Back on two wheels

[arsewise]

OK to be honest I'm quite often on two wheels but they're motorcycle wheels. But after DECADES of not owning a pushbike I am now the proud owner of a rather clapped out 1975 Raleigh Twenty Shopper, in hideous brown.

The reason I got it (cheap) is for throwing in the back of my camper van so when I go somewhere for holiday excursions I have a nice little transport for nipping to the shops etc. It's old and tired but everything seems to function as expected. Terrible brakes of course. I have probably done about a half a mile on it so far, all within the walkways of the storage unit where it's currently housed but my initial view is that it's a great little bike that should serve the purpose well. It might even get an electric front wheel at some point in the future.

First thing is I've already ordered an assortment of cables and tyres so the basics should be sorted out soon enough. However, I am currently mulling over the option of getting a modern Sturmey Archer SRC-3(ii) coaster brake hub and I was just wondering if there's any reason why this wouldn't work. I know there are various versions of these hubs and I know Raleigh had some propitiatory gubbins hither and thither but I'm not adverse to a bit of modification if need be. I just want the thing to go well and stop even better.

Oh and it's not going to stay hideous brown. I have several cans of black spray paint currently without a use so you KNOW what's going to happen.

 

[DCLane]

 

[sevenfourate]

Howdy 2-wheeled Cowboy 👋

 

[arsewise]

Funnily enough I was telling a biking friend of mine yesterday that I was getting a bike, a "vintage" one with a Sturmey 3-speed, and he said oh dear I remember those. Dreadful things.

I noticed his bike had like fifty gears and a riding position that looked incredibly painful.

I think I'm going to be just fine on my old school pusher. At least I won't feel the need to wear a lycra catsuit and expose my nether regions to whoever's behind me.

 

[FrankCrank]

Welcome aboard.

I have several Twenty/Stowaway variants, they're great little bikes for very little outlay.
I have one just like yours, same colour scheme, and that one has a coaster 3-speed hub, so yeah, definitely doable.
You might want to consider a cheaper alternative, and convert the 451mm wheels to the more common 405mm BMX alloy wheels.
This offers greater tyre choice, softer ride, and improved braking.
If it were mine, I'd leave the paint as is - it's only original once, as they say.
One thing for sure, doubt you'll find a better/cheaper bike for tinkering with and having fun

Here's a pic of mine for reference

 

[arsewise]

I really like that with the coaster hub. Very tidy.

I wasn't really expecting much when I bought the Shopper. I wasn't specifically looking for one, I just wanted a cheap small bike that could easily be thrown in the back of my van for camping excursions and things. This came up cheaper than any of the folding bikes I was looking at so I went for it. I already half expected to need new cables and maybe tyres for whatever I got so that wasn't an issue.

But the old tyres were actually up on this bike and the cables although old, cracked and manky actually work so I had a little spin around the halls inside the storage unit and I immediately fell in love with it. Really easy to fling yourself on and off it, rides great, turns sharper than any bike I can remember and is well comfortable with the current seat and stock handlebars. I even really liked the 3 speed hub. The only thing I didn't like were the feeble brakes and since I have wild aspirations to fit an electric front wheel kit to it at some point I think I really want better brakes hence the coaster hub interest.

I've even ordered an original rear rack for it already. It might even get saddle bags, and yeah I've noted from online info that you can change the wheels but I'd already ordered new tyres for it by then so I'll probably just go with those until I wear them out.

I had several bikes in my younger days but I don't remember any of them being as fun to ride as this thing. It's just a brilliant design for the purpose I want it for, and it's still so small I don't even care that it's not a folder. I fetched it in the back of a VW Polo so it's no problem to stow away and it will go in the van easily.

 

[FrankCrank]

I see them as the biking equivalent of the classic Mini - endless potential for modding and tweaking.
You might find it difficult to get a 3-speed coaster hub in 28h, but 36h are readily available. You can get single speed hubs in 28h easily enough, but that might not be suitable for your needs.

The Twenty I recently acquired cost a fiver - ideal for leaving locked up in town. In fact, the lock cost more than double the bike