tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post7856094503194794580..comments2024-03-29T04:01:31.445-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: The $500 3-Speed: Possibilities Five Years LaterVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44038865815900463112016-05-18T09:32:16.479-04:002016-05-18T09:32:16.479-04:00What a splendid website! I have been getting quite...What a splendid website! I have been getting quite sentimental about the Sturmey-Archers I used to own almost 40 years ago. At the time I was not so impressed - a 220 lb teenager riding a double 52, 40 chainwheel driving a double 24, 16 cluster puts enough torque through an AW to crush pawls, break cogs and damage that star clutch thing. I repaired my own Sturmeys till one day I got sick of the whole exercise and bought a nice reliable 10-speed (that I still have).<br /><br />And I have just got my third vintage bike running, a 10-speed wide-ratio transportation bike to go with my first 10-speed and an entertainingly unforgiving 12-speed competition bike that will not see its 30th birthday again. I also have a couple of full susp mtbs, an old competition machine and a semi-cheapy from this century with a lot of reliable commuter miles. Both are comfortable and one is actually fast.<br /><br />Except for the comp mtb, nothing is valuable, but each is pleasant to ride. Each is interesting. Each is different enough from the others to be entertaining and interesting. And importantly, none have been upgraded in any significant way, except for the addition of big flat pedals that work so well with work boots. The 10-speeds have friction shifters and the original ratios.<br /><br />I can get bikes from a repair place I know. I will try not to get the next hub gear bike that comes through, but how hard will I try? I managed not to get a corncob roady ( I live on a pretty serious hill) but it was close....<br /><br />Bike bikes bikes - how thoroughly enjoyable they are! But the law here in Australia requires me to wear a helmet, and my head gets very hot, dangerously hot when I ride. Even on the flat. I can't really ride slowly and now I weigh 240 or so lbs.<br /><br />Anyway, enjoy. And to finish with a funny thing I saw on the internet, "Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a bike, which is almost as good".<br /><br />P BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-53542759443732812562015-12-06T22:06:10.592-05:002015-12-06T22:06:10.592-05:00Thanks for your post. Although I'm a bit late...Thanks for your post. Although I'm a bit late chiming in, I would like to add my 2 cents. I was gifted a 1980s Schwinn World Tourist coaster brake ladies bike from a friend who was not riding an longer.<br /><br />I found the bike as originally built not that comfy after replacing the original 27" tires. A friend suggested trying out 700c wheels/tires. He had a set lying around from a bike he upgraded that I could use.<br /><br />After riding on the loaner 700c-35 wheels/tires, I found the bike was a great ride as my daily commuter and much better than my fat tire hybrid/grocery getter I use on weekends.<br /><br />I slowly proceeded to upgrade the Schwinn here and there with a 3 speed hub, front wheel with dynamo hub, a Brooks B67s saddle for an awesome ride, alloy handlebars to replace the rusted originals, lighter pedals replacing the block ones and so on -- all knowing that the frame is not worth much for these Giant built Schwinns.<br /><br />However, I don't regret upgrading this bike that still has the original crank, chain guard and chain. What a great ride this bike is.<br /><br />I lock it up at the train station every day with 2 high end U-locks. And the parts can all be switched to another bike should I decide to one day upgrade the frame.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87386657739852228182015-12-06T22:05:46.396-05:002015-12-06T22:05:46.396-05:00Thanks for your post. Although I'm a bit late...Thanks for your post. Although I'm a bit late chiming in, I would like to add my 2 cents. I was gifted a 1980s Schwinn World Tourist coaster brake ladies bike from a friend who was not riding an longer.<br /><br />I found the bike as originally built not that comfy after replacing the original 27" tires. A friend suggested trying out 700c wheels/tires. He had a set lying around from a bike he upgraded that I could use.<br /><br />After riding on the loaner 700c-35 wheels/tires, I found the bike was a great ride as my daily commuter and much better than my fat tire hybrid/grocery getter I use on weekends.<br /><br />I slowly proceeded to upgrade the Schwinn here and there with a 3 speed hub, front wheel with dynamo hub, a Brooks B67s saddle for an awesome ride, alloy handlebars to replace the rusted originals, lighter pedals replacing the block ones and so on -- all knowing that the frame is not worth much for these Giant built Schwinns.<br /><br />However, I don't regret upgrading this bike that still has the original crank, chain guard and chain. What a great ride this bike is.