This 1970 Raleigh DL-1 is pretty much ready. This bike came from an online sale at a fairly discount price, considering it was a low-mileage bike. The 24 inch frame on 28 inch wheels is as large as I would care to go, but it rides very nicely.
Before:
After:
This bike has a large, 24-tooth rear cog (48-tooth front) and oversized Schwalbe tires. It has a very low gearing, which combines with those tires to create a "slow but steady" feel. The oversized tires are nice to have on dirt paths or rougher roads.
The rod brakes are set up and adjusted. They stop about as well as rod brakes will stop a bike. The low gearing generally keeps the speeds pretty low anyway. The long crank arms and low gearing are nice to have on the hills around here.
Summary of work done:
- All bearings cleaned, oiled/greased and rebuilt.
- Everything disassembled and cleaned.
- Hubs disassembled, cleaned in ultrasonic cleaner, rebuilt.
- Replace crank cotter pins.
- Add new-old-stock Sturmey Archer shifter (metal face)
- New rubber grommets on fender wire brace mounts.
- Replace stripped/damaged screws and bolts.
- Rim washers added to wheels.
- Wheels tensioned and trued.
- New tires and rim strips.
- New brake pads (Kool Stop rubber)
- New MKS 3000S pedals
- New shifter cable and cable cover.
- Replace plastic fulcrum stop and pulley wheel with vintage metal.
- New chain (KMC nickel plated)
- New rear cog (24-tooth Sturmey Archer)
- Paint polished and touched-up.
- New old stock 1970s Raleigh handlebar grips.
- New saddle - Wright's Olympic roadster.
- New retro LED light set (Kiley/Soma)
- Replace wornout decals/graphics with new ones (H. Lloyd's)
- New Acorn saddlebag.
- Vintage Raleigh bell.
Here are some close-ups - those H. Lloyd replacement decals are great.
This is gorgeous! I just purchased a 1970 DL-1 myself, which is my first bike I've owned in adulthood and my first vintage bike ever. It's mostly original, but the grips are from a BMX bike I think. Where did you source your replacement grips? Do you recommend the 24T cog over something like a 22?
ReplyDeleteI get most of my grips from eBay. "Raleigh" or "Dare" branded finger grips will go nicely with a 1970s era DL-1. I've gotten grips from other collectors when I've needed something more unusual in the past, but usually keeping up with eBay will eventually turn up decent condition post-war grips (especially 60s-70s stuff).
DeleteI live in a hilly area and prefer a 24-tooth rear cog when I have a 48-tooth front sprocket on the DL-1. I prefer the 22-tooth rear on the Sports bikes, but I really like a DL-1 with the low geared 24-tooth rear. Make sure you know your front sprocket count before buying the rear cog.