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For the love of English 3 speeds...

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For the love of English 3 speeds...

Old 02-01-18, 05:50 PM
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I put 'Raleigh roadster' tyres on mine. They're made by CST (Chen Shin), search ebay for raleigh roadster tyres they are around $40 for a shipped pair. They actually have Raleigh Roadster on the tyrewall in raised block letters. Looks cool and they ride really nice. Those Niagara tyres are so inexpensive!

I've been for a few more rides on the DL-1, and after ironing out the drum brake issues -
and probably with some 'bedding in' of the shoes to the shell - the stopping power is far more adequate. I can now actually slow down and stop going down one of the hills that I have to walk up I'm very happy with this bike, it's now my go to bike for most of my riding as it's just so much fun to ride. I occasionally wish for 5 speeds, and I have an S5 hub I want to build into the Aussie/English Speedwell roadster I've been slowly working on. I hope it's as nice to ride as the DL-1, but it won't have the same amount of fork rake.

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Old 02-01-18, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by arty dave
I put 'Raleigh roadster' tyres on mine. They're made by CST (Chen Shin), search ebay for raleigh roadster tyres they are around $40 for a shipped pair. They actually have Raleigh Roadster on the tyrewall in raised block letters. Looks cool and they ride really nice. Those Niagara tyres are so inexpensive!

I've been for a few more rides on the DL-1, and after ironing out the drum brake issues -
and probably with some 'bedding in' of the shoes to the shell - the stopping power is far more adequate. I can now actually slow down and stop going down one of the hills that I have to walk up I'm very happy with this bike, it's now my go to bike for most of my riding as it's just so much fun to ride. I occasionally wish for 5 speeds, and I have an S5 hub I want to build into the Aussie/English Speedwell roadster I've been slowly working on. I hope it's as nice to ride as the DL-1, but it won't have the same amount of fork rake.
I never expected that I would enjoy riding these big roadsters as much as I do, but this is the bike I put the most mileage on these days. I did swap the 16T cog for a 22 and finally figured out how to get the brakes to work. Hard to explain, but I just love riding this bike. Finally got fenders on her. Here's the official "finished" photo.

DL-1 Roadster by Billy Bones, on Flickr
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Old 02-01-18, 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
I never expected that I would enjoy riding these big roadsters as much as I do, but this is the bike I put the most mileage on these days. I did swap the 16T cog for a 22 and finally figured out how to get the brakes to work. Hard to explain, but I just love riding this bike. Finally got fenders on her. Here's the official "finished" photo.

DL-1 Roadster by Billy Bones, on Flickr
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Old 02-01-18, 07:47 PM
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3 Speed life

Just discovered this thread. Long live 3 speeds!
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Old 02-01-18, 08:00 PM
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@BigChief, what's your secret to getting the brakes to work?
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Old 02-01-18, 09:01 PM
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Salmon Kool Stop inserts. Side to side pad alignment on the rim (you can tap the guides up or down on the fork legs/chain stays to adjust this) Getting the pads to land on the rims evenly by holding emery cloth against the rim, applying light pressure on the lever and dressing down the higher pad until they land on the rim at the same time. Making sure there is at least 3 inches of travel between the lever and grip. I carefully bend the levers down if there's less. And I think there is some advantage (with Raleigh type brakes with offset arms on the front brake) to mount the front pads in the leading position.
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Old 02-02-18, 05:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Mikier
Just discovered this thread. Long live 3 speeds!
Glad you found us! I can tell by your bike that 3 speeds aren't new to you.
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Old 02-02-18, 10:26 AM
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This looks like a roadster design? I just popped up locally on CL for $75 and looks to be in excellent condition I see no front wheel. Looks to be a 23" frame.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...473158291.html


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Old 02-02-18, 10:48 AM
  #15384  
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Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti
This looks like a roadster design? I just popped up locally on CL for $75 and looks to be in excellent condition I see no front wheel.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...473158291.html

If I lived near the twin cities, I would have it in my garage by now.
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Old 02-02-18, 10:53 AM
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Has anyone converted a Sports to square taper cranks? I've converted a low end Raleigh Record to square taper back in the day, so I understand the method, just not how a Sports would look without it's signature cottered crankset. My current Sports project is becoming more of a resto-mod so the thought has crossed my mind. Crank wise I'd likely go with a low-end fluted crankset like a SR.

In my mind it looks right but the doubts are there.
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Old 02-02-18, 11:19 AM
  #15386  
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Personally, I wouldn't do it. A well adjusted Heron crankset with new bearings can run very smoothly and cotters can be managed with the right tools. The only advantage I can see would be a couple ounces of weight. Not enough to offset the classic look of the original IMO.
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Old 02-02-18, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by roughrider504
Has anyone converted a Sports to square taper cranks?
My daughter's Sports was acquired as a bare frame, mudguards, and chain guard, so I had no qualms about building it up with parts I had on hand. Not just just square-taper cranks, but also Tektro dual pivot calipers:

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Old 02-02-18, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
That's the whole reason I gear down my AWs. I sacrifice the overdrive for a granny to help me get up hills. I'm especially tempted by the idea of the FM. I love the medium spread I have on the S5. The only issue there is if you're riding the S5 in medium mode, engaging the bell crank to reach the granny in wide mode is a trickier shift. It's reliable, but not as smooth and easy as the right side shifter. Takes a bit of a knack.
There is a bit of a knack shifting into that extra low on a four speed too. The adjustment for the cable is a bit more critical; if that is really set right it goes well enough. Personally I prefer the FW as it behaves with the same gears as an AW but with extra low. Very nice for climbing the Bay City Hill on the Three Speed Tour!
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Old 02-02-18, 11:54 AM
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Dutch coaster brake single-speed. Probably has the 635 tire but not exactly the same bike as an English roadster. The Puch Waffenrad is another example that is made in Austria, but it also has a scrub front brake and one lever on the bars. You could modify this one pretty easily.
Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti
This looks like a roadster design? I just popped up locally on CL for $75 and looks to be in excellent condition I see no front wheel. Looks to be a 23" frame.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...473158291.html

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Old 02-02-18, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by thumpism
Dutch coaster brake single-speed. Probably has the 635 tire but not exactly the same bike as an English roadster. The Puch Waffenrad is another example that is made in Austria, but it also has a scrub front brake and one lever on the bars. You could modify this one pretty easily.
I talked to the guy, he is about 40 minutes away and said he has other bikes in rough condition but worth a look see.
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Old 02-02-18, 05:18 PM
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@PilotFishBob posted this one in the "Looking" thread.


https://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/d...474065956.html


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Old 02-03-18, 09:32 AM
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I picked these 2 up for $20 each off CL figuring there must be $40 bucks worth of parts between them. one of them is a 1970 Hercules & the other a 1958 Robin Hood Sports. Pretty rough I think I did OK. netted some sweet parts off the 58 RHS.



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Old 02-03-18, 10:01 AM
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For 20 bucks you did great. I don't know if my memory is correct, but I think you already have a really clean tall frame RH. I know the earlier RIN crank will fit and I wouldn't be surprised if the earlier fork crown cover fit on the later fork. Looks like you could retro fit your good tall frame with the nicer parts from the 58 stepthrough. The steel guide wheel arm would be the wrong direction for a gents frame and they tend to be rusted in place though. So, did you get a good trigger shifter with the 58? How about the pre reflector pedals?
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Old 02-03-18, 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
For 20 bucks you did great. I don't know if my memory is correct, but I think you already have a really clean tall frame RH. I know the earlier RIN crank will fit and I wouldn't be surprised if the earlier fork crown cover fit on the later fork. Looks like you could retro fit your good tall frame with the nicer parts from the 58 stepthrough. The steel guide wheel arm would be the wrong direction for a gents frame and they tend to be rusted in place though. So, did you get a good trigger shifter with the 58? How about the pre reflector pedals?
That 23" I picked up in La crosse is now the cleanest one I have but it did need all the shift hardware. This alone paid for the whole mess. The trigger has the screw in ferrule on it haven't seen that. But I think I will use the hardware off the 1970 so the cable casings all match the other robin Hood is a 1969


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Old 02-03-18, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti
I picked these 2 up for $20 each off CL figuring there must be $40 bucks worth of parts between them. one of them is a 1970 Hercules & the other a 1958 Robin Hood Sports. Pretty rough I think I did OK. netted some sweet parts off the 58 RHS.
Sounds like a good score.
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Old 02-03-18, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
For 20 bucks you did great. I don't know if my memory is correct, but I think you already have a really clean tall frame RH. I know the earlier RIN crank will fit and I wouldn't be surprised if the earlier fork crown cover fit on the later fork. Looks like you could retro fit your good tall frame with the nicer parts from the 58 stepthrough. The steel guide wheel arm would be the wrong direction for a gents frame and they tend to be rusted in place though. So, did you get a good trigger shifter with the 58? How about the pre reflector pedals?
The 58' has replacement pedals w/reflectors but the pedals off the Lacrosse 23" are badass good. I never considered the pulley arm position -making me think.


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Old 02-03-18, 11:38 AM
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Looks like the shift pulley arm just rotates 360 when I loosened so no problem.
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Old 02-03-18, 11:38 AM
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The 58 shifter should be one like this
009 by Billy Bones, on Flickr

or this
mid50s by Billy Bones, on Flickr


The 58 should also have a nice steel fulcrum clip. You may have to do some work on the cables to get them to fit. Don't know. I've never tried swapping them from a stepthrough to gents frame.
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Old 02-03-18, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
Glad you found us! I can tell by your bike that 3 speeds aren't new to you.
Correct... we rode 3 speeds as far back as I can remember. Earliest photo circa 1964:
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Old 02-03-18, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by BigChief
The 58 shifter should be one like this
009 by Billy Bones, on Flickr

or this
mid50s by Billy Bones, on Flickr


The 58 should also have a nice steel fulcrum clip. You may have to do some work on the cables to get them to fit. Don't know. I've never tried swapping them from a stepthrough to gents frame.
The shifter is identical to the 1st pic you posted -same GB patent number. I like the 2nd one with the viewer more. I am wondering if the entire front fork will swap out I need to measure the frame neck. I have other cables to do a side by side comparison
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