<br /><br />I lock it up at the train station every day with 2 high end U-locks. And the parts can all be switched to another bike should I decide to one day upgrade the frame.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02343428023718816359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-89830503546826262212015-11-22T05:59:33.550-05:002015-11-22T05:59:33.550-05:00Do you go on all the bicycle blogs and tell them t...Do you go on all the bicycle blogs and tell them they're wrong in a nasty tone? What the hell, dude. <br /><br />1. That's easily fixed. Seriously it cost me like $20 to have that rear cog swapped out for one with a few more teeth. <br />2. Mine has been plenty reliable. My Raleigh Sports has a SW hub from 1961. The bike has a lot of wear and tear and clearly has been used for most of its lifespan, and that SW hub still does the job reliably and effectively, with a pleasant "tickety-tickety" sound to boot. I've repeatedly compared it to steel sewing machines of the same era--keep it lubed and clean and it'll keep going nearly forever. <br /><br />Regarding your other points: I've owned a ten-speed made about a decade later than that and it wasn't that much more pleasant of a ride. It was almost as heavy, and I had far more troubles with the derailers. True on the rims though--I had the front one swapped out for a modern alloy because it rains where I live for a good portion of the year. <br /><br />I bought a Linus mixte 3-speed in 2012. It's mostly hi-ten steel, and it's not that much lighter than the Raleigh. I just didn't want to force a rear rack on the poor thing, and the Linus came with one. They're both beautiful, functional bikes, thanks. Aprilhttp://aprillikesbikes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59321589224028431102015-11-15T15:28:09.402-05:002015-11-15T15:28:09.402-05:00Please insure your "bargain" vintage pur...Please insure your "bargain" vintage purchase is not stolen. When calling the seller demand either proof of ownership or a meeting at a local police station where an officer can verify whether the serial number has been reported as stolen. Criminals will immediately hang up!Robert Raburnhttp://robertraburn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78398024069521295102015-10-19T11:33:56.427-04:002015-10-19T11:33:56.427-04:00I recently rebuilt a 1962 Raleigh Gran Sport to be...I recently rebuilt a 1962 Raleigh Gran Sport to better than original, all new bearings, modern brake pads designed for steel rims, all new Jagwire cables, new freewheel and chain. This bike came with the then state of the art Dunlop Special Lightweight steel high pressure rims, and Campagnolo gears, I replaced the spokes with new DT double butted spokes. I replaced the rock hard original saddle with a new Brooks Swallow.<br /><br />I owned one of these bikes new and my "new" is clearly better than new. I replaced the short aluminum GB stem with a longer steel GB, giving a much more comfortable ride. <br /><br />I have ridden it quite a bit, and it is not even close to modern standards.<br /><br />The frame is made from Raleigh "High Tensile Steel" and lives up to its "gas pipe" nickname. The ride is rough and unforgiving. The bike is a 23 inch frame, but the bars are only 38cm wide, so it feels very pinched. The crank arms are only 165mm, ridiculously short by modern standards. <br /><br />Even with plastic mudguards, it weighs in at a amazing 30 pounds 12oz on a Park Tools digital scale (I read all the time where many think their old ten-speeds weigh far less, but the Park does not lie) This compared to my all steel frame PAKE which comes in at only 22 pounds for a 60cm frame, with 38mm tires.<br /><br />My PAKE set up all carbon, with a steel frame, modern DT wheelset, and a 1x11 Sram gear train, rides so much better in the city it is simply not a contest. The PAKE with 172.5 Sram cranks, etc just feels right, the Raleigh not so much.<br /><br />What the Raleigh is -- it's BEAUTIFUL. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/23628/med_U23628I1439151962.SEQ.4.jpg<br /><br />But beauty is not comfort.nikonhswebmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03034697232188310321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7133880971296144102015-10-18T16:31:08.071-04:002015-10-18T16:31:08.071-04:00A timely post...
