This summer has generally oscillated between two extremes - very hot and humid, or cool and rainy. We haven't had very many "pleasant days". That changed this week. Although we had some Canadian wildfire spillover smoke, the weather was dry and generally quite pleasant. That is a welcomed change. It gave me a chance to take out a few vintage bikes.
The week started off suitably warm, with lots of wildfire smoke in the air. This 1947 Raleigh Model 35 bicycle is one of the best-riding bikes I've ever owned. I'd put it in the top-3 - very comfortable, reasonably light, and pleasant all around.
Typical of 1940s Raleighs, this bike has cloth-covered brake cables. These covers add character to the bike, but are often somewhat dry and fragile today. This has a decent set of covers. Some areas have been patched with matching, black heat-shrink tubing. Other areas, such as the one below are still in really nice shape.
The smoke haze is visible in the sky, at the top of the photo below. It has some smell to it, but conditions still are not too bad for riding.
As the week progressed, the temperatures dropped a bit, it stayed dry, and the smoke subsided. I took out this beautiful 1959 Schwinn Traveler. While the Raleigh Model 35 is a basic bike that was meant for everyday work, the 1959 Traveler is more ornate and decorated in the "American" style of the 1950s. The Traveler is a heavier, more deluxe bike.
I love the winged-oval badges on these Schwinns.
Period touches include a 1950s style "Cadillac" emblem pin.
Later in the week, I took out this 1970 Raleigh DL-1. The DL-1 is unlike anything else on the road. It has a heavy frame, large wheels, and a very long wheelbase. Full-sized, rod brake roadsters are in a league of their own.
All of my rider bikes have LED lights on them. I ride on the local roads, and these help with visibility. I use the lights even during the daytime to help myself be seen. Safety is always a concern on the public roads here in the USA these days.
