For the love of English 3 speeds...
aka Tom Reingold
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Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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@Velocivixen, once you're accustomed to it, I'd like to know how you like it.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Bike Sorceress
I've got my LTD-3 back together and rideable, it is nice having a bike that doesn't push me to ride fast. There is still more to do, like getting lighting that will take advantage of the dynamo hub, getting fenders adjusted a bit better, and acquiring a proper saddle bag. But for now, I'll be riding it quite a bit.




I was annoyed with the amount of flop in the brake levers, and decided to drill out the rivets to add a proper bolt. That did quite a bit to improve the feel of the brakes.

I decided to dig around for a cooler looking shifter, and was pretty excited to find this one. The grips were on a crashed bike that was being stripped down next to me while I was working, and I had to have them to put on it. I did not know Magura made grips till I saw them.
I ended up replacing the fork. When overhauling the headset I noticed a previous owner had over-tightened the stem enough to deform the steerer tube quite a bit. This was some new fork intended for a road bike with 27" wheels, but was the closest I could find to the stock fork.
I did my first ride over 10 miles on it a few days ago, it worked flawlessly, though it will take some time to get used to the Brooks Cambium on it.




I was annoyed with the amount of flop in the brake levers, and decided to drill out the rivets to add a proper bolt. That did quite a bit to improve the feel of the brakes.

I decided to dig around for a cooler looking shifter, and was pretty excited to find this one. The grips were on a crashed bike that was being stripped down next to me while I was working, and I had to have them to put on it. I did not know Magura made grips till I saw them.
I ended up replacing the fork. When overhauling the headset I noticed a previous owner had over-tightened the stem enough to deform the steerer tube quite a bit. This was some new fork intended for a road bike with 27" wheels, but was the closest I could find to the stock fork.
I did my first ride over 10 miles on it a few days ago, it worked flawlessly, though it will take some time to get used to the Brooks Cambium on it.
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I would have never guessed that the brake would have enough reach for that fork. Looks good and you only had to make some adapters for the fender stays. Nice work.
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Bikes are okay, I guess.
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https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/6167636020.html
Raleigh Superbe -English vintage bicycle - $125 (Mechanicsville)

8001 Vaughan Dr.
condition: fair
make / manufacturer: Raleigh
model name / number: Superbe
I am selling this fantastic English Raleigh Superbe bicycle. It was discovered very recently in a basement and is up for grabs to the bicycling enthusiast who has been searching for one of these hard to find bikes.
I am not sure of the year or much about it - I'll leave that upto the experts! But this bike needs to find someone who will overhaul and make it new again!! Of course it needs some new tires and more.
Opening this up to our Richmond community first before I ebay it.
804-614-4411. Cash please.
Raleigh Superbe -English vintage bicycle - $125 (Mechanicsville)

8001 Vaughan Dr.
condition: fair
make / manufacturer: Raleigh
model name / number: Superbe
I am selling this fantastic English Raleigh Superbe bicycle. It was discovered very recently in a basement and is up for grabs to the bicycling enthusiast who has been searching for one of these hard to find bikes.
I am not sure of the year or much about it - I'll leave that upto the experts! But this bike needs to find someone who will overhaul and make it new again!! Of course it needs some new tires and more.
Opening this up to our Richmond community first before I ebay it.
804-614-4411. Cash please.
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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Wow, really good work, @Arrowana!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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A classic Arrowana
Just in case anyone is interested: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...164686234.html
This Sunday in fact.

I will try an make it. Perhaps I will wear my Menards cap.
Their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/174852922573479/
Just in case anyone is interested: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...164686234.html
This Sunday in fact.

I will try an make it. Perhaps I will wear my Menards cap.
Their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/174852922573479/
Old Boy
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A classic Arrowana
Just in case anyone is interested: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...164686234.html
This Sunday in fact.

I will try an make it. Perhaps I will wear my Menards cap.
Their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/174852922573479/
Just in case anyone is interested: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...164686234.html
This Sunday in fact.

I will try an make it. Perhaps I will wear my Menards cap.
Their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/174852922573479/
Sunday 06/11 90% / 0.83 in Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Let's hope they're wrong?
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
On the road
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Some fillet brazed 3-speed action this week.



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Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
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@Arrowana - you bike looks great! Tell me about the handlebar bag setup you have got.
Bike Sorceress
The bag is this one right here:
https://www.blackburndesign.com/bags...b-musette.html
There are a few complaints I have, mostly about the velcro used to hold the bag shut, but it is a great bag for the money. With a bit of practice, it doesn't take long to get it on or off the bike. It holds anything I generally want to bring on a ride with a bit of space to spare. It doesn't handle really heavy loads or over-stuffing very well, I lost a mini-pump once as a result. I've found if you have an article of clothing as the top item in the bag, it helps keep everything in, and I used it mountain biking without issue yesterday.
https://www.blackburndesign.com/bags...b-musette.html
There are a few complaints I have, mostly about the velcro used to hold the bag shut, but it is a great bag for the money. With a bit of practice, it doesn't take long to get it on or off the bike. It holds anything I generally want to bring on a ride with a bit of space to spare. It doesn't handle really heavy loads or over-stuffing very well, I lost a mini-pump once as a result. I've found if you have an article of clothing as the top item in the bag, it helps keep everything in, and I used it mountain biking without issue yesterday.
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
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It's Canadian, not English and it's probably considerably overpriced but it does have a Sturmey hub and a swoopy chainguard and it's real sparkly.
https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/6147169789.html
NOS 1969 CCM LADIES 3 SPEED CRUISER - $222 (CHESTER)
NEW STILL HAS ALL THE PAPER WORK
https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/6147169789.html
NOS 1969 CCM LADIES 3 SPEED CRUISER - $222 (CHESTER)

NEW STILL HAS ALL THE PAPER WORK
Last edited by thumpism; 06-10-17 at 05:39 AM.
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I forgot to mention. The best check is to put the pedal back and test ride, but you can save some time by holding a spare crank arm against the one you're adjusting. When the light between the two arms is symmetrical like this, you're close. This arm was badly bent. I took this picture before I did the test ride and it was spot on. No wobble. Didn't need any further bending.


