Raleigh Dynaflite SBDU 753.... 'Manager Special'

[KermitGKona88]

Yeah the Sturmey Shifters are twice the weight

 

[peetee]

SA used to make a single lever, twin cable 5 speed handlebar trigger changer - but it was plastic and rubbish, The first time you got a puncture and stood the bike upside down it cracked the casing!

I had that lever on my commuter bike. It fitted very nicely under the brake lever on the drop bars and I could brake and shift at the same time.
And I agree about the quality but the ergonomics were just as bad: shiny, slippery plastic and basic box-shaped paddle.

 

[Peachy!]

SA used to make a single lever, twin cable 5 speed handlebar trigger changer - but it was plastic and rubbish, The first time you got a puncture and stood the bike upside down it cracked the casing!

I’ve never changed a tyre or done any maintenance work on a bike whilst on its saddle/levers/bars, not once.
My Dad taught me how to use a fence/wall/park bench to support a bike or failing that, to lay it down on grass.
It still amazes me when I see a £?K modern bike upside on the road sorting a puncture!

 

[pigman]

It still amazes me when I see a £?K modern bike upside on the road sorting a puncture!

Yeh, me too. My first thought is newbe amateur

Although I get that in this thread the upside down bike is purely for display/photography

 

[vcballbat]

My feeling the Manager Specials that I have seen all follow a similar pattern, each having a high quality top end frame either ex Team frames or especially built to size as a prototype and then repurposed to be passed on. The components being a mix of stock Raleigh items and some high end parts from prototype and show bikes. They all share a simple single colour paint scheme and stock Raleigh decals, no gold plating or pantograph components or anything too flashy that could draw unwanted attention from the union rep's, the owner would of course know that they were riding something very special while flying under the radar.
In this brilliant piece of Raleigh history from 1980 we meet Senior Shop Steward Fred Mitchell....I wonder if he had a hand in building my Sturmey Archer gearbox..

https://www.macearchive.org/films/raleigh-fred-mitchell

 

[vcballbat]

I'm really loving getting out for a blast on the 'Manager Special' and have decided to make it a bit more comfortable and practical by adding a nicely broken in Brooks B17 Standard and my trusty Carradice Nelson Longflap. The original Stock Raleigh saddle though fairly light and comfortable the bag loops were too tight to accept the Carradice leather straps, also as it's in tip top condition I can save it for swapping out for Show & Shine events..

 

[pigman]

I'd be trying to put mudguards on it, make it a proper utility bike

 

[vcballbat]

I'd be trying to put mudguards on it, make it a proper utility bike

I have the original ESGE Chromoplastic mudguards they just need a good scrub and the stays straightened. Will fit them with the original saddle for the fully restored photos next week and will fit them to retain the original look for any show & shine events .

 

[Nob]

I’d start to pay attention to the rotting table,fence & the weed invasion going on in your lawn & concrete decay…..getting out of hand…..n

 

[vcballbat]

I’d start to pay attention to the rotting table,fence & the weed invasion going on in your lawn & concrete decay…..getting out of hand…..n

Ha..the top photo of the complete bike is from the sellers eBay listing so I've got away with that one..
And that table ain't rotten.. it's got a 'Beautiful Patina' just like my frame..