velomaniac
MacRetro Rider
True but Rudges of the era of that bike are in fact Raleighs so its a double badge engineering exercise !
Show us yer old roadster...
- Thread starter epicyclo
- Start date
epicyclo
Senior Retro Guru
velomaniac":26z5ti1s said:
The Bi-Frame is a heavy clunky piece of junk from what I have seen of it, so I'll happily put it in the Raleigh camp.
The pre-war Rudges were proper Rudges though, especially the Lauterwasser designs. (Raleigh didn't get their hands on them until the middle of the war)
Clannagh
Dirt Disciple
My Old Roadster 
Hi All
It's been a while since I've been on here but to show I've not been idle here's my latest build. A 1950's Raleigh 'Superbe Roadster Model' frame (Notice the removable bolt on rear seat stays). Their super deluxe version Sported roller lever rod operated brakes and a dynohub lighting system. These bikes were designed to cope with cobblestones and unpaved footpaths. Often seen ridden by the local village policeman at that time. (So says Sheldon Brown)
Now rebuilt into a unique fixie.
Stripped of paint and allowed to rust slightly in a mixture of chemicals before sealing under a clear satin finish.
Front forks have been shortened to suit modern 700c wheels and skinny tyres. Rear chain stays also shortened and seat stay upper mounts relocated lower down the seat tube.
Cord wrapped French drop bars reverse mounted, a classic antique Brooks saddle modified with central cutout and punched leather pattern.
(pics updated)
DSC_0049 by Clannagh, on Flickr
superbe54-big by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0100 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0196 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0051 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0066 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0017 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0289 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0347 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0346 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0203 by Clannagh, on Flickr
Album Link
https://www.flickr.com/photos/94740449@ ... 489609490/
Hi All
It's been a while since I've been on here but to show I've not been idle here's my latest build. A 1950's Raleigh 'Superbe Roadster Model' frame (Notice the removable bolt on rear seat stays). Their super deluxe version Sported roller lever rod operated brakes and a dynohub lighting system. These bikes were designed to cope with cobblestones and unpaved footpaths. Often seen ridden by the local village policeman at that time. (So says Sheldon Brown)
Now rebuilt into a unique fixie.
Stripped of paint and allowed to rust slightly in a mixture of chemicals before sealing under a clear satin finish.
Front forks have been shortened to suit modern 700c wheels and skinny tyres. Rear chain stays also shortened and seat stay upper mounts relocated lower down the seat tube.
Cord wrapped French drop bars reverse mounted, a classic antique Brooks saddle modified with central cutout and punched leather pattern.
(pics updated)
DSC_0049 by Clannagh, on Flickr
superbe54-big by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0100 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0196 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0051 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0066 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0017 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0289 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0347 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0346 by Clannagh, on Flickr
DSC_0203 by Clannagh, on FlickrAlbum Link
https://www.flickr.com/photos/94740449@ ... 489609490/
velomaniac
MacRetro Rider
Re:
Just acquired a new roadster frame which I'm guessing is Dutch due to one unique feature and not that old based on the dropout width of 124mm which suggests a 5 or 7 speed Sachs hub. The unique feature is a Thomson BB shell. The ID of the shell is 38mm and width is 70mm. Bit of detective work indicates its a Thomson type press fit model. Unfortunately BB's are only available from Dutch and German suppliers and even more unfortunately, normal size is 40mm ID and 68mm shell width. This suggests the frames a Gazelle who like Giant and Raleigh were big enough to do their own thing as regards sizes despite the annoyance that causes. But I have as usual bodged a solution. Two rings of aluminium round tube acting as shims of 38.1mm OD, 34.9mm ID sit sniggly inside the shell. Then fit a 70mm wide shelled cartridge threadless BB (type that threads to itself for use in damaged thread BB's) which are available from good old SJS Cycles. Bobs you uncle it should work rather well.
Frames a lovelly shade of metallic red, I have a chrome fork set aside for this and the plans to go 1 x 5 speed derallier using a clamp on rear derallier in the track ends.
Just acquired a new roadster frame which I'm guessing is Dutch due to one unique feature and not that old based on the dropout width of 124mm which suggests a 5 or 7 speed Sachs hub. The unique feature is a Thomson BB shell. The ID of the shell is 38mm and width is 70mm. Bit of detective work indicates its a Thomson type press fit model. Unfortunately BB's are only available from Dutch and German suppliers and even more unfortunately, normal size is 40mm ID and 68mm shell width. This suggests the frames a Gazelle who like Giant and Raleigh were big enough to do their own thing as regards sizes despite the annoyance that causes. But I have as usual bodged a solution. Two rings of aluminium round tube acting as shims of 38.1mm OD, 34.9mm ID sit sniggly inside the shell. Then fit a 70mm wide shelled cartridge threadless BB (type that threads to itself for use in damaged thread BB's) which are available from good old SJS Cycles. Bobs you uncle it should work rather well.
Frames a lovelly shade of metallic red, I have a chrome fork set aside for this and the plans to go 1 x 5 speed derallier using a clamp on rear derallier in the track ends.
epicyclo
Senior Retro Guru
Clannagh":1bqbwwck said:My Old Roadster
Hi All
It's been a while since I've been on here but to show I've not been idle here's my latest build. A 1950's Raleigh 'Superbe Roadster Model' frame (Notice the removable bolt on rear seat stays). Their super deluxe version Sported roller lever rod operated brakes and a dynohub lighting system. These bikes were designed to cope with cobblestones and unpaved footpaths....
I like modified bikes.
The old roadsters make great gravel road bikes - after all that's what constituted a road when they were first designed (and still does in 3rd world countries).
Have you tried going along to a veteran bike ride with it?...
Clannagh
Dirt Disciple
Not as yet, maybe someday. I wonder how the 'keep it as original spec' crowd would take to it?epicyclo":3egt87uq said:Clannagh":3egt87uq said:My Old Roadster
Hi All
It's been a while since I've been on here but to show I've not been idle here's my latest build. A 1950's Raleigh 'Superbe Roadster Model' frame (Notice the removable bolt on rear seat stays). Their super deluxe version Sported roller lever rod operated brakes and a dynohub lighting system. These bikes were designed to cope with cobblestones and unpaved footpaths....
I like modified bikes.
The old roadsters make great gravel road bikes - after all that's what constituted a road when they were first designed (and still does in 3rd world countries).
Have you tried going along to a veteran bike ride with it?...
Clannagh
Dirt Disciple
Sounds funepicyclo":3o6klfna said:Maybe we should have a ride for modified roadsters?
I have created my own brand The Grundleigh-Thwaite complete with a history going back to ancient times. A fine and noble steed for discerning gentlemen who like to ride offroad in dignity and style.
