A Peer Gynt' owner.

[grldtnr]

Today, I foolishly bought yet another bike, a Radius Peer Gynt', it looks very original complete with a Sanyo Bottom bracket Dynamo, remember them? they were highly regarded back in the day, I even had one, but it did keep blowing bulbs.
The Peer Gynt' as confirm by Kevin Dunsheath is completely original apart from the back tyre, it doesn't seem to have been ridden much, it's a bit grubby, needs a good clean ,oil& adjustment, then I'll be ready to explore how to ride it, which I have done years ago, but this will be a new experience,
All for the princely sum of £150 !, if I don't take to it or really can't ride it, of Kevin D.tek will give me an offer, , I don't plan on keeping it long, I just want to scratch that itch. Or pick the scabs on my grazed knees & Elbows from road rash( sure it will happen!)

 

[FrankCrank]

Today, I foolishly bought yet another bike, a Radius Peer Gynt', it looks very original complete with a Sanyo Bottom bracket Dynamo, remember them? they were highly regarded back in the day, I even had one, but it did keep blowing bulbs.
The Peer Gynt' as confirm by Kevin Dunsheath is completely original apart from the back tyre, it doesn't seem to have been ridden much, it's a bit grubby, needs a good clean ,oil& adjustment, then I'll be ready to explore how to ride it, which I have done years ago, but this will be a new experience,
All for the princely sum of £150 !, if I don't take to it or really can't ride it, of Kevin D.tek will give me an offer, , I don't plan on keeping it long, I just want to scratch that itch. Or pick the scabs on my grazed knees & Elbows from road rash( sure it will happen!)

A bargain I'd say.

 

[classic33]

Might even make an offer on it myself.

 

[grldtnr]

Ah now, let me have my fun with it first , it does need a front tyre. Which could prove difficult to find , as it's not a popular size, 28-440 or put another way 500 A x 28c, the Dyno generator appears 'lunched' but not put a multimeter on it yet, the bulbs may have blown, this was a problem with this Sanyo generator, a widget could be bought to regulate it, as I did hen I had one, but being on the bottom of the tyre, all the crap got thrown into it, and the bearings seized, indeed that what happened to mine, I slapped an ordinary Axa Dyno on in the end.
Apart from that, needing a clean is all it requires, it hasn't had a lot of use. Or otherwise the former rider never used the brakes, which is hard to believe

 

[recumbentpanda]

Wow, a Peer Gynt for 150! That’s a classy and classic bike by all accounts. Chapeau to you sir, may you enjoy many happy miles together.

 

[404 Not Found Anywhere]

I came very close to buying a Peer Gynt in the early 90s. Then my head was turned by a second hand Moulton AM in a nearby bike shop (which I still have, and still ride) and my recumbent epiphany had to wait until 2005.

The Peer Gynt was exceptionally well specced as I recall. I’ve seen a couple pop up for sale over the last few years at ridiculously low prices. Have been tempted but I prioritise domestic harmony!

 

[grldtnr]

Be disingenuous, whatever bike or bikes you buy , make sure they are all the same colour and when challenged just say I only have a red one, even tho' you may have a fleet of bikes
Most non cycling spouses are not attentive to which bike your riding.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Look forward to the first test flight report

 

[a.twiddler]

Ah now, let me have my fun with it first , it does need a front tyre. Which could prove difficult to find , as it's not a popular size, 28-440 or put another way 500 A x 28c.
Apart from that, needing a clean is all it requires, it hasn't had a lot of use. Or otherwise the former rider never used the brakes, which is hard to believe

Congratulations! That looks a pretty good deal. With older bikes, their tyre sizes are just things you have to find ways round.

I had a similar problem with my Linear. It came with a Michelin Diabolo in 500A on the front, on a drum braked wheel. The only similar replacements at the time were a whitewalled Michelin City J or a Hutchinson, not exactly cutting edge, no puncture protection or reflective strips. I wasn't keen on the whitewall myself.

20 X 1 3/8 actually is pretty vague as it covers 438, 440 or 451, and possibly 406, and the width is actually 37 rather than 28. So the ERTRO number is the one to search for. 37-440 is the old French 500A, 37-438 is a Dutch size once used on juvenile bikes and also on older Dutch recumbents.

I found a Schwalbe HS110 in 37- 438 listed on ebay relatively cheaply.

It occurred to me that there is only 2mm difference in the bead seat diameter between the 440 size and the 438, quite possibly within the tolerances of a tyre designed for either size. What if...? You often hear of certain tyres being easy or difficult to fit for a the correct rim size. If the tolerances add up, you might get away with it.

So I took a gamble and pressed the trigger. It did have puncture protection and a reflective band, which seems not to be a feature on some I've seen.

It went on easily, though took a bit of fiddling to get it seated properly. Eventually I got it sorted, and it worked well. An added bonus was that although it and the original tyre were nominally 37 mm wide, the HS110 was noticeably narrower.

It worked for me, can't guarantee that it would work for others, but it might give you an option if you can't get the narrow size that you want.

Another incentive in your case is that it looks like you have the Magura hydraulic rim brakes. While these are reputedly very good, you probably couldn't easily change the wheel for, say a 406, in the interest of a wider tyre choice without having to change the front brake for something with a longer reach.

The joys of vintage recumbents. Anyhow, I hope you manage to get it up and running soon.

 

[grldtnr]

Like you say , the joys of old recumbent s, a may have to resize the front wheel build up a drum brake hub in a more available size, the problem is apparently wider section tyres upset the handling , if the 28-440 proves Unobtainable, then I may have to resort to the 438. Whilst that size might fit. Perhaps when I go to France I might luvk out and get the 500A but that's unlikely.
The trike is fitted with 406, but to be honest I don't want to spend too much on it.
I'll just make do with the current one, it's not in the best condition ,but serviceable

 

[classic33]

https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/oxford-pathway-20-x-1-3-8-black?

 

[grldtnr]

Thanks for the linky, but we were discussing the original tyre size, 20" × 13/8 ths might be a nominal size , but I need it to be 28-440 or 500A x28, , it depends how it's measured 20" tyres could be 438, 440, or 406, and many others, the 438 at a pinch may do but , I have to go by the ETRO,tyre sizing.
The current one mat be ok, but it must be well over 30 yrs old, or even more.
Ebay might be my friend here.

 

[classic33]

What size is marked on the rim? Is the rim original.
The leaflet on it says 20" X 1 3/8" tyre size.