Was tidying up the work bench earlier today and realized that I had quite a few hubs laying on it waiting for someone to verify dimensions so spokes can be ordered….wonder who that would be?

Hard photo op to miss out on

These are the hubs laying on the bench. Sturmey Archer vintage, Sturmey Archer new and Shimano. One pair of the vintage hubs are getting laced onto a set of CR-18 alloy rims to go on my Raleigh Superbe for everyday riding. The original steel rims have a kink and hop that I cannot get out, but I want to save the wheels for shows. Another of the vintage hubs is for my wife’s Colt, she is getting a dyno hub on it. The newer SA hubs are for the Raleigh Record build, that one is getting the CR-18 rims also. The Shimano hubs are just there for the moment, both are 8 speeds, one interestingly enough is coaster brake.

Just got home from a week on the road to several boxes waiting for me. This is a good thing. Hubs are here for the Raleigh Record build. New Brooks Flyer for my expedition bike build/tour bike. The hubs I ended up ordering are Sturmey Archer. Ordered an X-RD5(w) for the rear and an XL-FDD for the front. I would have liked to have the 90mm drum for the rear, but apparently they aren’t available state side at this point.

More parts have been ordered and will be trickling in over the next few weeks. Hopefully a complete bike or two will be coming out of the shop in a few weeks.

Pictures…forthcoming.

Aaron

My brother called last week and said he was cleaning out the garage and his old bicycles had to go. If I wanted them it was now or never. If I didn’t take them they were headed for the local thrift store.

He is about the same size I am so I knew they would fit. One bike I was familiar with, his Giant Excursion which is the twin to mine.

The others I had never seen. So grabbed the truck and headed up the road.

Here are pictures of the haul.

1990′ish Giant Excursion, not in quite as nice a shape as mine, but it has been ridden a good bit more and was used as a commuter.

Next bike up is a 1985 Raleigh Record. Nothing real fancy, just a good solid entry level 10 speed in it’s day. He had started some sort of conversion on it. Plans right now call for a strip down and rebuild as a city bike for my son who lives in Boston. Going to go with Sturmey Archer drum brake hubs. More to follow on this one.

And last but not least…

1991? Raleigh Tactic. This was an odd little bike they only made for a couple of years. Steel MTB, frame is 4130 CroMo which is one of my favorite materials. Bike is a bit on the small side for me, not sure what my brother was doing with it. Looks like he might have used it as a backup commuter.

So now off to order parts and figure out how to shuffle bikes about to get these three in the shed.

We have been busy cleaning up from the storms here in NC last week. We were fine but some of our neighbors weren’t as lucky. We have also been getting major spring chores done around the home place. Things like painting, gardening and general clean up after the winter sloth.

I had hoped to have this done by Memorial Day…Fourth of July…Labor Day? Oh well I have plenty of other bikes to ride, just need to ride.

Aaron

This was my first mountain bike and I used it for several years for trail rides in the mountains. Eventually I put street tires, fenders and racks on it and used it as a commuter. It was stolen and recovered around 1996. I sold it to a buddy of mine around 1998. He used it as a commuter and had it stolen and recovered around 2001. It came back home in February of 2007.

It has been hanging out in the back of the storage/shop area while I accumulated parts for it. It is now being reborn as an expedition tour bike. I had it on the stand today to do some test fitting and component compatibility checking. So here is a quick look at the semi-finished product.

I kept the original 21 speed Suntour XCM drive train. I did have to replace the freewheel with an IRD after trashing the OEM Suntour one. Racks are Jandd Expedtion, fenders are Planet Bike Hardcore ATB, bags are Ortlieb Classic Rollers and a Lone Peak handlebar bag. Handle bars are Nashbar Trekking with an adjustable stem. Saddle will be a black Brooks Flyer. Still have a few odds and ends to round up for it, but it might be road worthy by Memorial Day.

I am looking for the next frame size up in this bike if anyone runs across one. I need the 23″ frame, IIRC this size and colour scheme was only available from 1988-1990.

Aaron

The smaller bike in the top photo is the newest addition to the family.
It is a 1973 Raleigh Colt in fabulous condition.

Go mbeire muid beo ar an am seo aris!
Aaron

Work has been a real beast these past few months, but with the current economic situation any job is better than no job.

As time has rolled along a couple of new members have been added to the metal side of the family.

I purchased yet another Twenty. This one is a 1975 Raleigh Stowaway, with the 451 wheels. These were never sold on the US market as far as I know, so this one must have wandered its way in from the UK somehow.

The newest member is a 1973 Raleigh Colt that I literally picked up today. I actually purchased it back in early December. But just got a chance to pick it up today. It is in spectacular condition for it’s age and matches my Superbe in colour. It has the petite 18″ frame that my lovely bride needs to be able to ride. It will need a bit of tweaking and a couple of upgrades prior to her riding it. But here is a picture…beauty shots will come a bit later.

I did get the 1964 Hercules completed and off to my sister late last year. More on that one too…in a bit.

Spring has Sprung here in the Carolinas, so riding season is hard upon us!

Aaron

I have been meaning to post…HONEST! We took a vacation in Denver in June. No pictures the camera crapped out. But did get a chance to try their bike share and ride their light rail. Both were excellent.

Just got back from a week in Boston, lots to see and do. We used mass transit almost the entire time we were there, and walked the rest of the time. I even got pictures. Here is a picture I snapped out behind the State House. Appears to be a late 1960′s early 1970′s Raleigh Sport in good condition for its age. FWIW those are the original tires!

I have much more to report on in a bit. Including several bike builds and acquisitions.

Aaron

Really I don’t have a problem and even if I did I would refuse to admit it!

Here is my long awaited Raleigh Tourist complete with rod brakes. The bike is in amazing condition for being 30+ years old. A “buddy” of mine sent me a link to this one off a Craigs List ad in Davenport, IA, back in December. I live over 1000 miles away, so he negotiated and picked it up for me. I am working in Iowa City for a few weeks and was finally able to pick the bike up. It was advertised as a 1975 model, but is actually a 1979. That puts it near the end of the production of this particular model. IIRC it was phased out around 1984?

Very few upgrades planned for this bike, perhaps a full chaincase if I can locate one.

More pictures to come as I have time.

Aaron

Most of the bikes I buy are in need of TLC, some are worse than others. One thing I enjoy doing is bringing old dull parts back to life, in most cases, especially with the old heavy chrome a bit of cleaning and polishing is all it needs. These are the brakes off of the AMF Hercules that I am rebuilding for my sister to ride. The brakes themselves are fine, they just need new pads and cables. It is amazing how much nicer they look.

The AMF Hercules is progressing, I am almost done with the clean up of the parts, and have started reassembling things. Repacked the headset and the bottom bracket yesterday.

On another note: The Staiger has gone to live with my DD in Western Massachusetts as a commuter bike, if all goes well it will travel with her to Keene, NH as she returns to grad school.

Aaron