tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post7161042794725959331..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Dirty Little SecretVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88911546886958518152011-06-12T15:18:09.650-04:002011-06-12T15:18:09.650-04:00I agree with Giffen - just clean, oil, adjust, may...I agree with Giffen - just clean, oil, adjust, maybe fit new tyres and tubes; she should be just fine. I have recently recommissioned 2 1930s BSA roadster bikes which had been parked out of use for 40+ years and both ride just fine (although the front wheel on the older of the two is a little fragile). Go for it! You'll find pics of my bikes, as well as my other interests, here:<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/16054433@N02/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51676652242137020622010-09-14T16:52:07.922-04:002010-09-14T16:52:07.922-04:00I have the gents version of this bike. Mine is ent...I have the gents version of this bike. Mine is entirely black due to WW2. It looks like you have a brass shifter that whould polish up a treat!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66194393023447996552010-02-08T05:26:44.598-05:002010-02-08T05:26:44.598-05:00Hi! I love your bike! It has the same front rod b...Hi! I love your bike! It has the same front rod brake system as my 1932´s roadster. I´ve been trying to find other frames with that kind of clamping for a while. Yours is the first I see. I am missing the right flat metal clamp on the inside of the fork that hold the front rod, and have no clue where to find a replacement. But hey, congratulations for your amazing bike, DON´t get rid of it, mine is very confortable having the same kind of geometry but in 26" men´s frame.<br />regards,<br />HernanHernan Pieresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10467881486996348852009-12-18T00:44:23.469-05:002009-12-18T00:44:23.469-05:00Amazing!
I am no help - I like the idea of keepin...Amazing!<br /><br />I am no help - I like the idea of keeping it as a display for your future country home.Dottiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984050970208363927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19574494589764782742009-12-17T22:28:27.752-05:002009-12-17T22:28:27.752-05:00On second thought, does this bike really need to b...On second thought, does this bike really need to be restored? After a good rub-down with wax or oil, regreased/oiled bearings, adjusted brakes, it might be ready to ride! Judging from the condition of the chaincase, all the bearings and the hub are probably in excellent condition.Giffennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41569436093959096212009-12-17T17:27:12.208-05:002009-12-17T17:27:12.208-05:00I cannot tell from the photos, Filigree- is this a...I cannot tell from the photos, Filigree- is this an"L" shaped seatpost, or a standard tube seatpost? <br />In other words, is the fore-and-aft adjustment for the saddle on the post, or on the saddle itself?<br /><br /> I was seriously looking at a 1934 single speed Raleigh Roadster that had the "L"-shaped seatpost. It really did move the saddle forward on the frame. <br />(It was for sale in Texas last month.) <br /><br />If that is the case, perhaps a slightly more modern post will put the saddle back a few inches, and give you a roomier cockpit. One would keep the original, of course.Corey Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381826721030941179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90741248227005469092009-12-17T16:07:58.223-05:002009-12-17T16:07:58.223-05:00Giffen - when you're right, you're right :...Giffen - when you're right, you're right : )Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-57966764486732553592009-12-17T15:49:22.252-05:002009-12-17T15:49:22.252-05:00Filigree, you can't know that it's uncomfo...Filigree, you can't know that it's uncomfortable until you restore it! Hehe.Giffennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13244833540023148942009-12-17T14:03:01.531-05:002009-12-17T14:03:01.531-05:00MDI, the brakes may seem tenacious, but also remem...MDI, the brakes may seem tenacious, but also remember that the rims are so rusty that the braking surface has the consistency of sand paper! in my estimation, when mated to shiny chrome plating, those same pads won't brake significantly better than any other rod brake roadster.somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-76203976411785337512009-12-17T13:35:20.484-05:002009-12-17T13:35:20.484-05:00$1K is a 'give-away'!!!!! :0 I would have ...$1K is a 'give-away'!!!!! :0 I would have paid you for it right away!!!! :p<br /><br />Lemony<br /><br />You could have many many years of pleasure just looking at the bicycle when it's restored! (Oooops! .. Have I "over-stepped" ?? :p )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47831103762025153422009-12-17T13:23:01.009-05:002009-12-17T13:23:01.009-05:00Dave - I quietly posted about this on bikeforums b...Dave - I quietly posted about this on bikeforums back in October. <a href="http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?597237-SA-Patent-Applied-For-AW-Hub-How-Old-is-This-Lady&highlight=" rel="nofollow">Here is the thread</a> (for those not bikeforum members, you need to sign in to see the full version).Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70053960675529386842009-12-17T13:19:15.114-05:002009-12-17T13:19:15.114-05:00There is no hurry to make a decision. It is being ...There is no hurry to make a decision. It is being kept in a safe place where it can be admired. Its place over all scheme of things will resolve itself.Soxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09264864517875161020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51505037170825504242009-12-17T13:17:39.435-05:002009-12-17T13:17:39.435-05:00somervillain - When I first brought this bike to O...somervillain - When I first brought this bike to Open and was taking photos outside, a man pulled over in a truck and asked me where I got the bike and how much I would sell it for. I said it was not for sale, but he insisted that "everything has a price", so I said "Fine, you can have it for $1K in as-is condition". He actually considered it, but ultimately drove away. That is probably what the bike is worth in <i>restored</i>condition, though it depends on the market at the time. When it was standing on the main floor at Open, people who walked in would ask about the bike all the time, though it has since been moved to the back room for storage. <br /><br />Lemony - I look forward to trying the "scientific method"! For now I have pretend-ridden it and the position it places me in is like no other bike I have tried. <br /><br />Re the wheelbase - Yes, I am sure that it's short; wish I had a better photo. <br /><br />portlandize - Sorry, I meant specifically the AW 3-speed gear hub, which was introduced in 1936.<br /><br />Justine - That image of cycling to the mailbox on an antique roadster basically sums up how I see myself living in the future!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-80467419169865954032009-12-17T13:04:23.776-05:002009-12-17T13:04:23.776-05:00Portlandize: Yes, S-A had been making gear hubs fo...Portlandize: Yes, S-A had been making gear hubs for decades already, but the now venerable and ubiquitous AW design was new for '36.<br /><br />Oddly enough, despite its success, it was also the beginning of the end for S-A, as the design compromises they made to minimize manufacturing costs is what definitively turned the sporty crowd away from hub gears and to the derailleur.kfgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-36199219398938795912009-12-17T13:01:19.151-05:002009-12-17T13:01:19.151-05:00The shifter alone makes me love the bike--not to m...The shifter alone makes me love the bike--not to mention the glass reflector!<br /><br />Your local shop just may want to keep it while you decide what to do. After all, it's a conversation-starter, and if they were to put it in their window, people would stop to look at it. That can't be bad for business.<br /><br />From looking at the photos, and from what I know about bikes generally, I'm guessing that the wheelbase is probably long: It would have to be in order to accomodate the tires, fenders and full chain case. However, the short top tube and long head tube seem to be designed to make the rider's position as upright as possible. <br /><br />The bike, like other English roadsters, was probably designed to be ridden in the countryside, where, at that time, many of the roads were still unpaved. So most riders would want a bike that's as stable as possible. I can almost see someone hopping on, riding out to her roadside mailbox, grabbing her letters and parcels while she's still in the saddle, and riding back to her cottage.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72668229080998804102009-12-17T12:12:06.204-05:002009-12-17T12:12:06.204-05:00This old bike has amazing rod brakes. The hands th...This old bike has amazing rod brakes. The hands that hold the rubber pads are brazed on to the inside of the frame and pivot in an elbow joint, as opposed to slotted through clip-on holds. This results in very precise engagement of the rubber pads against the inside of the rim. Basically, these 75 year old rod brakes will throw you off the saddle! It's insane how grippy they are, on par with good calipers. We haven't tested in the wet, but I wouldn't be surprised if this 1930's Tourist is off-road ready!MDIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10810401918223629618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7952328555867938622009-12-17T11:26:17.871-05:002009-12-17T11:26:17.871-05:00Is the wheelbase small, or is the angle of the hea...Is the wheelbase small, or is the angle of the head tube just more pronounced? I've ridden a Batavus Old Dutch step-through, and while it has a long wheelbase, the head tube is very long, and slanted towards the rider, which along with a long stem makes the handlebars extremely close as well, and your arms just hang straight down at your sides while sitting bolt upright. It's definitely a different feel, even from my Electra Amsterdam, but I think I could get used to it.<br /><br />That bike is amazing, really. I hope you're able to keep it and fix it up, or at least find someone who will love it.