A Gentlemans Rudge

[SF959]

Following your posts about your Rudge with interest.
Love the bike and your process of overhauling it to make it roadworthy.
Will help me with maintenance to my old Raleigh.
Thank you.

 

[biggs682]

Following your posts about your Rudge with interest.
Love the bike and your process of overhauling it to make it roadworthy.
Will help me with maintenance to my old Raleigh.
Thank you.

Its my second dabble in 3 speed bikes this was my first My 50's Raleigh Roadster and i enjoy that one a lot hence this one

 

[Always Cross]

I got one of these that someone rescued out of the skip. I paid £25 for it it came with a Sturmey Archer 4 speed Dynamo hub on the back. I changed the chain wheel to a 36 so i’M riding in top all the time and have 3 gears to go down to for the hill. The original saddle was missing and has a gel saddle on now. I had a couple of Dynamo lights so fitted them surprised the Dynamo was still working. I haven’t cleaned it and it’s a bit rusty but I use it everyday commuting. I’ve done a 55 mile ride on it with no problem. I look really regal on it. The chain case I had on it split in half to get it off so no need to split the chain. I have 2 bikes and 1 trike. The trike and Rudge are the ones that puts a smile on my face when I ride them.

 

[simongt]

The chroming was done properly in those days with a copper base layer

Indeed. Many folk think that it's the chrome that rusts, when in fact in the latter penny pinching days the chrome was plated straight onto the steel, thus it was actually the steel rusting THROUGH the many tiny holes in the chrome plating caused by stones and other road debris.

 

[raleighnut]

Indeed. Many folk think that it's the chrome that rusts, when in fact in the latter penny pinching days the chrome was plated straight onto the steel, thus it was actually the steel rusting THROUGH the many tiny holes in the chrome plating caused by stones and other road debris.

Chrome plating is porous, nowt to do with chips.

 

[Illaveago]

I like chips.

 

[Always Cross]

I,ve got the purple pump to go with your bike if you want it?

 

[raleighnut]

I,ve got the purple pump to go with your bike if you want it?

Would Ms Goodbody be interested in a purple 'pump' @Fnaar

 

[biggs682]

I,ve got the purple pump to go with your bike if you want it?

Thanks for the offer will give it some thought .

Had a bit of time tonight cleaning and refitting the headset along with some new grease and its smooth as butter now and had another 5 laps of the cul de sac

Next job is to have a look at the bottom bracket and see what comes undone or not

 

[biggs682]

Progress slowed this morning as both bottom bracket cups refused to budge so that job will go to my local bike shop to do .

So this morning i stripped the rear caliper down and cleaned the sticky residue of and rebuilt it and then replaced the original looking pads with some modern 60 mm myb / v brake ones that will helpfully help with the retardation .

Still need to decide what to do with the guards either leave as is or rub them down and apply some hammerite

 

[simongt]

Chrome plating is porous,

The GLW who is an analytical chemist by trade - with two degrees under her belt - disagrees.

 

[simongt]

ones that will helpfully help with the retardation .

Isn't that rather taking the fun out of riding a classic bike - ?

 

[biggs682]

Isn't that rather taking the fun out of riding a classic bike - ?

yeah i suppose it is , but i intend to use this one for commuting on shared footpaths . Plus there are only so any pant changes one can do in a day

 

[simongt]

Ahh, the joy of chromed steel rims and hard Fibrax brake blocks in the wet; the days when boys were boys - and could pedal out of trouble at light speed - !

 

[biggs682]

Ahh, the joy of chromed steel rims and hard Fibrax brake blocks in the wet; the days when boys were boys - and could pedal out of trouble at light speed - !

Forget fibrax these are John Bull ones