It just so happens that I am com...A timely post...<br /><br />It just so happens that I am commuting (and more) on a psuedo-vintage 3-speed (I say that because the bike itself is from the 90s but in a vintage style). Every time I jump on it I wonder why this style of bike fell out of fashion in the UK as they are the PERFECT town bike.<br /><br />(Actually, I know exactly why they fell out of fashion - fashion itself being the reason).<br /><br />My Raleigh Chiltern cost me £30 plus the petrol to pick it up from 20 miles away. It appeared sound at first but further examination revealed it had been bodged. I've fitted alloy rims, a new Sturmey rear hub, Brooks B17 and Brooks plump grips. I've also freshened up the brakes and cables. It ride beautifully - and stands out in a "not appealing to thieves" kind of way. I was semi-proud that one of the young-uns commented that it was "exactly the kind of bike" he would have expected me to ride (I am on the only person at work who rides this style of bike, by the way).<br /><br />Anyway, the bike has cost me £250 or so all in and doesn't need any more money spent (although I might get a modern seatpost). It's a much nicer bike than any of the retro-influenced 3-speeds you could spend £3-400 on UK prices), and I am sure it has years of life left in it.<br /><br />I ride it in normal clothes, and all my junk sits happily in a pannier. The only thing I would change would be a slightly lower bottom gear because I can't get it up the steepest hills locally without a struggle. This could probably be amended with a smaller chainring/larger sprocket as I have yet to "spin out" in top.<br /><br />Despite the many merits of the bike, I know it will remain an unusual choice. The UK is obsessed with "sporting" bicycles and most of the people I see commuting around me are riding something completely unsuitable.thefixitupchappiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12318388071067474239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17416865552558084912015-10-18T13:55:57.995-04:002015-10-18T13:55:57.995-04:00Here we go again ... 3 speeds are TOO high. Bloody...Here we go again ... 3 speeds are TOO high. Bloody hell . Middle gear is supposed to be just that, flatland riding.<br />This week I just happened to find a used Batavus my size at the LBS seller of city bikes. I've been looking for something to hang my SA 5w wheel on. I lifted it up and sure enough it weighed 50 lbs. I then expected it to be geared stupidly low. Well, 20 secs later I was wizzing out at 15 mph. I kept shifting 1, 2, 3 to no effect. Couldn't tell the difference. After a while I got used to the upslope in 3rd gear. The weight had absolutely NO effect ... Cloud 9.<br />The seller was most likely saying this bike is SO SLOW.... Well NO wonder. God, what stupidness.<br /><br />So anyway it is still at the LBS. The dropout is 120mm and I think best not to try wishbone such thick tubes to 132mm. It was a steal at $400 too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01493119797852934376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8613144245022617492015-10-15T10:18:46.701-04:002015-10-15T10:18:46.701-04:00I am in agreement with about rebuilding/restoring ...I am in agreement with about rebuilding/restoring a vintage 3 speed bicycle. I have completed several that I have sold, given away or kept. Don't just limit yourself to the Raleigh Sports though. Raleigh, Hercules, Robin Hood, and department store branded Austrian-made 3 speeds are excellent candidates for city bikes as well.<br /><br />DaleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20045304457962572012015-10-14T04:00:33.087-04:002015-10-14T04:00:33.087-04:00Very nice post indeed ! I'would argue for a t...Very nice post indeed ! I'would argue for a the 500$ vintage solution too. with the same budget you can get a new one with, if your'e lucky, even a shimano 7sp nexus hub, but obviously the frame 'll be a gaspipe hi-ten. I'm not meaning the basic all-day city bike must be a cro-mo raced-tubes one, but if you look closer, the pre-80's bikes are ususually nice framed, at least the one that lasts until now. A nice city sturmey archer 3sp with reynolds tubes was not that rare at this era, and it's much nicer than a lot of "vintage-looked-new-bikes" you can find - well, at least, it's my opinion. It depends also where you stay, and if the LBS at the corner offers some attractive old bikes or frames. And the point of compatibilty may be also a hudge problem. Upgrading an old bike with NOS or new standard parts to improve it could get into a deep and long researching project, without talking of diy ability to set the adaptations. But anyway, old frames and parts are still very interesting.DjangoCyclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178460104241849873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22820299211520508492015-10-12T15:21:00.463-04:002015-10-12T15:21:00.463-04:00Bikes for transportation can easily be as cheap or...Bikes for transportation can easily be as cheap or as expensive as one wants. Maybe you could talk about some of the strategies for making it cheap -- sadly, I already know how to make it expensive :-( My son got by for six years via bike simply by using craigslist. Not sure how many miles he put on each bike but he certainly managed to live and work in Boston for next to nothing (I did enjoy hearing some of his stories of getting around the city and back and forth to work with less than perfect conditions and equipment). On the other hand I went custom, after saving up for several years, and bought my ultimate transportation bike. Upfront cost was high but so is the upkeep after those same six years. I'm now replacing my second rim from rim brake wear, two chains, one cog and one sprocket, one set of brake hood