More Spring Cleaning

[SirMike1983]

The saddle is stable and the springs are much better than the cheap-o $40 saddles you see on eBay. The metal parts are about on a par with the Brooks. The leather is not as soft as a Brooks is out of the box. Hopefully it will break in - I definitely notice it's harder than a new Brooks when I'm riding it.

 

[SirMike1983]

A neighbor very kindly gave me the 1968 Raleigh Sports he had owned since he received it brand new. It's always nice when people do something like that, and it's a nice change of pace from all the bad stuff we hear today. It was certainly a bright spot of my summer.
So over the course of the summer and fall, I cleaned up the bike and returned it to form. It was basically all there. A few parts needed replacing, but it's in nice shape. I got it back onto the road just in time for a couple rides at the end of the season. I have some temporary LED lights on it now, but I'll do a better set of retro lights over the winter.

 

[juvela]

-----

A neighbor very kindly gave me the 1968 Raleigh Sports he had owned since he received it brand new. It's always nice when people do something like that, and it's a nice change of pace from all the bad stuff we hear today. It was certainly a bright spot of my summer.
So over the course of the summer and fall, I cleaned up the bike and returned it to form. It was basically all there. A few parts needed replacing, but it's in nice shape. I got it back onto the road just in time for a couple rides at the end of the season. I have some temporary LED lights on it now, but I'll do a better set of retro lights over the winter.

View attachment 1726238

View attachment 1726239

appears you may have fitted a larger than OEM cog...or maybe it just me auld peepers tricking me again!


-----

 

[SirMike1983]

-----



appears you may have fitted a larger than OEM cog...or maybe it just me auld peepers tricking me again!


-----

I just noticed I missed this post from November. I haven't been checking here as much with riding season over until spring.

You are right about that - the rear cog is a 22-tooth Sturmey. 48 in front, 22 in back helps with hill climbing.

 

[juvela]

-----

thank you for the reply

hope that everyone in CT survived the recent blizzard safely ; ^ O


-----

 

[SirMike1983]

Waiting for spring still... But there are some indoor projects to be done. I'm building wheels for Raleigh and Schwinn bikes. Awhile back, I was lucky enough to get three sets of new-old stock S6 Schwinn rims. This is the last of those three sets - laced with Torrington spokes to a Sturmey AW alloy hub from 1953 and a Schwinn script front hub.

After this, I am going to dip into used rims. I've got some S6 used rims to look over, pre-war Lobdell lightweights, Dunlop Special Lightweights, and Raleigh Westricks. I am not sure I will build all of those up, but I've got my work cut out for me in terms of building wheels.

 

[SirMike1983]

Still working on this 1953 Raleigh Lenton, which will be built as a high-end utility bike with upright bars:

Other than that, riding season here is finally starting....

 

[SirMike1983]

Schwinn New World out for a ride earlier today.

 

[SirMike1983]

Over the winter I acquired a 1940 Raleigh No. 35 Sports from a fellow collector. I spent a few weeks cleaning and getting it set up for riding season. I finally had a chance to take it out this week.

 

[1motime]

Very attractive Raleigh. Subdued and to the point. Nice!