Hey, can anyone recommend a decent shop in nyc where I can bring my 3-speed Sturmey Archer wheels, for some minor truing and repair? I've recently been given a ~1973 Raleigh Sport, that I'm trying to restore to a bit of it's former glory. It's by no means a museum piece, but rather will make a sweet around town Sunday afternoon kinda bike.
While I don't expect to find anything like a Harris Cyclery in NYC(I've ordered parts for the restore from them), I'd at least like to find a shop that has somewhat of an appreciation for English 3 speeds and maybe sells parts + doesn't give me too much attitude, because I'm not bringing in Ksyriums. Thanks all
cheers
English 3-speed service in NYC?
Tue, 10/19/2004 - 8:38pm
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 6:17am
#1
bikeworks
Go see the taller Rob, the one with the glasses, at Bikeworks, on Ridge St. at Rivington, LES. The man cares deeply for 3-speeds. Anyone in the shop, though, will take good care of you.
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 7:51am
#2
eddies
Uptown option: Eddies (83rd & Amsterdam). I recently overhauled a '63 Rudge and could not get down to Bikeworks. Eddie overhauled headset & bottom bracket, adjusted rear hub, and installed new brake calipers and cables. Good work, fairly priced. Can't ask for more than that from a NYC bike shop.
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 8:22am
#3
John declines to mention that he did a lot of work himself and that he and I relaced the wheels with modern aluminum rims, so if you want to go the DIY route, you might ask us.
If you got some of the Sun rims from Harris, I can show you how to build up the wheels. It's easy.
- Christian
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 8:57am
#4
About how much did the project cost? I am interested in overhauling a 74 Raleigh.
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 10:31am
#5
not cheap, but worth it
let's see (real soft estimates)
new rims, approx $60
spokes, $50
new tires & tubes, $40
new brake calipers, cables & pads, $60
new aluminum Nitto north road bars, $50
new seat post (micro adjust) $20
used brooks saddle $50
new 20 tooth rear cog $9
labor (headset/bottom bracket, etc) $65
total (gulp) $ 404
now, in all honesty, many of these parts were traded for, or bought over time and stashed away, so it's not as if i shelled out $400 at once. and that doesn't include the pizza and beer that hardly even begins to compensate christian for his expert wheel build.
like any restoration project, don't do it expecting to get your money back.
bike, though, looks great and rides beautifully. even stops in the rain now.
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 12:32pm
#6
"John listed a horrid list of component prices, certain to scare off anyone contemplating this (until they see John's s-w-e-e-t bike!)
My take on it is that new rims/spokes is worth it because of the vastly improved stopping. And new brake pads ($8 Kool-Stop Continentals) too. The 20t sprocket does help the stock AW gearing a lot, too. All that will set you back about $120 or so.
Everything else is basically optional, and primarily aesthetic (new saddle) or for weight (alloy stem, bars, post). You can get _vastly_ cheaper bars, too. But I had those Nitto Albatross bars...
That said, if you go full hog, you will have an extremely nice riding commuter, which is sturdy, modern, very comfortable, totally reliable, and has low theft-appeal. You see, the people who are likely to say, ""holy cr*p - an updated Sports with Nitto bars and alloy rims!"" aren't likely to be bike thieves.
- Christian"
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 2:27pm
#7
i agree w. christian--get yourself a new set of wheels with alloy rims, a 20 tooth rear cog and kool stop brake pads.
Wed, 10/20/2004 - 10:23am
#8
actually, truth be told, christian built the wheels, while i ate pizza, drank beer, and watched the game.
Thu, 10/21/2004 - 7:02am
#9
You might want to try Emmey's on 16th Street between Irving Place and 3rd Avenue. He works on this stuff as well.
