1953 Raleigh Lenton and the "Sporty Roadster" One Year In

Over the course of the 2021 and 2022 riding seasons, I had been kicking the idea around in my head that there was a niche for a bike with a sportier frame than a basic Raleigh Sports, but with upright bars, fenders, bag, lights, and a bell as one would find on a Superbe Sports light roadster.

These kinds of bikes were common in the 1940s and 50s in Britain, but less common in the USA and much less common as derailleur sporting and touring bikes took over in the 1960s and later. In fact, Raleigh had bikes like the 1950s Lenton Tourist, Trent Tourist, and similar that bridged the gap between sporting and utility bikes. It's too bad there aren't more of them around today.

In early 2023, I built up a 1953 Raleigh Lenton as a light roadster touring bike: North Road bars, touring type stem, steel fenders, and the kinds of equipment one would find on a utility bike more than a road bike. Over the course of the 2023 season and into the start of 2024, I built up two more: a 1949 Raleigh Clubman and a 1951 New Hudson Silver Arrow, both as upright bar light roadsters/utility bikes.

Not just any road bike frame can be used as a starting point. Certain road bikes, particularly later bikes from the 1960s and 70s have frame angles that are too tight to make a comfortable, upright rider. Many higher-end road bikes from the '60s and '70s are closer to road racing angles than to more relaxed, touring bikes. The best candidates tend to be the older and more relaxed road frames from 1940s and 50s Great Britain.

One year in, I can say that I enjoy this kind of bike, but it is not a replacement for the faithful and more "plain vanilla" Raleigh Sports or Superbe Sports. And it's certainly not a replacement for a 28-inch wheel DL-1 or similar heavy roadster. But if you're looking for a lighter version of your Raleigh Sports for tackling hills, then these bikes are an option. 

A year in, here are some thoughts on the subject:

• The sportier frame will be a bit lighter and agile feeling. To some riders, it might feel more cramped than a regular Raleigh Sports, but it's still pretty comfortable.
  
• The wheels on the sportier bikes do make a difference: the better-quality Dunlop endrick rims are lighter than Raleigh Westricks. The Westricks are more durable though.
• The sportier bikes that take 26 x 1-1/4 (597mm) tires are limited in tire choices. The regular Raleigh Sports at 26 x 1-3/8 (590mm) have better tire choices.
• The chain guard on the regular Raleigh Sports can be helpful sometimes. 
• Correct replacement parts for a regular Raleigh Sports are easier to get, if you feel you need correct parts for your project.

So the big question: is it worth extra money to buy a higher-end, sporty bike like the Lenton above, and then set it up as an upright tourist? 

• The answer is "yes" if you are dealing with hills and weight savings are a "must" compared to a conventional Raleigh Sports. The answer is also "yes" if you are a hardcore collector of English bikes and have to add some variety to your collection.
• The answer is "no" if you are happy with your Raleigh Sports and weight is less of a concern than tire choices and locating replacement parts. In that case, you may find the sporty roadster is a nice bike to have, but it's not so much better than your regular Raleigh Sports as to justify a  higher price.

If I had to have just "one" vintage English-made bike for practical and pure riding fun purposes, it would still be a basic, post-war Raleigh Sports or Superbe Sports.