Rudge Deluxe Sports Tourist

[Dr.Robotnik]

I recently returned from Easter with my girlfriend and we spent some time at her grandmother's.

I am trying to build my girlfriend a bike for the summer so we can go on some rides together. On hearing this her grandmother suggested she try her grandfather's old bicycle. Unfortunately it is far to big for her.

So now I have an old Rudge bicycle to sell and hopefully make some money towards a bike for my girlfriend. So can anyone tell me what it actually is and perhaps how to work out what year it is from?

The grandmother first thought 1940's ish and then 1980's ish, if that helps.

It is all original and extremely dusty. The bike seems to have had little use but is now a bit rusty and tired looking.

I'll get more info on the bits later but it all seems to work.

Cheers

Frame: Rudge ???

Fork: Rudge???

Headset: Yes
Stem: Yes
Handlebar: Yes
Grips: Yes
Barends: Yes as part of grips

Brakes: Yes
Brake Pads: Yes
Brake Cables: Yes
Cantilever cable hangers: N/A
Brake Levers: Yes

Shifters: Sturmey Archer 3 speed
Front Derailleur: N/A
Rear Derailleur: Sturmey Archer 3 speed
Derailleur Cables: Yes
Cassette: N/A
Chain: Yes
Cranks: Yes, cottered.
Crank Bolts: N/A
Chainrings: Yes
Chainring bolts: N/A
Bottom Bracket: Yes
Pedals: Yes

Hub Skewers: N/A
Rims: The Midlan Wheel Co. Ltd.
Hubs: Yes
Nipples: Yes
Spokes: Yes
Tyres: Michelin
Tubes: Yes

Saddle: Brooks B66 (Perhaps)
Seatpost: Yes
Seatpost Binder: Yes

Pump: SKS - Bluemels made in West Germany
Lights: Dynamo System
Basket: Wooden/Wicker
Mudguards: Rudge with reflectors

Weight: ???

 

[one-eyed_jim]

The best place to look for a date is on the rear hub. Sturmey hubs nearly always have a date code, month and year. That's assuming the rear wheel is original to the bike, obviously.

The 36-spoke wheels suggest a later date. Most older bikes had a 40h rear, and rod brakes would have been more common on an older bike.

There's a 1954 Rudge catalogue here:

http://1954rudgecatalogue.blogspot.com/

This looks more like yours though - cable brakes and full chaincase:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris531/4 ... 423613504/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hudsondesi ... 140651310/

 

[Dr.Robotnik]

Thank you very much one-eyed_jim you appear to have identified the bike and found me everything needed for a restoration. I will check the rear hub tonight for confirmation, thanks again.