like. Just smooth and silent. I did have to add more oil to the rear hub because Phillip sounded "metallic" while coasting. I oiled him up once I got home and rode around some more and now all is well.
Wrong side shot but only one I got with the new Col De La Vie tires.
Col de la Vie Tires by velocivixen, on Flickr
Wrong side shot but only one I got with the new Col De La Vie tires.
Col de la Vie Tires by velocivixen, on FlickrThey look like balloon tyres in your photo.
Have they made any difference to the ride quality.?
05-21-15, 10:00 AM
#7308
Senior Member
I think they have. I initially bought Kenda 26x 1 3/8" tires from the bike shop because that's what they had. I eventually bought these and noticed a cushier ride. Only issue I have is the tread likes to pick up little rocks, so every rotation I hear "click, click".
05-21-15, 08:04 PM
#7309
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They are cushy, but also slower riding in my opinion. The Col de la Vie tires are actually 26 x 1 1/2" (which doesn't sound much bigger but clearance on my bike is actually almost a problem). I like them but won't buy another set - too expensive, too much trouble to source, and not that much "better" to make it worth the effort.
05-22-15, 09:53 AM
#7310
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Hi Guys
I have a question and I am hoping you would like to play along ...
What would your 'perfect' Raleigh 3 Speed be like ?
Using only parts from the Raleigh Parts bin from say 1950 to 1975 how would you build your perfect 3 Speed ( or 4 speed for that matter )
Would you use an early frame or a late 60's 70's frame. Would you use Rod brakes or rim brakes - what hubs would you use, would you have a dymo - would you pop a 4 speed in ? What chainguard - what handlebars - I think there are only 3 choices ? North Road - the much flatter / lower type and the type that are used with the rod brakes ( is that curve only ever used on rod braked bikes ? - oh is there also the type like the one used on the 20's ? - What saddle would you fit, what pedals - and last of all - what colour would you paint it ?
I think I have an idea what my bike would look like ( I will tell you later ) but would love to know what yours would be like - oh and it would be great to know why you made those choices ?
I have a question and I am hoping you would like to play along ...
What would your 'perfect' Raleigh 3 Speed be like ?
Using only parts from the Raleigh Parts bin from say 1950 to 1975 how would you build your perfect 3 Speed ( or 4 speed for that matter )
Would you use an early frame or a late 60's 70's frame. Would you use Rod brakes or rim brakes - what hubs would you use, would you have a dymo - would you pop a 4 speed in ? What chainguard - what handlebars - I think there are only 3 choices ? North Road - the much flatter / lower type and the type that are used with the rod brakes ( is that curve only ever used on rod braked bikes ? - oh is there also the type like the one used on the 20's ? - What saddle would you fit, what pedals - and last of all - what colour would you paint it ?
I think I have an idea what my bike would look like ( I will tell you later ) but would love to know what yours would be like - oh and it would be great to know why you made those choices ?
05-22-15, 11:34 AM
#7311
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Raleigh Sports frame (black) from the mid 1960s with parts from that era like the standard 3 speed SA hub, classic SA 3 speed shifter with black and red printed logo, white hand grips, white (not gray) ribbed brake cable and shift cable, and a black saddle bag. Enhancements would include a Brooks B66, dyno hub front wheel, Sturmey or Lucas bullet headlamp and tail lamp, Prestube rack, and late 60s caliper brakes with those handy knurled adjusters.
05-22-15, 03:25 PM
#7312
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05-22-15, 08:48 PM
#7314
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Bikes: 1969 schwinn sting ray 3 speed stick ...1974 raleigh sports
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05-23-15, 08:03 AM
#7315
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Would you use Rod brakes or rim brakes
what hubs would you use
would you pop a 4 speed in ?
What chainguard- what handlebars
what pedals
what colour would you paint it ?
ALSO: no water bottle holder may be added. If you have a mid 60s Raleigh, you may not have a water bottle holder. ; )
Last edited by w1gfh; 05-23-15 at 02:54 PM.