P1000341.jpg
P1000342.jpg
I followed your tutorial and corrected the warp in the drive crank on my $50.00 1961 Superbe.
Quite easy when you know how.
Those cranks obviously bend fairly easily when damaged so it makes sense that they will bend back without damage to the bearings.
Three Cheers!
Last edited by gster; 06-11-17 at 12:27 PM.
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Thanks BC!
Attachment 566572
Attachment 566573
I followed your tutorial and corrected the warp in the drive crank on my $50.00 1961 Superbe.
Quite easy when you know how.
Those cranks obviously bend fairly easily when damaged so it make sense that they will bend back without damage to the bearings.
Three Cheers!
Attachment 566572
Attachment 566573
I followed your tutorial and corrected the warp in the drive crank on my $50.00 1961 Superbe.
Quite easy when you know how.
Those cranks obviously bend fairly easily when damaged so it make sense that they will bend back without damage to the bearings.
Three Cheers!
Got a question for you. I see your '61 has a drive side oil port in the BB and a full chaincase lug on the chain stay. Does it have a clamp on or brazed on lug for the cable pulley and does the lug shape at the top tube joints look like this black one or this green one? Thanks
lug001.JPG
lug002.JPG
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That's great! Pedal wobble from a bent crank really spoils an otherwise great bike.
Got a question for you. I see your '61 has a drive side oil port in the BB and a full chaincase lug on the chain stay. Does it have a clamp on or brazed on lug for the cable pulley and does the lug shape at the top tube joints look like this black one or this green one? Thanks
Attachment 566577
Attachment 566578
Got a question for you. I see your '61 has a drive side oil port in the BB and a full chaincase lug on the chain stay. Does it have a clamp on or brazed on lug for the cable pulley and does the lug shape at the top tube joints look like this black one or this green one? Thanks
Attachment 566577
Attachment 566578
Clamp on pulley
P1000343.jpg
Like the second one.
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Thanks, that narrows down the timeline for the transitional lug shape for me by 4 years. I'm using hub dates for a reference. So now I know that Raleigh changed from the simple shaped lugs to the more elaborate style by 1955, but the lugs had an outward U shape at the top of the top tube joint that turned into an inward V shape by 1961.
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Wrights Composite Saddle
I have an old Wrights saddle made of some sort of rubber...
Despite it's age, it remains quite flexible and is very comfortable.
P1000349.jpg
P1000348.jpg
P1000350.jpg
It will soon find a home on this Glider project.
P1000347.jpg
Despite it's age, it remains quite flexible and is very comfortable.
P1000349.jpg
P1000348.jpg
P1000350.jpg
It will soon find a home on this Glider project.
P1000347.jpg
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After searching for a couple years, I finally found an old Raleigh three speed! It's a 1967 (one years after my birth!) and in excellent mechanical shape. It is all original down to it's B72 saddle. It has the requisite nicks and scratches and dents of a 50 year old bike. It rides great just as it is, so I'm not going to restore. It was a great price, and came with two brad new tires and tubes. The bike was less than what it would have cost me to install the new tires and tubes!!!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
I installed my B135 saddle though because I have really bad roads around me.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
I installed my B135 saddle though because I have really bad roads around me.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
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After searching for a couple years, I finally found an old Raleigh three speed! It's a 1967 (one years after my birth!) and in excellent mechanical shape. It is all original down to it's B72 saddle. It has the requisite nicks and scratches and dents of a 50 year old bike. It rides great just as it is, so I'm not going to restore. It was a great price, and came with two brad new tires and tubes. The bike was less than what it would have cost me to install the new tires and tubes!!!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
I installed my B135 saddle though because I have really bad roads around me.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/
I installed my B135 saddle though because I have really bad roads around me.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/snappy...7684889919775/

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Mine is slowly getting there, i'm not keeping it original....



Last edited by cambiker71; 07-08-17 at 01:04 PM.
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Dating Raleighs
I found this document that I had stashed on an old drive. I can't remember when or where I got it but I think it may be useful to at least some people trying to date a Raleigh 3 speed.
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@BigChief - I used your crank bending technique and it's a sat improvement. If I wanted to keep working on it I suppose I could make it perfect, but while riding don't notice the pedal feeling wonky, so it's good enough.
There are 2 holes in the rear fender for the dynamo tail light that came with it. Since I'm not installing the light/reflector unit, I bought a Velo Orange "Grand Cru" Fender mount reflector. It fits nicely and looks the part.
There are 2 holes in the rear fender for the dynamo tail light that came with it. Since I'm not installing the light/reflector unit, I bought a Velo Orange "Grand Cru" Fender mount reflector. It fits nicely and looks the part.
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I apologize if this was posted at some point, but I found this video on the manufacture of Raleigh bikes in the 1940's. Quite interesting.
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I apologize if this was posted at some point, but I found this video on the manufacture of Raleigh bikes in the 1940's. Quite interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqoGAXuE4eU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqoGAXuE4eU