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I always loved and longed to have one of these light roadsters.
I know it not comparable in quality perhaps, but I'm regularly perusing the Raleigh Lenton group.There's something to these bikes, possibly the riding position (dictated by the handlebars) that makes me dream using one one day.
This one in particular is indeed the type of bikes I'm raving about.
anidel-
I had a Lenton Tourist for a bit, fitted with ' Reynolds Comfort' moustache type bars. and a three speed fm hub. It was indeed a joy to ride, especially if you were just going to the pub/park etc and wanted to be able to cycle comfortably in normal clothes, but at a decent speed etc. I should have kept it really. I think I'd like to retire into a 'light Roadster' one day..
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I always loved and longed to have one of these light roadsters.
I know it not comparable in quality perhaps, but I'm regularly perusing the Raleigh Lenton group.'Light Roadster' is probably an obsolete expression. By 'roadster' I mean a bike with rod brakes and Westwood rims. It would probably also have seat stays that are bolted up rather than brazed, and rearward opening fork ends (you can't really use the word 'track' in this context) By 'light' I think the trade just meant no chaincase, although as I said, this bike is fairly light. So Raleigh Lentons would not fit this description - they would probably have been described as 'sports'.
There is often an assumption that the riding position on these bikes is very upright, and most of them have the saddle very low, almost on the top tube, and the handlebar stem very high. You can see from the photos, that I reversed this arrangement. As we know this spreads the rider's weight more evenly and makes it possible to ride into the wind. I believe this wasn't an uncommon practice back in the day.
Anyway, I'm not saying anything against Lentons here, and I can certainly say there is a benefit in not having a super lightweight as one gets older - these bikes are only slightly slower, but give you a good excuse for not riding fast!
jeff80
clubman
I came to the thread this evening because I wanted to show you these BSA Light Roadster pics (below).
I'm sure I've mentioned this bike before. It's a Veteran-Cycle Club machine which I've had in my possession for a long time and which I'm now passing on to a new custodian. This machine originally belonged to Marcel Planes, the winner of the 1911 Century Competition (mentioned elsewhere on here). This was not the bike he used for the competition - it dates from 1913 - but it seems to have been his main bike for the rest of his life.
'Light Roadster' is not a genre which many people have any interest in nowadays, at least in part because roadsters generally became so debased by cheapening that no one thinks them worthy of attention. But this machine is different - it was clearly a top of the range item when new. It is also surprisingly good to ride and I have done a number of 100 mile days on it myself.
The photos show it as I was using it, which was slightly different from the original spec. - my pedals and saddle alone save about a couple of pounds compared with the originals, but as you see it the weight is about 28 lbs - so the description 'light' is not ridiculous, even by modern standards for touring bikes.
Anyway, have a look at the photos - I can give more info if anyone's interested.