05-23-15, 08:59 AM
#7316
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If the bike came with Raleigh special section steel rims I would never think of replacing them. One thing from the 60s bothers me though. The metallic bands they took to putting on the seat tube never hold up, even on well cared for bikes. I keep the original pedals, but for riding I use MKS Sylvans. I hate the noises from worn out pedals and I prefer the feel of the MKS.
05-24-15, 12:13 PM
#7317
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I did it again. I saw an ad pop up on the local CL - 2 Raleigh Sports (coffee), 1 Raleigh Sprite (ladies coffee), and a Schwinn 3-speed (blue). I bought the larger Sports - been looking for one of those for a while. It is CLEAN (all the bikes were clean), all I needed to do was add some air to the tires, tighten the kickstand, and drip some Tri-Flow into the trigger shifter.
The hub is dated 1979. The saddle is a Bell replacement, but I was never a fan of plastic Brooks saddles anyway.
The hub is dated 1979. The saddle is a Bell replacement, but I was never a fan of plastic Brooks saddles anyway.
05-24-15, 03:31 PM
#7318
Still learning
I have been looking a while for a rod brake Raleigh Tourist, even though I don't even own a tweed sports coat anymore. Most have been priced out of my comfort zone or incomplete. This one, a best offer, showed up only 4 blocks from my house. We started out $600 apart, but he wanted the cash today. I think it is early 1970's.
05-24-15, 04:13 PM
#7319
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I have been looking a while for a rod brake Raleigh Tourist, even though I don't even own a tweed sports coat anymore. Most have been priced out of my comfort zone or incomplete. This one, a best offer, showed up only 4 blocks from my house. We started out $600 apart, but he wanted the cash today. I think it is early 1970's.
05-24-15, 04:30 PM
#7320
Still learning
I should clarify that the Seller took my offer and the DL-1 is in my garage! 
A black Brooks Flyer has been waiting to connect with a DL-1. I have a whole box of saddle take offs that look more like upholstery. They actually are in some demand, although I never put them on a bike I've refurbished.
A black Brooks Flyer has been waiting to connect with a DL-1. I have a whole box of saddle take offs that look more like upholstery. They actually are in some demand, although I never put them on a bike I've refurbished.
05-25-15, 03:46 AM
#7323
Chip seal rocks
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I have been looking a while for a rod brake Raleigh Tourist, even though I don't even own a tweed sports coat anymore. Most have been priced out of my comfort zone or incomplete. This one, a best offer, showed up only 4 blocks from my house. We started out $600 apart, but he wanted the cash today. I think it is early 1970's.
At some point they quit doing the white flash on the rear mudguard, and I think that was 78-79? I could look it up, but where's the fun in that!
This one has 36/36 wheels and the reduced crank.
Plus, the shifter has a black plastic cover and a plastic cover over the trigger. This could be a replacement trigger, and the hub will tell more, but I'd guess more like 1978 or later rather than 1970-75.
Very, very nice looking though. Congrats!
05-25-15, 07:47 AM
#7324
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If you're like me, you will have fun with your new Roadster. I like a change of bikes every few rides. My rides tend to be the same, but
the overall experience changes because each bike has it's own feel to it. The DL-1 has this solid smooth quietness about it.
Very different from the Sports Raleighs. I used to be able to take longer rides on it than I can now. I'm not as strong
of a rider now as when I was younger. At this point, I should fit a 22t cog to the hub. In fact, I think even in my prime, I would
have preferred a lower gearing on this bike. Or maybe an AM hub.
the overall experience changes because each bike has it's own feel to it. The DL-1 has this solid smooth quietness about it.
Very different from the Sports Raleighs. I used to be able to take longer rides on it than I can now. I'm not as strong
of a rider now as when I was younger. At this point, I should fit a 22t cog to the hub. In fact, I think even in my prime, I would
have preferred a lower gearing on this bike. Or maybe an AM hub.
05-25-15, 12:36 PM
#7325
Senior Member
I often forget to park my Phillips with the oil port facing up, so when I go to ride the bike I spend the first several minutes cleaning off all the oil that is on the spokes/rim. I don't think I'm over oiling it. Should I just make sure to park with port facing up or is this typical of owning a 3 speed hub? Thanks.
