Raleigh Lenton Sports

GaryGkn

Hi does anyone own a Raleigh Lenton?

Just looking for a few details on the 23" frame.

Top tube length?

B threading?

Wheel size?

Will they take 700c?

Will they take the smaller 650B (584)?

Does anyone know anyone selling one?

stickman

I don't know but 650a the traditional British wheel is nearer to 700c than 650b

stickman

Just had a bit of a search, found mention of 26x1 1/4 - 650, only 1/8 difference to 650a.

GaryGkn

Excellent detective work!

I especially liked the blue hub geared bike bought recently:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/2826035408/

Is this one of yours?

Short top tube what make is it?

Many thanks Gary

stickman

Yes, that was mine but I sold it. There was nothing to identify it at all on the frame. It was steel and lightweight though. The SA hub was 1982.

GaryGkn

I am always on the look out for bikes with a shorter reach.
Did the blue bike ride well?

stickman

I didn't like it much as the frame was high, 24in or maybe slightly more. I've got two 21in bikes and they are just right for me size-wise.

GaryGkn

It looked tall. 24" is too tall for me.
I am looking for a Lenton Sports and reading up on them it looks like there was Humber and Rudge version. My thinking is I can run it as a hub geared bike and a fixed. Do you know of any other bikes that may fit the criteria above?

stickman

Some of the old Trek bikes have shorter top tubes and you can fit a chain tensioner with hub gears if it is vertical dropouts. Also bikes with women specific geometry have shorter top tubes.

GaryGkn

Thanks that all makes sense. I will check out a few of the options mentioned.

stickman

Also, there are drop bars that have a shorter reach.

GarethPJ

If I recall correctly I have seen Lentons fitted with either 26"x1 1/4" (ISO 597) or 27" x 1 1/4" (ISO 630). The difference in clearance being only about 1/2" there isn't generally that much of an issue with older frames anyway, clearances weren't as tight as they tend to be today.

If you're looking for historical accuracy then one of those two English sizes would be the way to go. If you're not anal when it comes to historical accuracy or an obsessive Anglophile then the French 700c should fit fine.

Dickie

For my sins I do. Heavy not much change from 40lbs. t/t is 22.5" from memory. H/set and b/bkt are 26tpi. Front hub has the typical stepped cone to complicate fitting any other hub, which means the fork has to be filed if you want a "normal". I have flanged washers to convert which came with my Lenton Clubman (rip).
Fitted with 26x1 1/4" as standard erto 597, willl take both 27s and 700s. 630 and 622 erto respectivley.
What the appeal of the odd 650 sizes is, I have yet to work out. Just means tyres are difficult to find.
Not built yet but well under way.

http://pics-by-dickie.fotopic.net/list_collections.php

GaryGkn

Thanks for the two recent contributions to this thread.

Very illuminating for me.

To answer the 650B question - only for the option of the fat tyres.

Now what do you think of this on ebay?

200305244474

1946 Sun Manxman on fixed wheel

GarethPJ

GaryGkn wrote:

To answer the 650B question - only for the option of the fat tyres.

While there is clearance for the height of a 27" tyre in a Lenton F&F I'm not so sure there would be much clearance width wise for a 42mm tyre. I don't quite see the rationale behind fitting fat tyres to a frame originally designed to take a 32mm tyre.

If you need some extra cushioning a Schwalbe Marathon in a 26" x 1 3/8" would be a good way to go. My personal preference for that frame would be a Schwalbe HS130 in a 26" x 1 1/4", nice and traditional looking and relatively fast loading. Don't be too concerned about rim availability, you can still get the Rigida Berretti rim in that size (under a tenner each last time I looked!). Yes it's steel, but that is more historically correct.

mz__jo

correction: 650A is closer to 650B than 700C if you are looking at rim size. When it comes to overall diameter 38 section tyres on a 650B rim are nearly identical in diameter to 23 section on 700C. 26 x 13/8 is normally equivalent to the 38 section in 650B (it should be a smaller section but most of the World Tours that I had on the tandem were marked 37 or 38 I think, the real size is 35). 26 x 11/4 would be a 32 section on a larger rim so much the same od but slimmer. The closest thing would be 650B in a 30 section but the od would not be right and the Michelin folding tyres cost a bomb. What it comes down to is what brake calipers will contact the rim and in that case 700C x 23 or 25 creates less problems because short calipers are easy to find and very long ones aren't.
Cheers Jo

GarethPJ

If the frame was designed to take 26" x1 1/4" tyres then surely the best bet is to stick with that size rather than mess about trying to find equivalents on other rims?

