The tires being original is cool, but, not actually a plus if you intend to use it, or, pass it along to someone else to use.
The tires on the wife’s Robin Hood are the Grand Bois Ultra Leger (ultra lights) that are sold by I’s bike shop, in Kyoto, Japan. I think Panaracer actually produces the tires, but, I’m not positive. They are, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the best 26 x 1 3/8 tires I’ve ever used, but, the wife is 115 lbs and not a hard rider. They feel great under me, but, not sure if they are the hot tip for a 200 lb. guy biking up the Bay City hill on the Lake Pepin Tour. They might be, but they are light, especially the side walls. I bought a set of the Standard Grand Bois tires at the same time, but, don’t have a project for them just yet. Her bike had Schwalbe Marathons on it for a while, good tire as well, but, the bike is much improved with the Ultra Lights. I used a set of NOS Dunlop metal stem inner tubes, that are roughly period to the bike, 1967-1968 or so. I’s website is in Japanese, so you have to feel around a little bit, and someone there speaks English well enough to answer emailed questions. I have the Panaracer “Col de la Vie’s” on our little Colt, but, have never had success getting them to fit anything but small tube industries bikes. The 17“ Colt and Space Riders got standard size fenders, and have more clearance than the adult sized bikes. The Col de la Vies are actually bigger than 1 3/8ths. The little Colt was all stock when my kid rode for a decade on Lake Pepin, but, it got put on a diet with a bunch of alloy parts, including wheels I built up with Sun rims, when a tiny Chinese widow who lives up the street started tagging along on the family bike rides.
Wife and Suzie, with others, shown at one of the ABCE pastry jousts.
The pedals on my wife’s bike are women’s sized, reflector, rebuildable Raleigh pedals, the only set I‘ve ever seen. The rack was black, and I matched the paint and shot it, at the same time I painted my International. The fenders are NOS. I have an NOS Sturmey S5 shifter set for it, just haven’t gotten around to plumbing it onto the bike just yet. The kickstand is an NOS English tube industries piece that seldom made it onto export bikes. I’ve added a pump and pins since the photo. The seat is a NOS Brooks ladies Champion, well above Robin Hood grade. I have a matching men’s version for my International. The Carradice bag rounds it all out for my lady.
“Best Sports” at the ABCE (All British Cycling Event) this past September.
I’d bet I have a dozen old women’s frames in the shed. They don’t get much love around these parts. But, my wife truly loves her little blue Robin Hood. I have a 1949 ladies Dawn Tourist waiting to be finished up for her, but, she is in no hurry.
Ted
