What happens when 25 Canadians stage a race on motorized roadsters through rural China to the North Korean Border? A lot of fun apparently.
Craig Engleson, should know as he was the "Tour de Dandong" organizer. Starting in the resort town of Dalian, the tour wound it's way over 2.5 days to Dandong on the North Korean border and the "Broken Bridge". This is probably as close a most westerners ever get to Kim Jung Il without being imprisoned.
Going through the parts bins at an old state run bicycle shop that I like to call "The Pigeon's Nest", I occasionally come across some NOS parts. Such was the case last week when I found this chrome chainwheel guard from the 1980's or 1990s. Hard to believe, but the 1980's is already twenty years gone! And 20 years is like 100 years in China.
In this case the Singapore Flyer in question is not the famous landmark and Ferris Wheel, but rather a bicycle.
Ah Chow (Thomas Chow) of Singapore collects bikes. But what would any bike collection be with out a Roadster? This is no problem for Thomas who rides an excellent 1950's, bright red and black Raleigh Sports, AKA "The Singapore Flyer".
"I source most of my bikes at old bike shops in Malaysia or Indonesia which is where I found this bike" says Thomas.
Here is an interesting antique Japanese import. It's a New Kent bicycle which, as we are told very often by the badging, was the "World's Best Bicycle". While best is certainly debatable, I'd have to agree that it is certainly
Frequent readers will note that the "arc" style of sidestand is quite popular among the Chinese brands. The Arc runs between the seatstay and the chainstay where the rest of the stan attaches..
Below, you'll see the most sophisticated type. The spring for the stand is contained entirely within the prop leg. The entire stand is crafted out of stainless steel and the Raleigh logo pivots with the stand. I have also seen this type with pivoting logos for Humber and Gazelle.
Continue reading "Accessory of the Week-Raleigh Sidestand" »