covers, handle bar tape and lots of brake pads….Man!! I don't want to remind myself of the cost of all this but each wheel has been a couple hundred dollars and easily that for worn out drive train, then tires and other minor upkeep items for nearly 20K miles of nothing but transportation riding and that's some serious change! Some people don't blink at this expense and truthfully, I remind myself that I'm not paying for gas, insurance and upkeep for a car so I shouldn't complain but money is money and when one has little income it matters. High end and handmade is not heaven. I'm not sure who your readers are, maybe they're all high end people who can afford some of the fashionable features you often blog about. I started to follow your work simply because I think bikes are amazing and can make life better for all -- no matter how much money they have. But some things need to be laid out for the sake of transparency when comes to costs. Thanks. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-76988363756320926842015-10-12T07:02:50.407-04:002015-10-12T07:02:50.407-04:00Actually, I traded in a bike I can no longer ride ...Actually, I traded in a bike I can no longer ride because of a back injury for a 2014 Fuji Crosstown 1.3. It's heavier,about 33 lbs, has front shocks and 26" x 1.75 city tires. After replacing the seat post with a non-suspension post and adding fenders, it's a comfortable ride over our bumpy city streets. Not a speed bike. The hydroformed top and bottom tubes look like a black cat arching it's back. Its the only year Fuji made this style. It does get some looks. Kind of a funky, good looking all glossy black bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88394949114563085612015-10-12T02:10:06.301-04:002015-10-12T02:10:06.301-04:00This summer I bought a beautiful black 1962 Sports...This summer I bought a beautiful black 1962 Sports, made many changes that you recommended 5 years ago, all for well under $500. This was easily done in Providence, RI. I would love to find a decent skirt guard, but may be forced into crocheting my own. I should have changed the pedals, but I liked the vintage pair. Thus far, that has been my only mistake. Having the pedal brake off while riding up hill is an experience. Thank you for your wonderful recommendation. I love the bike while my husband loves repairing it and remembering his cross country trips and days as a messenger in Boston. Rhody Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15812709944904473767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71242294605269462792015-10-11T13:22:08.841-04:002015-10-11T13:22:08.841-04:00What would be the next meaningful step up from the...What would be the next meaningful step up from the $500 level ?<br />And what does the higher price buy ?<br />More refined geometry , better materials , build , parts ?<br />Can you name some brands and models ?<br />BTW, nice photos !<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26566429404274014032015-10-08T17:12:50.170-04:002015-10-08T17:12:50.170-04:00I'll vouch for the Cameo. When I was studying ...I'll vouch for the Cameo. When I was studying in Nottingham, I picked up a late 1970's one off of a popular used goods resale site for around the equivalent of $100 USD. The bike served as a daily commuter rain or shine for two years and, when I returned back to the US, it came with me. Something that stuck with me was the comment the mechanic made about how the bikes that were manufactured at that time were never designed to have any of the parts replaced, but merely adjusted. This is what made the bicycle particularly reliable for me, and I have many a good memory of cycling along the canal paths into the city. <br /><br />I eventually sold the bike to one of the readers of this fine blog several years ago and I hope he is still enjoying it as much as I did. They are quite common in the UK, but I have so far never seen another one on this side of the pond. <br /><br />My current vintage find was a 1960 Rudge which I picked up in a junk shop in Poughkeepsie for < $100. Great bike, but I need to figure out what to do about the more-or-less non-functioning brakes. I've definitely seen a number of good quality bikes pop up around Boston/NY/DC. Brooklyn, on the other hand ... :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54078441942253260612015-10-08T16:25:02.230-04:002015-10-08T16:25:02.230-04:00Pesto change-o sounds like magic. What did you ha...Pesto change-o sounds like magic. What did you have to do to get it changed? What was the cost? Did you do it yourself? There are many issues involved in making something old, usable for the current rider. I absolutely think it's possible to find a reliable used bike and make it safe for transportation riding for under $500. There's no need to buy a new car in order to transport oneself from house to job, or run errands, and the same is true with bikes. If you're suggesting that a mid-range bike made in the 70's might have some magic quality that current bikes lack, well, I dunno….I don't understand magic. