Sunday, April 10, 2016

Raleigh Sports, Paris Variation of Braking

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Raleigh Sports bike from 40 or so years ago, much like one I have at home

I have a very similar bike from what must be about the same time period. This one, parked on the streets for many years (one assumes) is in remarkably good condition - much better than the one I have (which I got only a few years ago from someone giving it away). It has some superficial differences - the rear rack that clearly came with it, for example, and the full rather than partial chain guard. But it also has a very surprising (to me) difference - the brake system is not a cable-pull system with caliper braking front and back but rather front and back rod-driven brakes that bring brake pads up against the inside of the rim. Just as a traditional caliper brake uses the rim like the disk of a disk brake system, this is like an open drum brake using the entire rim as the drum, but only pressing on one side. I don't even know what this is called. I am quite doubtful as to how efficient it might be.

1973 Raleigh Sports
My 1973 Raleigh Sports, much the same except where it is completely different

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Back end - rather less than elegant wiring for tail light from old style generator

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Impressive front porteur rack - that would look good on mine!

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Note rod-driven brake pulls

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Between the rack and the rods for the brakes, there are a lot of chrome bits of metal here

Raleigh Sports Paris-style
Note rod to activate rear brake under down tube

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