Retro Bicycle Thread

[blinx]

Raleigh was built in SA under licence for many years and controlled the market. They had factories in Springs and Vereeniging. Probably closed down under sanction days and influx of cheap Taiwan imports.

 

Until a few months ago there was still a local supplier in Doornfontein who had NOS parts and after market bike spares.

 

Agree with Heyyou, I would not spend a lot of money restoring the Raleigh as you will not get a lot of money when trying to resell the bike. Good solid gas pipe frame though. They had a habit of deforming after a crash. I have an old locally made Charlton from the same factory with a slightly bent fork.

Thanks too Loose cog, will PM you for some info as I see you local Gauteng...

[HeyYou]

Thanks for the valuable info and advice guys as always....So you say I should try and preserve the head badge...that's the only piece worth something...

 

I don't intend spending much on it, just a sand down, respray and I see the gears have been replaced with cheap stuff so will make it a single speed rather and preserve the Zini and Cosmos as racers.

 

Head tube badges are quite big business, though I was being a little facetious!!!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-RALEIGH-BRASS-HEAD-BADGE-FOR-VINTAGE-3-SPEED-BIKE-BICYCLE-1950s-RARE/231796863988?_trksid=p2045573.c100034.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107092241%26meid%3D32e292bfb59a4b29b3650d2d55c908f6%26pid%3D100034%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D281327931646

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/0egAAOSwAYtWMgFi/$_57.JPG

Edited January 1, 2016 by HeyYou

[Loose cog]

And guys, I am still looking for one of these please

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CINELLI-Head-Bike-headtube-Badge-Replica-Vintage-alloy-/252218633671?hash=item3ab966edc7:g:ZbYAAOSwcF9UX6-h

Someone out there must have one for sale. Willing to pay big bucks!

[HeyYou]

Another really good article by Geoff Waters, who lives in Durbs, I've found out!!!!

 

A FIRST GUIDE TO CLASSIC 20th CENTURY RACING BICYCLES

Geoff Waters

 

There is no such thing as an uncool bike…it can be old, in which case it’s a classic, and everyone will want one
 (that’s why idiots pay huge sums on eBay for any bit of #*∂+ with an Italian name and a bit of chrome on it).
‘Dr. Hutch’, Cycling Weekly (October 15, 2009, page 76)

These rather ambivalent, if mildly vulgar, sentiments expressed by an influential columnist in a leading cycling magazine (‘Dr. Hutch’ is in reality Michael Hutchinson, a top 21st century British time trialling champion) probably reflect those of many modern cycling enthusiasts: they may admire and be interested in old racing bikes and equipment dating from the 20th century but lack the knowledge necessary to appreciate them fully. This guide aims to provide a quick and easy basis for doing so.

 

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/guide-to-lightweights-waters.html

[HeyYou]

Duplicate post, so I'll leave it at that!

Edited January 1, 2016 by HeyYou

[Broker]

I have the following to sell:

1. Around 1986 Bianchi Frame with Groupset
- this frame is a nickel plated metal frame that's been resprayed.
2. Shimano Dura ace Groupset - no idea of year model

See full details in the classified section

PM me for more photos and details

Edited January 6, 2016 by Broker

[Badsam]

Teaser of what's to come 

[Loose cog]

Hi 

 

Has anyone got a LHS Simplex shifter like the RHS one in the pic?

 

simplex.jpg

Hi Tracknut

 

Going through my bits I too found a RH Simplex Retrofriction shifter lever! Did you get any leads to a spare lever of two?

[HeyYou]

Hi Tracknut

 

Going through my bits I too found a RH Simplex Retrofriction shifter lever! Did you get any leads to a spare lever of two?

 

I need a RH one!!!

 

I have a set, bought from another Hubber, but the cable is stuck inside and I can't get it out!!

 

Soaked it, drilled it, but the cable and lead head is vas.

 

Any ideas, anyone?

[HeyYou]

LooseCog, Cheapest one I've seen for a while

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Vintage-Cinelli-Bicycle-Head-Tube-Badge-for-Vintage-Restoration-Rebuild-SE2-/221978110312?hash=item33aeed2968:g:Bx0AAOSwv0tVLkkd

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/Bx0AAOSwv0tVLkkd/$_57.JPG

[Loose cog]

Thank you HeyYou

 

What did we do with the left levers?

 

Going to place order immediately for the Cinelli head badge!

 

Regards the seized cable in the shifter lever. I had a similar problem and couldn't use the cable as it was seriously rusty. 

 

Took my Dremel with micro drill bit and drilled into lead cap. Used larger drill bit thereafter until close to lever housing. I then used engraving tip and ground out the balance of the tip. Careful as a few cable wires may be present.

 

Once that was done I drilled a small hole through a bit of flat wood and inserted the cable through the hole and placed the wood into my vice. The lever attached by the cable on the one side and the rest of cable fed through the hole on the other. Took the loose cable and attached to larger cable attached to towbar. Got the missus to pull off. Cable pulled out of hole and lever undamaged. 

[Loose cog]

Hey Guys & Girls

 

Another retro ride planned in Joey's on the 23rd this month. It is in the South this time. - follow the link for details and sign up.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/156476-retro-road-ride-saturday-january-23-alberton/

[Barry_W]

Hi Retro Hubbers,

 

I bought a South African made De'Lange and am trying to find out more info than I could get off the web. It has a Reynolds 531 frame and Reynolds 708 fork which seems unusual.

 

The bike is quite rusted stored outside, but has a really cool 80's style paint job and when `I removed a sticker on the top tube I discovered a decal with the name Trevor Styles. I don't know if this is a personal bike or a model name? Any ideas?

 

I would like to date it as well, I am thinking late 80's early 90's.

 

Any info or speculation would be great.

 

Barry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2016 by Barry_W

[DJR]

Hhi Barry

De Lange made frames in the 1970s and (I think) early 1980s, He made very few bikes but they are well known for superior craftsmanship. I'm not the expert or historian some of the fellow Hubbers are, but I think you have a valuable gem and a rare historical piece of South African cycling history. I would go to much trouble to restore it as well as possible, preferably keeping paintwork as original.

Edited January 8, 2016 by DJR

[Barry_W]

Trevor Styles is the previous owners name. I knew Trevor back in the 90s and remember the bike too. Its definitely worth restoring as DJR mentioned.

Thanks Morph,

 

It has gone through a least 2 owners since then, the guy I bought it from and the person he bought it from who's Argus Cycle Tour stickers were still on it

 

When do you think he had it made?

[Loose cog]

Lovely bike Barry. Bill Lange often made custom bikes so your's may even have been made for the original owner. I recall he was situated in the Cape?

 

I gave QuintonB a deLange frame a few months back made with high grade 853 or 943 tubing. Send him a PM. The frame also had a great original colour combo but was destroyed by what I gathered was someone burning off the paint coating. What were they smoking!

 

I reckone your bike to be mid 80's.

 

Check BB lug to see if any telltale signs.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Loose cog