| Sometimes wisdom... does not come with age... :-S So I'm out for a cruise on the DL-1 last night... and this wee lad of about 9 or 10 challenges me to a race. He's on a single speed 20" wheeled BMX contraption. Like a fool, I take him up on it. I even give him a bit of a head start... Our blocks here are approx. 1/8 mile and he takes off and has me beat for about 1/2 a block. It takes a little bit to get them big 28" wheels going after all.... but I'm pushing hard. When I passed him... it was like he was literally standing still... he sez "WHOA!!!!" (I'm thinking, yeah... right... rod brakes and "Whoa!"...) So there I am hurtling down this minor incline at I'm figuring between 25 and 35mph. Faster than I've ever pushed the bike... in a neighborhood where the deer are thick as thieves and can only be described as "like lawn ornaments everywhere". Got smacked in the head by a beetle of some sort and it was equally as impactful as when it happens on the motorcyle doing 40..... I get on the binders and resume a more... shall we say "prudent" speed... You most certainly can get a DL-1 moving along... even with arthritic knees... but they will remind you of your foolishness for a considerable time after the fact. Still... we gotta keep them young-uns in their proper place, eh? Regards! Larry "Rubber Legs" Bone by: 69.39.170.33 |
| Good going, Larry. Gotta keep those whippersnappers in line. I live down by the beach in Connecticut where the land is mercifully flat. Nothing gives me more pleasure when I'm riding one of my vintage British bikes than to blow by some lycra clad racer on their new fangled flyweight contraptions. Usually its not "whoa" that I hear out of their mouths. by: 172.151.8.251 |
| Not "Whoa!", eh? I can only imagine. As to "flyweight" bikes... The feller that Owns Joe Fixits (a velocipede emporium in Goshen, NY) thought it was immensely amusing when I refered to such bicycles as "Rolling Clouds". ;-) Later! Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 193.38.171.31 |
| psh The beach down in Southern CT is easy work! I live in central Litchfield County where it's pretty hilly. The 3 speed helps, but let's say I'd need more like a 30 speed to pass the spandex crowd on a hill. I generally seek out the flatest area possible. by: 64.252.49.151 |
| ...it may be a whole stash of NOS Raleigh rear axle nuts! http://www.jaysmarine.com/Raleigh_R_nuts1.jpg http://www.jaysmarine.com/Raleigh_R_nuts2.jpg The above is the result of my excavations (litterally) in the back room of the last remaining ex-Raleigh of Nottingham shop here in Miami. And yes, that is an NOS Raleigh Chopper sissybar spring...he only had one. Then again, I don't have a use for the other, as I don't have a Raleigh Chopper! Found a ton of NOS rear axle nuts, as you see there. Also found a generous amount of used front axle nuts - three with flanged washers (the fourth is probably still in one of the drawers there - I'll go check some other time), and 4 very small ones that appear even smaller then the ones used for the cotter pins (although I may be wrong.) Thought I'd share my find. All the best, -Kurt by: 152.163.100.202 |
| You've got a small gold mine there. Look at what those red R nuts go for on eBay... by: 63.102.203.28 |
| I was aware of that - that's why I bought these. No need to give those eBay sharks any of my buisness! A nut's a nut - I can't justify paying $40 for a pair of simple nuts! Take care, -Kurt by: 205.188.116.204 |
| >A nut's a nut - I can't justify paying $40 for a pair of simple nuts! Yeah... that would be nuts! ;-) Later! Larry Bone by: 193.38.171.31 |
| >Yeah... that would be nuts! ;-) The terrible part of it is there's some nut out there who'll actually buy those nuts from those fellows with enough nuts to charge that much for nuts! -Kurt by: 64.12.116.198 |
| Well Kurt... from what I can see.... You're the man... with the NUTS! ;-) Peace! Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 69.39.168.246 |
| Honestly...you'd think ignorance is bliss (and stupidity rampant) for sellers like these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2904&item=7168034084&rd=1 If I may only begin to list the auction's major faults... They've got a Sports. They show photos of a DL-1. Just rip it off Sheldon's site as if it was your own, why don't you! Yes - it was made somewhere between the '30s and the '60s...how convinent Sheldon's first paragraph can be. Obviously, they never got past that first paragraph, or they would have found that their bike is a Sports model, that Sturmey-Archer did not make the bike but rather the hubs...and they would have found how to accurately date their old shinken. Anyone care to enlighten this seller with some facts? -Kurt by: 64.12.116.202 |
| Kurt: the link you published isn't the auction you're complaining about! by: 66.30.200.82 |
| It was when Kurt posted actually. I checked a few hours ago and the auction had Sheldon's rod brake Superbe up. Apparently the auction has been modified since then. I think someone emailed the guy. by: 64.252.49.151 |
| I saw the auction as posted originally as well and thought it quite odd. Albeit, the machine is somewhat interesting and the new pic of the seat would allude to it being Holland manufactured. Regards, Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 69.39.169.145 |
| Was that rear fender curtain on the sides a Dutch item? I've actually never seen one of those in person though they do look interesting. by: 64.252.49.151 |
| Ad has been revised since. Interesting machine, it is though! Now that Larry mentions it, it does appear to be anything but a U.S. spec model. I have seen those exact skirts on only one other bike - a '74 Raleigh Tourist (Holland-built, actually a Grand Prix w/chaincase) at this site: http://www.de-flux.org/raleigh/ Take care, -Kurt by: 64.12.116.198 |
| I've been to that URL before, Kurt. If you look at the bike, while described as a Tourist, it most certainly is a Sprite frame with 27" wheels, wide flange front hub and 3-speed S/A rear hub. Do note the "bullet" front fender.... I would love to convert my 5-speed derailleur geared sprite over just like that one. It's a comfy and stable ride... I just deplore the doggone gears on it. A couple of years ago I spotted an old Columbia "roadster" with 27" wheels and an S/A rear hub... why on earth I didn't give the feller the $5 he wanted for it.... :-S Oh well... NEXT ONE! Regards, Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 69.39.169.38 |
| I was looking at the Kenda website and couldn't find the usual tire sizes. They have these funny categories (like other tire mfrs) "road," "comfort," etc. that seem very vague to me. Finally I found 26 x 1 3/8 and the similar, now oddball, sizes in their "wheelchair" category. I wonder if there are more wheelchairs using these tires than old Sports models. by: 66.30.200.82 |
| Go figure - their site is geared for fickle modern riders - and then again, it's arranged in such a fashion as to be easy to navigate for uneducated riders, however, the product descriptions and specs would probably baffle someone with limited knowledge on the subject. P.S.: Just found out that Memory Lane Classics carries 26 1-3/8" (E.A.3) Kendas in whitewalls. Take care, -Kurt by: 64.12.116.198 |
| Well, I believe I've failed at my pathetic attempt to cull the herd. I adv an exceptional ladies DL-1 on CL for 250 and got several hits. Where I made my mistake was I took the girl for a last ride downtown and realized how awesomely cool these bikes are. Now I can't part with it! My tip to you is, don't even look or most certainly ride a bike you are going to sell or you'll be reminded why you bought it in the first place. by: 207.200.116.139 |