Dickie

They were designed to take 27s or 26s hence the long slot for the brake pads, sorry if previous post was misleading.

meagain

I always bow to Rob's expertise, but surely Raleigh used the "Lenton" tag for quite a variety of bikes over quite a few years: were all designed for same wheel size(s)?

I see that that Manxman attracted no bids at 75 quid - actually I'd have thought that at that price not too far out (compared with some of the dross that goes for silly money simply on the strength of name on the badges!).

mattsccm

I have a Lenton F&F in the shed that needs to go to a good home. think its 23" It came to me with 27 x 1 1/4 wheels which looked correct. I'll have a go with tape measure.

Dickie

Matt, I would be interested in the lenton.

Dave you are right they did. As far as I know there was only one lenton sports which ran from 1948 ish to 1952, just colour and a few detail changes. You could order the 27" wheelset hubgear etc for more cost of course.

I had a Manxman for as long as it took me to sell it, horrible quality frame in my opinion. I was expecting better.

mattsccm

Right, had a look. @On the down tube we have the graphic Lentom Marque 111. The seat tube has a 531 sticker and Reg Harris Road model. C to C as best I can is 22". The top tube C to C is 22 1/2 ". On the down tube is a very basic mount for a gear lever but only 1 ie 5 speed? With a tub wheel in the back and still having about 5mm to the very rear of the drop outs there is 37mm clearance between the tub and the chainstay cross tube. There is 12mm clearance each side of the widest part of the tub. No measurements visible on the tub but it measures as 25mm across the widest part.
The bike came to me with very knackered 27" wheels which would obviously slightly reduce these numbers.
The rear drop outs have no mech hanger fitted, just a single mount each side for mudguards . Same on the forks. The right hand chain stay has 2 bosses for a gear cable stop.
Paint is grotty but enough to see what it was.
If anyone is interested it can go as it is taking up space and I have not got round to putting it back on the road. the original brakes maybe about and I think there is GB stem as well. Dunno what else was kept.

Dickie

I think it could be a Lenton Grand Prix, what colour is it? Doh! Should have read your post more carefully.

mattsccm

Hmm. Where the bottom bracket has been removed there is a bit of metallic blue like the darker bit of the heading on this page. the rest of it maybe black but there is also a lot of silver. I thought it had been resprayed but the graphics are all there over black paint. Maybe the silver is undercoat. If I knew how to add a pic I would.

mattsccm

Searched for Raleigh lenton and top of pile was retro Raleigh by Peter C Kohler. According to his chart I think its '55 Marque 111 as the colour could be the poly blue thats gone completely> Am I right in thinking these needed an undercoat and lost their colour easily. Just the mention of the Reg Harris signature and the flame graphic hangs over from earlier

GarethPJ

meagain wrote:

I see that that Manxman attracted no bids at 75 quid - actually I'd have thought that at that price not too far out (compared with some of the dross that goes for silly money simply on the strength of name on the badges!).

I think it's a mistake to start an auction anywhere near what you think the item is worth. Best to start low and people start bidding because they think they are going to get a bargain, then bidding fever takes over. If that had started at 99p it would probably have realized a ton.

bagpusscp

Re the Manxman. I have to admit I was tempted.It had new old stock 26 X1 1/4 wheels built with Dunlop lightweight rims .They are like rocking horse droppings.Worth £50 as complete wheels alone in IMHO.

meagain

And yet you resisted....the therapy must be working, Paul! Well done I say!!!

GaryGkn

Thank you all.

Does anyone know about a the 1952 spec on a Raleigh Lenton?

I have looked up Peter Kohl and he mentions the Sport with 27" wheels?

I am unsure of what the model is that I have been offered but it has a hub gear and is a 52.

I nearly bought the Sun but couldn't go through with the trauma of bidding and then losing out by 50p.

GaryGkn

mattsccm

I am interested in the frame you have PM.

Thanks Gary