<br /><br />I think Sturmey Archer actually started making internally geared hubs in 1902. They must not have felt the need to patent it until later in the game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-36755219187711242852009-12-17T10:21:31.151-05:002009-12-17T10:21:31.151-05:00How beautiful!!! I am really interested to hear mo...How beautiful!!! I am really interested to hear more about the geometry.neighbourteasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17571138655370581828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90401146064886080362009-12-17T10:04:50.489-05:002009-12-17T10:04:50.489-05:00Fil, you should cross-post this over at Bike Forum...Fil, you should cross-post this over at Bike Forums! There has been a dearth of stuff about old or antique bikes, and we'd love to tear it apart.Davehttp://www.davidnewtonguitars.squarespace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56999825038441046282009-12-17T09:57:05.860-05:002009-12-17T09:57:05.860-05:00well, if the LBS tires of hosting her, there's...well, if the LBS tires of hosting her, there's a dry basement in somerville that always seems to have room for *one more* bike ;-).<br /><br />seriously, i wouldn't worry about coming up with a plan until the time comes that she gets her walking papers. business is slow in winter and i doubt she will be asked to leave anytime before spring. you can always think of something then... no need to decide on a restoration/preservation plan just yet.<br /><br />on a slight tangent, have customers of the LBS inquired about her?somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78174859847557449812009-12-17T09:01:52.112-05:002009-12-17T09:01:52.112-05:00If it were in my possesion I would restore it.
T...If it were in my possesion I would restore it. <br /><br />The wheels are 'salvageable' for I have seen someone I know well done it 'at home'. According to him , this is "possible with quality bicycles from reputable established manufacturers " ... and Raleighh is one of these few companies.<br /><br />Should you decide to keep and restore this bicycle , take this bicycle for a ride after restoration and you would then 'discover' why the wheelbase is what it is. If there's anyone here who could 'discover the reason' behind this it is you for you have 'an open-and-scientific-mind' approach to problems and/or resloving them.<br />Regards.<br />:)) * ((:<br />Lemony.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29314855260509712582009-12-17T02:33:24.151-05:002009-12-17T02:33:24.151-05:00Giffen - I love my DL-1 and one would have to pry ...Giffen - I love my DL-1 and one would have to pry it out of my hands by force to get me to give it up. The geometry seems tailor made for me, whereas the geometry on the 1930s model is weird - As Carinthia said, it is probably not something I would ride even post restoration. I <i>am</i> very curious about the reasoning behind this design though.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-21645000233892478722009-12-17T01:36:48.587-05:002009-12-17T01:36:48.587-05:00Simple. Take your time restoring it, and when you&...Simple. Take your time restoring it, and when you're finished, sell the newer DL1 and ride this one.Giffennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2950392232697622752009-12-17T01:06:54.308-05:002009-12-17T01:06:54.308-05:00Hi Filigree, if your local bike shop can hang onto...Hi Filigree, if your local bike shop can hang onto it for a bit for you, I'm sure inspiration will come your way as to what to do with it come spring and the shift into a new season. And maybe good karma will bring you the budget to restore it. It's a lovely thing, and considering its age, in wonderful condition. <br /><br />Given the strange geometry it's obviously not something you'll ride even when restored, but in your shoes I'd try to hang onto it for a bit and see what the world brings your way in terms of inspiration.Carinthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09490217708697574505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62209112821032033342009-12-16T23:02:25.453-05:002009-12-16T23:02:25.453-05:00Mike - Thanks for the compliment and for the input...Mike - Thanks for the compliment and for the input. Ideally, I would like to eventually restore this bicycle and keep it as a collector's item in my fictional future house in the countryside. But I feel self indulgent keeping this bike around given my current situation (tiny apartment and tiny family budget). If my local bike shop did not kindly agree to host it, I would not have been able to keep it at all. My fear also is that I will end up adopting every single antique bike I see and eventually all of my friends' and local bike shop spaces will be filled with my adoptees!<br /><br />Steve - afraid not. The AW is a widely spaced hub. I believe the rare and valuable closely-spaced one you are talking about is the AR. Sheldon Brown described the vintage S-A hubs very nicely <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-archer.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, but for some reason the site is down at the moment.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com