kerispring

Hi all, my first post here. I'm in the process of buying my first vintage bike, and various searches for information kept bringing me to posts on here, so I thought perhaps I should join :-)

I've been interested in all things vintage, mainly clothes and mainly 40s/50s for many years. I used to own a 60s vw bay camper that my husband was helping me slowly do up part by part but it had to be parked outside, and obviously looked too interesting as it was regularly broken into, so I eventually decided it needed to go to a home where it could be better looked after and I sold it on. Since then I've been musing about what could keep me as amused and the idea of a vintage bicycle kept coming up. But, vintage bicycles have become more and more popular over this side of the pond in recent years. Harder to find and more expensive when you do!

I honestly wasn't fussed by what my first bike would be so long as it was at least a few years older than me (34) and had a bit of character, and I think I may have found it. A Triumph has come up locally and I'm just waiting for the owner to get back to me with a good time to go round and it (should be!) all mine. My dad is also into vintage bikes of the motorised variety and has an old Norton, so having a triumph for that reason entertained me, although I've done some reading so do realise when I finally get to date it its very likely to turn out to be a raleigh in disguise :-)



I'm hoping I've managed to attach a picture. It single speed. The owners do not know its age but it was bought second hand in the early 70s by their mother and has been kept in their garage for the past 26/27 years. The only serial number they could find was under the seat; 40498N with a letter T underneath. I've tried looking up serial numbers online but this didn't really make much sense to me. I understand there is a chance that the rear hub will have a number when I see it which may give me a better idea.

I'd love to hear about other people's adventures with their vintage triumphs (and raleighs if that's what it is), and I'd love to pop by to let you know how I'm getting on (or possibly repeatedly badger people for advice!)

Keri x

kerispring

I should also add I'm entirely new to this so speaking slowly and using small words is probably best! My husband is very mechanically minded so far as motorbikes and cars go but he's new to bicycles as well. I'd appreciate pointers on where to start with a refurb, how to clean things, what I'm likely to be able to do myself, etc. I know people have differing views on how to treat vintage vehicles. Well over here they do at least. For the record I'm not averse to fixing up or replacing parts with relevant new bits so long as it keeps its style. I think so far as the paintwork goes I'll wait and see what state its in when it gets here, but if I can clean it up well I may stick with the original

skeliwoc

Hello! your bike looks real nice in that condition! i also have a triumph, traffic master (1973 i think).. i bought this for £30, best money ive ever spent on a bike, I was also planning to inject a new bit of life into it but have now fell in love with the dinged up paint work and rust.. perfect pub runner

I dont see many Triumphs around so you got a real nice bike!

ozneddy

My first bike was a Triumph Teneriffe,I got it 2nd hand in 1966 (OMG was it that long ago ) aw well I was 12 and I loved it but it weighed a ton,it was chocolate brown (thats NOT what they called then) and it was horrible, BUT it was my freedom machine ! welcome to the forum , you will get heaps of help in here ,lots of very clued in ppl here, what side of the "pond" are you on ?

kerispring

Glad to hear I'm not the only one here. I'm hoping everything goes ok and I can get the bike in the next day or two and get some better pics, etc. I should have thought about there being more than two sides of the pond! I'm in the UK :-)

sailorbenjamin

I have a Triumph in the basement, at least enough parts to make a Triumph. It's got shiny paint and everything else is pretty simple. Mine is just like a Raleigh 3 speed. I'm pretty fond of them and I've fixed up a pile of them. Just take it apart, clean everything, polish it all and put it back together with new grease. Don't be put off by ugly paint or chrome, it usually looks a lot better than you'd expect after some elbow grease.
Of course you've probably already found this sight but just in case;
https://sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html

kerispring

So its finally all mine. My first vintage bike! It seems little old ladies selling bikes on the internet, who only check their messages twice a week, and don't like to answer the phone to people they don't know, can be a little frustrating, but we got there in the end! I'm very happy but a little scared looking at it and wondering where to start. It is more rusted than I originally thought Should I be concerned?

I was hoping to find a date on the rear hub, but alas no. I did find a small raleigh stamp beneath the seat though so I guess I know I'm looking at somewhere between '54 and '72 (when the bike was bought second hand by its previous owner). I was guessing at 60s so this is fine with me, I just would have really like to date it more precisely.

What do you think I should take off or clean up first? I know the whole thing needs taking apart but just ease me in slow

browngw 

Welcome to the world of old bikes. I have a number of old Raleighs and I always start with cleaning and assessing the wheels. It just seems natural and its nice to look at your clean shiny wheels while you are trying to get those darn cotters out!

David Newton

Hi.
Neat, it is a single speed!
Just start dripping oil on everything that moves or has threads. That will help taking it all apart, which is where you want to go.

ozneddy

Wd40 everything !