http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/ Dave UK's Custom Universal Unisport This Polish-built "Universal Unisport" was in a sorry state when I bought it for £8.00 at a Boot Sale. However, the frame and paintwork were still in excellent condition so I decided to modify it. I threw away the rusty chrome wheels and most of the fittings before modding it in a similar fashion to that of the Twenty that I had rebuilt 2 years ago. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152152902 152152902 Unfortunately, I took the original bike to bits as soon as I got it home so I don't have a "before" photo. However, I saw this photo of a similar one for sale on Ebay, albeit in a much better condition than mine was. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152180400 152180400 The "Unisport" can legitimately claim to be a "Rayleigh" Twenty because the Universal Company was based in Rayleigh, Essex when these bikes first went on sale in the late seventies. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152152903 152152903 The paintwork is the original and of surprisingly good quality. It had rather too many tacky decals that did little to improve its appearance so I removed the excessive ones. All the welded joints are perfectly clean. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154836 152154836 The bottom bracket spindle is bonded to the chainwheel and only one cotter pin is needed for the crank arm on the other side but that's not the only unusual B/B feature; see the next photo! http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152153222 152153222 The bearing cups are a press fit within the B/B shell; the spindle is threaded like a wheel axle and adjustment is made by the left cone with a castellated locknut to hold it in place. The drive side cone is part of the chainwheel/spindle assembly. The aluminium cup that you see here is merely a dust cover. The system is tricky to service but it works okay. Phil Wood disciples should leave this one alone! http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152153478 152153478 The steel stem is only 21.2mm diameter and also too short for me. It was difficult to find a suitable replacement so I cut the bend off the top and machined an aluminium collar to clamp to it to it using an adjustable Raleigh "A" head stem. The headset is a fairly conventional ball bearing type on a 1" threaded steerer. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152153223 152153223 The replacement front wheel came from a children's BMX bike. The fork is not particularly strong so it was easy to spread to fit. The slots had to be filed out to take the 10mm axle. The mudguards are made of ultra-light aluminium and are the original fittings. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154466 152154466 The original rear carrier was a steel wire type and I replaced it with this "Pletscher" style full size alloy "Avenir" model and cut the struts down to fit. The original pressed steel calliper brakes were as bad as those fitted to the UK Twenties. I replaced them with alloy "Dia-Compe" type BMX brakes. A replacement rear wheel was built using a Sturmey Archer hub in an aluminium rim taken from the same kid's bike that provided the front wheel. The original was a steel rimmed single speed. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154837 152154837 Genuine Pletscher carriers have alloy struts but on this almost identical copy (that only cost £10) they are made of steel. I had to cut them down from the full size to fit the smaller frame and attach fixing brackets. These brackets were made from a couple of modified radiator keys held in place with Araldite. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=173101239 173101239 I was lucky enough to get a saddle at a boot sale for £3 that was almost identical to the one that I had fitted on my Raleigh Twenty. The 400mm alloy post and toolbag came from Ebay http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152180806 152180806 The Brompton "M" handlebar is ideal for small wheel bikes and I have one on my Raleigh Twenty. When used with an adjustable stem it gives the extra height and legroom that I need. This combination also distributes some extra weight over the front wheel to steady the steering. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154838 152154838 The folding mechanism isn't very stylish but it is strong and easier to use than that of the Raleigh Twenty http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154839 152154839 I swopped the original pedals for SunTour folding types that make the folded bike much easier to transport. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154840 152154840 The frame dimensions are very similar to the Raleigh Twenty.The Wheelbase is marginally shorter, due to the slightly reduced offset of the fork. I now have a useful second bike that is easier to pack in the car and the mudguards make it the folder of choice when it is raining. http://raleightwenty.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=152154467 152154467