So, having just posted in the "introduce myself" forum, I thought I'd post my project on here. Hope it's the right place!
When my grandad passed away I inherited his Raleigh Lenton Sport. Date on the rear hub says 1954?
He got the bike in the early 60s I think, second hand as an anniversary gift from his wife and rode it until the age of 92! The last couple of years it has been rotting a bit in his (and then my) garage, but now I have a bit more time on my hands I'd like to start to get it up and running, but have no experience with old bikes like this.
Jobs that need doing:
-wheels need restoring: they are the original dunlop rims but spokes are knocked and though the rims aren't too rusty, they are coated in black brake deposits that wont seem to shift
-a few spokes have gone
-the bike has a Hercules 3 speed rear hub, but I have the original sturmey FM hub on a spare wheel, I cant tell if either work!
-the polychromatic green paint is rough- no rust but there is nearly as much black enamel as there is green!
-all the cables are in a state
-the pedals dont match! I have a complete pair of rubber block pedals with it, or one quill pedal (that I think must be the original)
-bottom bracket and headset probably need a service
Like I said, not done any work on these old bikes before, and the Sturmey Archer confused me.
Want to keep it original if possible, but on a tiny budget and dont know where to start! Any thoughts or if anybody has done this before I'd value some hints!
Cheers guys!
When my grandad passed away I inherited his Raleigh Lenton Sport. Date on the rear hub says 1954?
He got the bike in the early 60s I think, second hand as an anniversary gift from his wife and rode it until the age of 92! The last couple of years it has been rotting a bit in his (and then my) garage, but now I have a bit more time on my hands I'd like to start to get it up and running, but have no experience with old bikes like this.
Jobs that need doing:
-wheels need restoring: they are the original dunlop rims but spokes are knocked and though the rims aren't too rusty, they are coated in black brake deposits that wont seem to shift
-a few spokes have gone
-the bike has a Hercules 3 speed rear hub, but I have the original sturmey FM hub on a spare wheel, I cant tell if either work!
-the polychromatic green paint is rough- no rust but there is nearly as much black enamel as there is green!
-all the cables are in a state
-the pedals dont match! I have a complete pair of rubber block pedals with it, or one quill pedal (that I think must be the original)
-bottom bracket and headset probably need a service
Like I said, not done any work on these old bikes before, and the Sturmey Archer confused me.
Want to keep it original if possible, but on a tiny budget and dont know where to start! Any thoughts or if anybody has done this before I'd value some hints!
Cheers guys!
