I came across this Raleigh Sprite from my work recently. I am unsure of the year, not much research has been done on it yet, but once I looked at it I knew something was strange. Wiping off the rear hub it says "70" which sounds about right, maybe its late sixties? Anyways thats where it starts getting weird. It also says "three speed" on the hubshell, but it has 5spd internals, shifted by two traditional SA shifters on the bars. Also, it has a two speed cog setup on the driver for the sturmey hub, I am unsure of the manufacturer or if its a custom job, I heard there is a company that used to do two and three speed cogs for the sturmeys, a huret derailleur shifts the rear, and a stronglight cottered crank with a double ring setup shifted by a simplex fr derailleur. A very strange conversion resulting in 20 speeds! Also sports the dynohub front hub, and front and rear lighting, a weathered brooks, and a few other strange bits. Here are some pics:
I will be refurbing it so I can ride it and bring it to shows as a conversation piece. Will retain as much patina as possible while also making it functional again. The tires even seem to be in great shape!
I will be refurbing it so I can ride it and bring it to shows as a conversation piece. Will retain as much patina as possible while also making it functional again. The tires even seem to be in great shape!