LesterOfPuppets

Wonder if this guy ever finished his.

LesterOfPuppets

Speaking of skinwall tires. There have been a handful of pro roadies rollin' skinwall last couple of years but I haven't seen skinwall @ MTB race in forever. Then, there I was watching some coverage of UCI XCO in South Africa and bam:

gigantor

Looks cool.

Rivendell bombadil :

Scrodzilla

Uh...can we gt back on topic here?

garage sale GT

Look at Chicago Craigslist sometime if you think the prices on classic bikes are too high where you live.

Edit: oh, wait, that's a Sports. It's just Raleigh's version of the typical 3-speed. It's not the roadster model with the shallow steering angle and long wheelbase.

Those are pleasant bikes but they're not that uncommon.

garage sale GT

They're colored black these days but all kinds of [strike]MTB[/strike] tires have skinwalls.

garage sale GT

Ok, you're not all about fixie style.

If so, why not get a Trek Madone or a high performance, short wheelbase recumbent?

vins0010

I've ridden this bike.

I travel a lot for work internationally, including the developing world. I've ridden this bike in Africa - in both Kenya and the DRC. Now, China sends some of its worst products to Africa (i.e., everything breaks all the time...you think it is bad in the US.) So, maybe it possible there are different versions and either you can get one of those or the ones available in Asia are better than what I rode. I think the ones in Kenya ran about $100 each, new.

Anyway, of the ones I've ridden, I would not get one of these bikes for use on American roads, side-by-side with cars. Maybe the ones I rode weren't optimally adjusted, but I found that they were simultaneously upright, but with awkward handlebars where I felt neither nimble nor stable. More than that, the rod linkages for the brakes were horrible - far worse than suicide levers. I'm guessing it also had steel rims but didn't really check close (maybe I'll take a real close look when I'm over again). The saddle wasn't too great either. The bike was incredibly heavy (50 lbs according to the site above), but, probably near indestructible with the heavy tubing and the two top tubes. Other upside is that in includes a rack, fenders, and a fairly comprehensive chainguard. Even so, if I wanted a similar or better riding bike, I'd pick up an old Sears Free Spirit at the local Salvation Army thrift store.

Now, I imagine it is possible to tweak fit a bit, perhaps adjust the rod-linkage brakes, replace the pads, wheels, and maybe end up with something safer. However, I wouldn't think of these bikes as an alternative to another bike, but as an alternative to walking that may be 1.5x to 2x faster.

I'd also consider any maintenance issues you might have. My guess is that they are far harder to service. For example, there may be a way, but I'm not sure how you'd adjust those brakes. I'll ask someone the next time I'm over there.

So, I would think owning one, here, would be more of a novelty than anything else. However, if this is what you want and want to ride it around and use it, it is a bike, then, that is good. Good luck.

gigantor

Do the dual top tubes really increase strength...

RaleighSport

*Drool* They call those grass racers don't they?

Santaria

I ate Taco Bell again and was awarded Mayor of Taco Bell.

Also, I drank a beer.

No diarrhea.

No pigeon spunk, although the Taco Bell the other day may have contained some of the "white slime" optional stuff.

LesterOfPuppets

Like new, $169 !!!! Sorry, it's only a single top tube squab and no enclosed chain, but...

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/2931643596.html

garage sale GT

Too bad, based on this thread I might have tried to build up a double top tube frame with US market components but the guy selling them on Ebay seems to be gone.

Scrodzilla

https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1773

ThermionicScott 

It's only $200. Do your duty to Science -- try one out and keep us posted.

Chocolatey Crunch and 1%... mmmmm.

LesterOfPuppets

JesusBananas

+1

Hahaha, but SSFG is way snarkier than C&V, besides the fact that this bike is definitely more C&V than SSFG.

I had a sesame bagel for breakfast. Now I'm going to have a delicious Costco churro.

Nagrom_

I wish they were softer.... too crunchy.

filmonger

Nicely Done - tasteful to say the least....quite like the stand holding it up tooooo

Kol.klink

Having Ridden and worked on a few of these, i feel i am in an good position to speak of their utter craptitute, The quality on these things is shockingly bad, shocking. A Customer brought one in new in the box having just shipped it over from china everything was starting to rust right out of the box, they have the weight and ride of a frame made of lead pipe, The brakes are **** at high speed, brake pads wear quickly, especially in the wet, and good like finding new ones. it really is the build quality that seemed to let these things down. worse than bargain basement made in Cambodia warlmart bikes.

But hey if you want to be the first peasant on the block go ahead. retail is about 30$ in china so i can only imagine what they wholesale for@199 they're a total scam.

Edit: I think it may be possible that the us bound ones are higher quality than the Chinese Domestic market models I've seen i wouldn't bet two bills on it. Spending 200$ on a old Raleigh if you can find one would be a much better buy.

EpicSchwinn

Why the snarky attitude?

Take your uneducated opinion elsewhere on your trendy fixie, you hipster.

I wanted somebody who's actually ridden one.

If you think you're so hip why don't you go drink some PBR and listen to vinyl records.

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Someone had to reply for garage sale GT

hairnet

I have ridden with someone who amazingly kept up at 20mph on one of these. He modded it for 3 speed and changed the bars, but still

GMJ

My frame is from China. I don't care in the slightest.

garage sale GT

I bought Kool Stop Salmon pads for my vintage Raleigh, so that's not an issue, and blogs seem to show plenty shiny examples so maybe the one you saw was an exception....but those people are likely to want one for its own sake and are willing to make it work, so I appreciate your other comments.

I think the second Flying Pigeon project would still look good if you took off that SS/FG wheelset and replaced it with the original Westwood rims and some cream colored Kendas with the stock, original style old school block tread, but that would mean finding a 40h C/B hub online or trying to make the rod brakes work with a different bar and stem. The original bar is too close but not so close that you can sit completely upright
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EpicSchwinn

Just buy the damn bike. Obviously nobody's warnings have discouraged you.