I posted this at MTBR and thought folks here would also enjoy seeing my newest find...

Last fall I stopped by the bike shop to peruse things and happened to meet a fellow riding an old Fisher mountain bike while I was riding this... my '78 Raleigh Superbe.

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/Superbedone.JPG

After asking me if I liked old bikes, he mentioned that his friend had passed away recently and he was helping his widow sell off a few things which included a 1955 Raleigh Lenton that had been purchased new and had been very well cared for and ridden by his friend until he passed away.

The fact that his friend died after crashing his new bike in a race, at the age of 75, is both sad and awe inspiring..

I took the fellow's number and plugged it inot my cel phone and when I went to retrieve it, the number was gone !!!

I have agonized over this and looked for the fellow everytime I am out to no avail and was thinking that the bike was long gone.

Fast forward to today and I meet the same fellow in our shop and on recognizing each other he asks me if I was still interested in the Lenton which was only a few blocks away as he had placed it on consignment with another shop.

I have never ridden anywhere so fast and upon arriving found the Lenton tucked away in the bowels of the shop and after agreeing on a price I brought the new bike home at a speed that would make one think I stole it. A guy on a mb with a speedo told me I was doing 25 mph.

Did I mention that the Lenton Sports was a fixed gear club bike on a Reynolds 531 frame ?





http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lenton1.JPG
My "new" 1955 Lenton Sports... everything is original except the pedals and the Wright's saddle that dates to the late 30's.

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lentonhub.JPG
The hub is a flip flop with accomodations for a lock ring on either side... I installed an 18 tooth freewheel when I got home.

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lentonbars.JPG
I love these bars !


http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lentonbadge1.JPG
"Lenton Sports"

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lentonbadge2.JPG
"Harris Road Model"

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/lenton531.JPG
"Reynolds 531"

I've had the bike for a few weeks and it is a truly spectacular ride... being a club / touring bike it isn't designed for blazing speed but rather, a nice balnce of comfort and road speed.

From the fork crown to the wingnuts to the ancient 531 sticker to those ca-razy bars, fabulous and fantastic!

I think it's a pretty fabulous and fantastic bike too, especially since I had almost given up hope of finding it.

Those ancient wingnuts are the shizzle as after a half turn to tighten them that wheel doesn't budge a mm... they are seriously toothy.

A friend also found me some NOS Raleigh nuts for the front wheel and seatpost which was very cool.

The bike also has oiled hubs (you can see the caps) and an oil filler for the bb... my riding brethren don't think they've ever come across a smoother running bike.

I was wondering of the brake levers were original and I found some schematics that would indicate that they are.

Now I'm tracking down some period correct fenders (black Bluemels would be great) and a rack since the bike is well suited for day touring.

I'll be going on on 100 mile tour in a few weeks and can't wait to be hitting the open road on the old boy.

Harris Cyclery (Sheldon Brown) may still have some of the double-ended brake cables made up with housings/fittings, if you need NOS. Look in the three-speed section.

And grease the hub bearings, despite the oil ports - longer-lived lubrication, less mess drooling along the spokes.

That Lenton is simply magnificent! What size are the wheels? 650A?

Spectacular!

- FBB

That Lenton is simply magnificent!

PS: Love that Raleigh as well. Do you have more photos anywhere?

- FBB

Thanks for the compliments.

Re: The Lenton - Being a '55 the wheels are 26 by 1 1/4 (fractional)...it wasn't until 56 or 57 that Raleigh started using 27 inch wheels as their standard. The Dunlop Gold Seals roll really well and being a higher volume tire, really provide a nice ride as well.

Here's another view of the Raleigh Superbe... it took a little time to get all the right bits like the B66 saddle and the vintage Raleigh pedals and a friend actually gave me the B66 !!.

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/Superbedone2.JPG

I'll take some more pictures of the Lenton when I take the old boy touring on Sunday and will endeavour to post a few more pics with some better backdrops too..