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46060435085451242692015-10-07T23:37:33.073-04:002015-10-07T23:37:33.073-04:00Dual pivot brakes are not compatible with vintage ...Dual pivot brakes are not compatible with vintage wheels or bikes. The pads of a dual pivot move inexorably towards center, there is accommodation for wavy wheels. The high spots on the rim get ground thin pretty quick. Doesn't matter how nice you build your wheels, they only really want modern rims and precisely aligned frames. For that matter rim life of modern wheels is much shortened by dual pivots. Vintage won't take it. Vintage wants vintage brakes. Plenty of good choices besides Raleigh steel brakes. Although I can get most Raleigh steels to skid the tire pretty quick. The modern pads are fine.<br /><br />As to V's tale about the brakes that break frames -- I first heard that one about thirty years ago. Still haven't seen that notorious brake or that notorious frame. If a brake gets slammed hard the wheels skid and that's the end of it. There's only two or three square inches of rubber on the road. The limit of force a brake can create on a frame is capped quite low.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54237566586291785892015-10-07T14:14:45.417-04:002015-10-07T14:14:45.417-04:00Standard gear is, was, and always shall be 48x18. ...Standard gear is, was, and always shall be 48x18. The use of 46x18 was formerly reserved to cycle trucks, pedicabs, invalids, and, of course, Americans. Only since the decadent 1950s has the rot become general.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-16142073539666030362015-10-06T20:33:35.015-04:002015-10-06T20:33:35.015-04:00Interesting you should mention the SW - my '58...Interesting you should mention the SW - my '58 Raleigh Sports came with that and it has been working flawlessly (which is very rare!), though I did rebuild it to make sure it was fine. I actually am running a wheel with an AW on the bike currently because I ride the heck out of it. The SW is smooth and silent and is very nice if it's functional, plus the wider gear range helps with hilly towns like mine. I just don't want to break it. Apparently they tried to switch to the SW in the '50s because the AW has four planet gears whereas the SW has three - they figured it would be easier to center the sun within 3 gears (think about it as building a 4-legged table vs. 3 legged) and they also used unsprung crescent-shaped pawls to reduce the number of parts. With less parts, the hub was physically smaller and lighter as well as cheaper to make but because of the poor manufacturing tolerances back then, the pawls never were the exact same size and caused problems with engagement and such. If you've disassembled an SW as I have, you'd laugh at how beefy the AW's parts and planet gears are compared to the SW's. I now know why the AWs last so darn long!! ahah<br /><br />As for reliability issues, I think you're right - the old AW hub is a great example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" because it is a great hub. 99% of the time if someone says their 3-speed doesn't work, it's just because it's out of adjustment. They don't literally break, but if they are ridden out of adjustment too long and the clutch keeps slipping off, the mating parts will become chipped. Also, there are tales of people standing up to grind up a hill in 3rd gear and because of the axle flexing under stress and the clutch being only held by spring tension, the clutch will work its way out into the "neutral" zone and cause the rider to tumble off. I'd say that might just be improper usage though because how often is something good for everything ... That being said, the AW is my favorite piece of drivetrain of all time because I am more of a commuter cyclist than anything. Jay Tyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379343653425080261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50388775809199806792015-10-06T16:22:26.225-04:002015-10-06T16:22:26.225-04:00The gear ratio is easily changed by swapping out a...The gear ratio is easily changed by swapping out a cog. Might need to add a link to the chain, but seriously, I've been riding 3-speeds since youth and never had any of the problems you describe. Maybe because I was willing to tinker with them and figure out what was going on? Some Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51869576074006768932015-10-06T08:56:33.173-04:002015-10-06T08:56:33.173-04:00In my part of the UK, we still have rubbish tips w...In my part of the UK, we still have rubbish tips where cycles are piled into steel containers (I presume) to be taken away for scrap. It's possible, if you get on well with the tip operators, to get frames and whole machines free or for the price of a pint of beer. Bikes also appear in street skips (sort of dumpster things) occasionally.