Johnny Ragwort
Dirt Disciple
So, this happened on Thursday. I work for a small brewery and Thursday is my delivery day, when I potter around the Forest of Dean in a van delivering beer. At one point I went past a house with a pile of stuff on the driveway, obviously destined for the tip. Atop the pile was an elderly road bike, so I stopped and knocked on the door to ask if I could have it. (Admittedly, I was hoping it might be a forgotten gem with a 531 frame, but never mind.) Yes, absolutely, they said, so I'm now the proud owner of an ancient and very dusty Raleigh Winner. Here it is, as found ...
Steel wheels and seatpin. Even the hidden part of the stem is steel. No wonder this thing is so heavy.
Sachs Huret derailleurs, under all the dust and cobwebs.
The famous "gas pipe" 18-23 tubing
Steel chainrings! Not seen a bike fitted with these for years.
So there it is. It's never going to be the world's best bike, but it was free and I've got most of the bits kicking about to make it rideable again. I love bringing stuff like this back from the dead! I don't really have a use for it, so once it's finished I'll probably donate it to a local charity who sell cheapie bikes.
Steel wheels and seatpin. Even the hidden part of the stem is steel. No wonder this thing is so heavy.
Sachs Huret derailleurs, under all the dust and cobwebs.
The famous "gas pipe" 18-23 tubing
Steel chainrings! Not seen a bike fitted with these for years.
So there it is. It's never going to be the world's best bike, but it was free and I've got most of the bits kicking about to make it rideable again. I love bringing stuff like this back from the dead! I don't really have a use for it, so once it's finished I'll probably donate it to a local charity who sell cheapie bikes.
