Raleigh Traveller

[fat Andy]

I am clearing out my father in laws garden shed at the moment prior to the flat being sold. I came across a very dusty Raleigh Traveller bike. It is certainly in need of a little oil, a wash and brush up and some air in the tubes, but it looks fun. It is painted a rather bright metallic and as the decals are all there is obviously original, but looks a bit odd as it is a very trad sit up and beg style with a 3 speed sturmey archer.
New whitewalls and a spruce up? Keep or sell?
Oh yes, it weighs about a ton!

 

[Greebo]

Is it the right size for you? If not, no point keeping it. As for weighing a ton, compared to what?

If you look on the YACF board, there's a way of putting modern brakes onto a 1980s or earlier bike, but you need metalworking tools (to drill a couple of holes and fit a plate).

FWIW hubgears usually do make a bike heavier than derailleurs, but it's a trade off between being bombproof and lightness. If you can see a number and letters on the gear hub, make a note of it. Some vintage buyers like to know which Sturmey hub it's got, because some were more reliable than others.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Keep it! and also be careful trying to tart it up too much, you will spoil the patina that comes with a bike of this age. Maybe fit some new brake blocks mind...even then the brakes are likely to be shit (but better than rod brakes) but thats not the point...these bikes are great for mooching.

 

[fat Andy]

Keep it! and also be careful trying to tart it up too much, you will spoil the patina that comes with a bike of this age. Maybe fit some new brake blocks mind...even then the brakes are likely to be shit (but better than rod brakes) but thats not the point...these bikes are great for mooching.

I'm tempted but it's a little small. The usual bike is a Trek 7.6fx hybrid which is about half the weight! The tyres are obviously flat but they have split with age and will have to go. It has the lights and rack in the photo but the chain guard only covers half the chainwheel. I think I will just wash it and oil it for a very occasional mooch

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

You can buy the tyres, brake blocks and cables NOS on ebay if you want to keep it original...modern cables and housings are way better than this vintage of stuff mind.