PatrickZ

My co-worker has commuted on one for the past several years, and he likes it. That said, his is easily as heavy - if not heavier - than a classic Raleigh Superbe. After riding his, I still much preferred my Raleigh Sprite with the S5 hub.

adventurepdx

Oh, now you want the ride quality of an old Raleigh, too? Now that's asking too much out of a modern bike!

Anyways, wish Raleigh stocked the Sprite with the S5 hub for longer than they did. I think I might have seen one five-speed hub Sprite in the wild, the rest were 10 speeds with 27 inch wheels.

AngeloDolce

I bought one in 2012 when I started a new job in a location with no real public transportation, but also much lower theft risk. (Occasionally I've had parts break on my 3 speeds after they are 40-50 years old.)

The Novara bikes have the right features, but the geometry is a little different than the Raleigh frames. I ended up riding the bike quite a bit because new LED llights, and V brakes usually work better than 50 year old drum brakes and incandescent lights, but I still like the feel of the Raleighs better and ride them more since I am no longer working in PA.

The other detail I like is the rack - it is wider than many other inexpensive racks, so it keeps panniers out of the spokes. I heard it was available for sale in the past (i.e. a replacement part). Since it is shown on the 2015 Gotham, I assume it is still available.

PCPero

On many old pictures a bag on the luggage carrier like yours can be seen. Could you please be so kind telling me sources for that? Thanks in advance from Northern Germany, Peter
Please, PM me pjhome@gmx.net

nlerner

I found and rehabbed an IGH 5-speed Sprite a couple of years ago. The shift levers were broken off (not uncommon for the plastic ones), and it was a bit of a struggle to find replacements. Still, I sold it off, feeling like it was a heavier version of my Sports with somewhat unreliable shifting.

arex

What's the left-side shift lever do?

nlerner

You get two gears from the left side shifter and three from the right:

About the Sturmey-Archer S5, S5.2 and AT5 Wide-Ratio 5-Speed Bicycle Hubs

arex

So, its actually a 2x3 hub? Wouldn't that make it 6-speed, or is there something I'm not getting?

arex

Ah, never mind...I see now. wide and narrow ranges, with the same middle ratio.

nlerner

From Sheldon Brown's site:

How the S5 works

The S5s are basically a 3-speed hub with two ranges.
The right lever or trigger selects underdrive, direct drive or overdrive, just as with the AW and other 3-speed models.
The left lever selects between narrow range 3-speed and wide range 3-speed. When the cable is loose, it's narrow range; when the left cable is tight, it's wide range.
Here's the shifting sequence:
Left: Tight; Right: Tight (1). This is the lowest gear, underdrive on the wide range setting.
Left: Loose; Right: Tight (1). This is the second lowest gear, underdrive on the narrow range setting.
Left: doesn't matter; Right: middle position (2). This is direct drive, so it doesn't matter whether wide or narrow range is selected with the left lever.
Left: Loose; Right: Loose (3). This is the second highest gear, overdrive on the narrow range setting.
Left: Tight; Right: Loose (3). This is the highest gear, overdrive on the wide range setting.

BigChief

I love the S5. It totally solves the complaint I have with the AW. Namely, the 33% increase of overdrive to normal. In medium range (bell crank cable slack) the percent changes are -21.1 normal and + 26.6. I think that's perfect for a Sports. If you engage the bell crank, you have a very usable granny gear at -33.3 from normal and a useless (to me) 50% overdrive. The trick to reliable shifting is to use a regular 3 speed trigger on the right and a handlebar friction shifter for the bell crank.

3speedslow

Well I was all set to order tires for my Sport when my buddy who runs the LBS here says " we carry that exact size tire. Specialized Roadsport 26 X 1 1/8. 590 "

Cool, I buy 2. Super deal cause I used to work there and get the big discount still.

Turning the bike upside down and replacing tires and changing cog over to a 20T tomorrow. Hope I don't need to replace the chain with the increased cog size. The original chain is brand new looking.

Gonna be a good day..

adventurepdx

Cool, didn't know that Specialized had an offering in the 590 size! And I think they mean "1 3/8".
Specialized Bicycle Components

3speedslow

Yes, my bust. 1 3/8 be right. Report tomorrow on ease of getting them on and how they seat to the rim.

BigChief

I didn't know about this tire either. Please post back with your opinion of them.

gna

+1

gna

It has other uses, too:

gna

Looks great.

I'm trying to lace up a Dyno-hub. Any advice on keeping the spokes in place on the small flange side?

Narhay

I laced up the large flange side first then added the spokes in opposite holes on the small flange side. I more or less screwed them in as far as they could go then loosened them up once the entire wheel was built and I started forming it.

Dan Burkhart 

I recently built one of these. I did it by mounting the hub in an axle vice, small flange up and lacing the small side first. The weight of the rim pulling down on the spokes kept them in place.

dweenk

I have a Raleigh Sports front wheel that needs an axle. Does anyone have a 127 mm long axle (the kind with the fixed cone on the right side)?

3speedslow

If I did, I would gladly give it to you. I will be going to the LBS where I got the cog from tomorrow, I will check their junk hub bins. Crossed fingers!

Reason I go is because the Velox strips I had to rim strip the wheels with are TOO wide. No shoding the bike tonight with the Specialized tires. Added bonus, rain moved in so I have the bike upside down in the sun room. Wifey no likey !

Put the tires on sans tubes and they go over the rims with little resistance. Seems like a good fit so far.

The old rim strip was in good shape but barely hanging on around the valve hole. Almost seems to have been melted on in place. Not come across this style and colour before. Rim surface is quite clean and rust free. Front tire is in good shape with no cracking.
Tube says Raleigh, holds air and made in Belgium. Gonna hold on to these.

dweenk

Thanks. My LBS has a few axles that are too long - maybe for wider hubs? I have a couple of old Raleigh tubes that are still good and I use them, but I am thinking about saving them and putting new replacements on the bike.

3speedslow

Both wheels will get new tires and tubs and rim strips. If I ever get crazy enough to go all original at least I will have wheel consumables taken care of. Right now I want to make back home uninterrupted!

Just took the back wheel off now, tight nuts! Never been off since it left the factory. Tire in decent shape and too the rim strip but the tube had a Definately hole in it. Caused by a spoke poking through. Quite a few of the spokes will need to be filed down to make myself feel safe on a long trip with this wheel.

I must say, another thing that leads me to believe this Raleigh never got any road miles is how clean the underside of both fenders are. A simple wipe and the paint shines! I will put a coat of wax on the underside as well before I reinstall the wheels.

While the back is out I switched the old 18T cog for the 20. Easy peasy. Should be fine for the coast. I also plan on greasing the bearings on the left side rear hub and regressing the front hub as well. I do intend to continue adding oil to the front just as well.

Hope the weather brightens tomorrow so pics can be taken. I may be working in the sun room but it's dark.

adventurepdx

A few from the Portland Craigslist:

This one has been on and off for several months now. It's a Raleigh Superbe in good shape, but the asking price is $600, which means this thing is going to be on and off CL for a good long time:
Vintage Raleigh Superb Excellent Condition


And apparently from the same seller, a Sports all modernized with alloy 700C wheels, Dynohub, and all that. Looks nicely done, but at $800 I feel I'm going to also be seeing this one for awhile:
Raleigh Sports Custom 3 Speed