Purists love this Raleigh green but I will state right out I am not a purist and really don't like green for any bicycle. The plan for the Sports is a complete restoration with a powder coated color I have always wanted for a 3 speed. The Raleigh Sports will also receive new handlebars, a replacement stem, a new Brooks saddle, new handlebar grips, all new cables & housings, a new saddle bag, new bearings, I am thinking new alloy rims and spokes and replacement brake calipers as it has the original pain in the but pear shaped cables ends.
As you can see in he before photos below he Raleigh Sports 3 Speed is in really rough starting shape. It took a great deal of work to break the Raleigh down, like the Gitane a lot of parts where frozen and stuck. Eventually I got everything apart.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Stem |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before\ Handlebars |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Front |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Front Brake |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Rim |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Top Tube Hardware |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Seat Lug Hardware |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Drive Train |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Crank |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Pedal |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Rear Brake |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Bicycle Before - Classic Raleigh Fender |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Hub |
I originally was planing to paint the frame and actually had the primer and base coat applied and wet sanded but with the new powder coat equipment I would rather do that.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Down Tube & Decal |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Top Tube |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Before - Seat Lug |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Before - Drop Outs |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Before - Fork |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Before - Fork |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Before - Fork |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Before Fork Crown |
My plan for the Raleigh Sports is to also paint the head tube cream along with the classic white back end of the rear fender in the same cream. I laid down the cream powder to the head tube first and then all of the orange. With real high temp tape this process went a lot easier.
With the orange look good I applied the layer of high gloss clear coat. I love this orange with metal flake in it and the clear coat went down like glass, I love it!!
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Stripped |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Stripped |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Stripped |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Stripped |
I applied the cream color to the head tube first and then masked the area off with high temperature tape. The cream color really looks good so far.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Cream Colored Head Tube |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Head Tube Masked |
I love this orange color as I said above. It has some metal flake in it but not much, just a really good tone and the cream accents it very well. The gloss clear coat went on like glass, beautiful!
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Powder Coat Complete |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Cream Head Tube |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Powder Complete Bottom Bracket |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Frame Powder - Complete |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Frame Powder Complete - Fork |
I cleaned and polished the headset and replaced the loose bearings. The headset turned out pretty nice and looks great against the cream and orange.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Headset Polished New Bearings |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Headset Cups - Pressed |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Headset Bearings Packed |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Headset Complete |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Original Raleigh Stem Replacement Stem |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Stem - Installed |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Stem Installed |
The original Raleigh Sport's handlebars where in rough starting shape, I tried to save them but there was just to much rust pitting for my standards. I have ordered a set of Soma Sparrow handlebars but for now I installed a set of Velo-Orange flat bars.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Temporary Velo-Orange Handlebars Installed |
Same as the Gitane and Single Speed frames I will build the Raleigh Sports 3 Speed up as I have time so check back soon.
I have been working on the Raleigh Sport 3 Speed slowly when I have a minute here or there between customer work.
I have probably 3 hours in on media blasting on the fender and chain guard. The rust was a major pain especially on the underside in the crevices.
I cut the rear end of the front fender with a cutting wheel basically to clean up the damaged end. I wish I took a photo of the after but the sharpie line shows where the cut was made and the line looks great cut.
I removed most of the dents in the fenders and chain guard but a few remain as my sheet metal skills are a little rusty,
I have a few photos I need to find yet, I take about 10,000 bike photos a month and I know the missing ones are in there like the chain guard photos and a few others I just need to dig deeper.
The powder coating of the fenders and chain guard went great and was a learning experience for thinner pieces.
I really love the look of the Raleigh Sports coming together.
I need to find a replacement Raleigh Herring crank as the originals chrome is just to far gone.
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Rear Fender Media Blasted |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Front Fender - Media Blasted |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Inside Front Fender - Media Blasted |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Front Fender - Trim Line |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Front Fender Powder Coated |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Front Fender Powder Coated |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Front Fender Cap Polished |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Front Fender Cap Installed |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Rear Fender Powder Coated |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Fenders & Chain Guard Complete |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration Fenders - Complete |
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| 1968 Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Restoration - Fenders - Complete |
Wow....that Orange is absolutely stunning! I have always liked Orange bikes, like the early Rivendell Sam Hillborne's and the Sports is just beautiful, the cream head badge really sets it off. Someone is going to get a one of a kind wonder, look forward to the completed bike.
ReplyDeletelooks good
ReplyDeleteThis is a long time ago but is there a post for the finished bike?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei also have a raleigh sports which dates from 1974 which i restored ,i painted mine dark green as alot of the sports models were done in bronze green, i had to change alot of the original parts and adapt the bike to fit me as i am quite tall,i changed the original quill stem which was too short and fitted a longer one ,i have also changed the all rounder handlebars,i had fitted previously and fitted hi riser bars to give me more room ,i also fitted a gel saddle for added comfort as the original brooks saddle was worn out,i also fitted 26x1/3/8 wheels as the original wheels were worn out and were an obselete size ,i also had new transfers made for the frame ,the bike rides very well,and following the modifications i have recently made is a pleasure to ride.
ReplyDeleteWow....that Orange is absolutely stunning! I have always liked Orange bikes, like the early Rivendell Sam Hillborne's and the Sports is just beautiful, the cream head badge really sets it off. Someone is going to get a one of a kind wonder, look forward to the completed bike.
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