THE RALEIGH TWENTY

So, what have I done since I made the original posting about decisions to make?

1.) Build new wheels using hubs and rims I have in stock.

 

I have a 36-hole front hub and a 36-hole AG hub (AW with built-in generator). I also have a pair of ARAYA aluminium alloy rims in 36-hole (406mm BSD), which are hardly used. I scrounged those off a kid's BMX that had been thrown out for council clean-up. I'll only have to purchase spokes, copper washers for the rear hub and build up the wheels from there.

- I used the ARAYA VP-20 rim, but I used a Sturmey-Archer SRC-3 (II) hub (3-speed with coaster brake) which was in a 700C wheel. It is near to impossible to get a suitable rear brake for the Raleigh Twenty which will work with a 406mm rim. 451mm rims have so far been impossible to obtain at a reasonable price here in Australia. The only importer for Sun-Ringle's CR-18 rims won't bring them into the country, so if I want them I'll have to order from overseas (so much for supporting local bicycle shops!)

2.) Flexible/modular design

My plan is that I will primarily use the folding version of the frame. Part of the plan is to make the design modular so that I can switch between having drop handlebars and north-road style handlebars when I want. For the time being I'll retain using 3-speed sturmey-archer hubs.

- This idea has been scrapped for the time being. It doesn't really work having the coaster-brake hub in the rear wheel. However, a 3-speed coaster-braked Raleigh Twenty might be more versitile than I first thought. I have ridden around on a couple of similarly-equipped bicycles and found them to work quite well. There is the possibility of acquring a couple more Raleigh Twenty bicycles in the near future, but I'm waiting for them to appear in the right condition and at the right price.

3.) Planetbike mudguards (fenders)

The old steel ones are servicable, but getting rather battered and are missing a few vital components. I've been quoted $90 for a set of planetbike mudguards, which will save a lot of weight, and hopefully will be just as sturdy.

 - I'm a university student. It would be nice to have these, but the steel ones will have to do for the time being. I'm no weight weenie anyway (just take a look at my collection of bicycles - none of them weigh less than 15kg!)

4.) Schwalbe Tyres and Tubes

I'll get some Schwalbe tyres and inner-tubes. It will be either the Marathon or the Marathon Plus tyres, probably 20" x 1.75" (47-406). I'll go for the metal-stem inner tubes. Always, when you are going to build up bicycles with a limited budget, you need to plan your spending carefully and then hope that your plans eventuate. Occasionally I take advantage of sales or specials to get wheat I know I will need in the future for cheap. Sometimes I get lucky and find all sorts of treasures in the throw-out piles from various places.

- I've opted for the cheap way out (remember I'm a university student) I've used the tyres that I already have. They're cheap, but they work reasonably well and I'm not racing or anything - I'm just riding around on local trips mostly. I found that I had a "thorn-resistant" inner tube, which has much thicker rubber than standard inner tubes and I have used this in the rear wheel. I might also get one for the front wheel, but I have found that rear wheels always puncture far more often than rear wheels.