Sunday, March 27, 2011

Raleigh Sports for Me

I bought a Raleigh Sports today at MMRB's 3-speed sale. The bike needs a seat and tire work before I can ride it. I'll even do a little more. I don't have any plans to make it look like a showroom beauty. I want a rider. 

I recently bought some Lauterwasser bars from Soma Fab. I may install them on this bike -- the bars need to go somewhere.


Why do all these old bikes that have lived undisturbed in garages have hair wrapped around the pedal spindles? It's a little gross. Click on that photo to see a large version of ugly.


Someone used a shoestring to keep the hub shell clean. What are those things called? A hub shiner? That sounds dirty.

I really want a pair of Panaracer Col de la Vie tires for this. Who has them in stock?  I should just go to Hiawatha and have them order a pair for me. I've been thinking of a bike just like this for a couple years and Panaracer Col de la Vie tires have been part of my vision all along. Without them, I have failed this bike.

7 comments:

Doug said...

Nice find!

Snak Shak said...

I bet you'll like that bike. I have some Col de Vie's on my Raleigh Sport and like them. I told myself I wasn't going to spend on that bike - just fix it up and ride it cheap. So far, I'm into it for new Sun CR rims laced to the original hubs, the pair of Col de Vie's and a Carradice bag. So much for going cheap.

rigtenzin said...

Snak: That's what I was thinking -- keep the cost low, but I really want those tires over all others. There is really nothing else in 650A with the kind of ride quality a Col provides. I need a saddle and that will surely be a Brooks, and a Carradice bag. At retail that's more than $250. It will make for a nice bike though.

lemmiwinks said...

I just blew a chunk of cash overcapitalizing a mountain bike of all things. But hey, I don't drink (often or much anyway), smoke or gamble so it's pretty harmless in the grand scheme of things.

adventure! said...

Nice find! And I didn't know about those Col De Vie's. Look good. I got an old Raleigh (Wayfinder) a few months ago, and opted for Schwalbe Delta Cruisers. The creme color sold me!

And I feel y'all about the whole "going cheap" route. Got a new front wheel built on Sun CR18 rim with a dyno hub, then just got some new brakes, and will probably rebuild the rear. As for Brooks/Carradice, I lucked out and got them used.

sn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rigtenzin said...

sn: Go to Hiawatha Cycles for service. I don't know who restores them. Keep in touch with the Lake Pepin Three-Speed Ride and the ABCE (All British Cycling Event) events and you'll run into people who love three-speeds. Search for those events on the web and you'll find the associated websites.