Raleigh City bike from years ago

[dannyfrankszzz]

Hi, I've recently got possession of a Raleigh City bike. It's been sitting in a store room for probably decades. Not that I'm an expert but the bike looks like it's from the 50s although that's just a guess. There's also a shop name on the bike - Withington Cycles, Manchester. It says the bike was made in Nottingham and there is a frame number on it.

It seems to be fitted with a Stermey Archer internal hub gear on the rear wheel, which might be salvageable. The wheels are not in great condition. The frame itself is a bit rusty but looks like it's basically fine.

Just wondered if it might have any value - perhaps if I do it up.

I googled Withington Cycles but their site seems to be down. However, the shop still seems to be running.

 

[Mark T]

dannyfrankszzz writtificated

> I googled Withington Cycles but their site seems to be down. However,
> the shop still seems to be running.

This is prolly too much info but:

The shop is indeedy still running. The original Withington Cycles was
owned by local cycling eccentric Malc Cowle. The business went bankrupt a
couple of years back -Malc is a great bloke, but not great at running a
business- and was resurrected by one of the mechanics, trading under the
same name from the same premises. It's my favoured place for repairs -
decent mechanics and, not being on a busy road or doing any marketing, a
very small waiting list even at the height of summer.

Their website used to be www.withingtoncycles.co.uk but this was owned by
Malc, or Malc's son. Someone had done a lot of work getting it into search
results and it was fairly successful, tho suffered for not keeping much in
the way of stock in the shop so delivery could take a while. After the
bankruptcy the url redirected to Malc's son's 'Withoutdoors' outdoor site
which, although run on similar principles, had the advantage of having
their premises next door to an outdoor equipment manufacturer. It is the
Withoutdoors shop/site that has now closed down.

Withington Cycles website is www.withingtoncyclesltd.co.uk . It is still
under development. The shop is tiny-small but has some interesting stuff
in. Most importantly it smells like a proper bike shop too.

 

[Rob Morley]

On 24 Jun 2008 22:02:13 GMT
Mark T
<pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
wrote:

> Most importantly it smells like a proper bike shop too.

Oil, rust, rubber, leather and an old bloke out the back smoking a pipe?

 

[James Thomson]

"dannyfrankszzz" <[email protected]> a
écrit:

> I've recently got possession of a Raleigh City bike. It's been
> sitting in a store room for probably decades. Not that I'm an
> expert but the bike looks like it's from the 50s although that's
> just a guess.

The hub probably has a date code (month and year) on it. If you think the
rear wheel is original, that's a good way to date the bike.

> Just wondered if it might have any value - perhaps if I do it up.

If you mean resale value, roadster bikes in "as found" condition - unless
they're particularly special - don't fetch much. If you need to replace
parts (rims, tyres, cables) to make it saleable, and you pay retail prices
for those, you'll probably have trouble recouping your investment. If you
want to keep the bike to ride, there'll be pleasure in the work and value in
the use you derive from it.

James Thomson

 

[Mark T]

James Thomson writtificated

>> Just wondered if it might have any value - perhaps if I do it up.
>
> If you mean resale value, roadster bikes in "as found" condition -
> unless they're particularly special - don't fetch much.

From experience of selling second hand bikes privately, if it goes (and
stops) and nothing is obviously borked you'll get £20 to £30 for it. If
you spend money on it you'll get £30 to £35 for it.

Pumping up the tyres, replacing cables if they need it, adjusting gears &
brakes and possibly whacking on some new pads (or filing the pads back into
shape and condition) is about all you can do.

 

[Pete Biggs]

dannyfrankszzz wrote:
> Hi, I've recently got possession of a Raleigh City bike. It's been
> sitting in a store room for probably decades. Not that I'm an expert
> but the bike looks like it's from the 50s although that's just a
> guess. There's also a shop name on the bike - Withington Cycles,
> Manchester. It says the bike was made in Nottingham and there is a
> frame number on it.
>
> It seems to be fitted with a Stermey Archer internal hub gear on the
> rear wheel, which might be salvageable. The wheels are not in great
> condition. The frame itself is a bit rusty but looks like it's
> basically fine.
>
> Just wondered if it might have any value - perhaps if I do it up.

I don't think it will have any "collectors" value. It'll just be worth
about the same as a more modern bike in the same condition.

Give the chrome bits a rub with Autosol and you may get a few tens of quids,
if you're lucky.

~PB

 

[Tony B]

Rob Morley wrote:
> On 24 Jun 2008 22:02:13 GMT
> Mark T
> <pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> Most importantly it smells like a proper bike shop too.
>
> Oil, rust, rubber, leather and an old bloke out the back smoking a pipe?
>
>
nearly; last time I was in the old bloke had a roll-up in his gob
but he did have a brown shop coat on, a la Arfur English in Are You
Being Served. Top stuff...

T