<br />I feel as if I ought to adopt all these poor orphan machines, but I haven't got the room, worst luck. However, it's possible to get a decent machine together quite easily. Apart from a bit of maintenance and repair, and old bits off other machines, often the only new items needed are brake blocks, cables, tubes and tyres, and a saddle. Unless the saddle is a new Brooks, the cost of the spares is usually no more than £75-£100 ($115-$150).<br />By the way, your photographs are always exceptionally good.<br />Yallerironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02781673806398065281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58647811855119360622015-10-06T03:53:04.448-04:002015-10-06T03:53:04.448-04:00As an alternative to Sturmey Archer there is Sachs...As an alternative to Sturmey Archer there is Sachs Torpedo Dreigang. It´s made of steel and very reliable. You can fit SRAM or Shimano cogs on it. My question to Velouria is if Sachs had any representation in USA?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58210859165689127802015-10-06T03:13:02.421-04:002015-10-06T03:13:02.421-04:00As always, great article! When I saw that blue Ral...As always, great article! When I saw that blue Raleigh with non-color-matched fenders and no chain guard, my first thought was "IS THAT THE ROBIN EGG BLUE ONE FROM ... " Yes, it was. Thanks for confirming, heh<br /><br />Also, I have a '58 Raleigh Sports that I rescued from the dump (and then gradually in no particular order), completely restored and outfitted with a rear rack and basket and Delta Cruiser tires among other things but kept the steel rims - every single upgrade and nick-nack added up, it comes out to be $420.88. And I feel like I could have saved money here and there if I planned it out did the work at once. I feel like your $500 price point is very reasonable (of course, you know it is). Regarding a previous comment, 48/21 gearing on this one, or 46/20 on the other 3-speeds, feels perfect for me in the hilly town I ride in. Aside from braking in the wet, this is a very fast, comfy, practical bike for me and is my favorite out of them all. <br /><br />I later built up a '79 Superbe with new SA drum brake hubs (70mm), Sun CR-18 rims, etc. I did hear about the fork bending issue and I have been careful about braking but I have had to panic stop several times and the fork still seems okay. Fingers crossed it stays this way. This was more of an exercise to see what I could build as opposed to practicality because the price came out to be almost twice the aforementioned budget and it doesn't even include labor because I did it myself. For the record, I think the Raleigh green paint/cream tire/upside down handlebar combo is quite the looker but would not recommend such pricey upgrades for an old 3-speed. I love them how they are to begin with and the marginal improvement was not worth the price (though I do not regret building this). <br /><br />My roomate who is used to fixed-gears and 10-speeds rode my Sports and fell in love with it so I found an aesthetically-near-pristine '65 Hercules for him for $40. Needs the usual new tires, chain, cables, brake pads and other consumable parts and then some BB service but I'm estimating that it will stay below the $200 mark. Granted, the person who sold it didn't know what she had and we're not giving it alloy wheels but my buddy will be getting a lot of bike for very little coin. Jay Tyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379343653425080261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8971028961247515612015-10-05T15:55:05.604-04:002015-10-05T15:55:05.604-04:00So, those who complain of the high gearing may, in...So, those who complain of the high gearing may, in fact, get it but that's besides the point. If one finds an old bike with a three speed hub and a too large of front chainring or too small rear sprocket there's an issue. It means finding replacements which, for many, is a headache. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31183463786390775262015-10-05T15:54:24.225-04:002015-10-05T15:54:24.225-04:00Velouria, you must have read my tweet or my post t...Velouria, you must have read my tweet or my post titled "Should I Try to Bike Year Round on My Vintage Bike?" hahaha! :) Five years ago, I followed your advice and bought a 1969 Robin Hood off Craigslist for $200, which had been in someone's mom's attic since the 70s, so it was in mint condition. I put on new brake pads and tires, changed the cog from 18 to 21 and added two chain links, added a rear rack, and added a large Wald basket for my commute, shopping, and other errands. I ride it on days when I don't need to take the kids anywhere (for that purpose, I bought a cargo bike, the Yuba Boda Boda, which you tried out and wrote about -- that was fun, thanks!). I appreciate the perspective you bring to this question after watching the industry change over the past five years! The advice I have gotten so far on the post (http://josette-the-voice-within.blogspot.com/2015/09/should-i-try-to-bike-year-round-on-my.html) is to not bother upgrading my vintage bike for winter riding but to save it for nice days.Josettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04102342149434683516noreply@blogger.com