Some Retrobikes passing through Bikeworkshop in Bristol

[bikeworkshop]

Rando nearing completion

 

[bikeworkshop]

And a Kustomer Kockroach
kept on the road:

 

[Ippikin]

1st 3 for sure.
interestingly, mudguards on a bike rarely increase its perceived value, and often detract. (In a shop environment)

Inch fork?
Basically undiscable!

Nice paint.
Cadbury?

1x is really a mtb or flatter terrain feature.
It's quite expensive to keep the gear steps comfortable with 1x, and the wear characteristics are not great.

Yes mudguards almost doom a bike not to sell in retail, not that folk don't see the merit as such but I suspect imagine that such a bike has seen umpteen winters and has had an overall hard time of it all to date.... Best to take 'em off

 

[Ippikin]

And a Kustomer Kockroach
kept on the road:View attachment 1012974

Such bread and butter bikes probably do more miles than the 'proper' ones we all ride, only issue is that they can be horrid to work on and more often than not one has to adopt the attitude of 'that'll do' when fettling

 

[bikeworkshop]

Such bread and butter bikes probably do more miles than the 'proper' ones we all ride, only issue is that they can be horrid to work on and more often than not one has to adopt the attitude of 'that'll do' when fettling

These mig- welded raleighs were very different from the halfords/argos/catalogue shite that preceded the Internet

All the components are incredibly basic and barely work functionally, , but they last,
given a small amount of care.

The bottom end cheap bikes that flooded the market with the move to far east production around this time are not bread and butter, because they can't survive a few hundred miles, a big rider, rain, winter or careless use.

Tbh bikes of this quality in working order are rare, despite this being the average quality bought in the UK!

And given this raleigh is 30 years old, its condition indicates its spent a couple of decades in a warm dry garage.

Almost show condition

 

[Ippikin]

Ok did not spot that was a branded bike - fuzzy picture or is it my early morning eyes! I am not sure such bikes have much consumer value these days even though they are often the sensible option for commuting or town use.

 

[bikeworkshop]

And a Kustomer Kockroach
kept on the road:View attachment 1012974

Almost Catalogue spec!

 

[Prodigal Son]

If the bb is an inch higher, the centre of mass is (almost) too as the average rider weighs almost 10x the bike.
My most comfortable bikes i ride all the time have low bb, including the TiBride



-which I had custom made with low bb - so I have to push the principle
But I think an urban piece handing requirement is more akin to mtb

That's my take as well: bb height affects handling.