ode to shoppers and their 3 speed way's

I've been toying with the idea of getting one for a while now. I can't feasibly fit any more bikes in though so I have to get rid of some stuff first. One day though.

thats virtually what i was thinking ,,,but i reckon i'll move the crank bearing tube above the U-tube for more ground clearance under the pedals,,,,(when i track one down)

I like shoppers.
Ive got several of them. RSWs are good too

I will get round to finishing them soon.
Heres my BSA 20.

Modded the frame to take racer cranks and suspension forks. Just have to weld on the rear brake studs and paint it. It will have 6 gears. 3 speed with 2 chainrings.
Heres my RSW.

I fitted raleigh mags to it, from a mini burner bmx. But they don't really fit. So I built 16" 3 speed alloys for it. I drilled the stem to take the cables. But the cables need to be very long. Will have to order some, maybe from a tandem shop

I modded the frame for the racer cranks again. The BB on old Raleighs are wider and a different thread pitch from modern bikes. I also cut the headstock down and rethreaded the forks. So I could fit a proper ball bearing headset. Is ussually a plastic bush there

Wicked thread!!!
Some awesome builds here, i'm keeping my eye out for one to do something with.

I found a kids shopper the other day. Its great condition and ideal for some modding. If I was 4 foot 6 instead of 6 foot 6 I might be able to ride it. As it is I think I'm gonna have to find someone with kids to give it to. Might look a bit daft otherwise.

On the Raleigh bikes. Or the badge engineered ones, like BSA, Triumph, Philips. The bottom bracket tube on the frame is about 76mm with 26 threads per inch. Modern bikes commonly use a 68mm X 24TPI bottom bracket. Although you can get 73mm fairly easily.
Heres Sheldon Brown on about it.
sheldonbrown.com/raleigh26.html
Those Phil Wood cups are costly. And the Shimano UN72 BB cartridge is difficult to get.
I narrow the bottom bracket and rethread the shell to take a modern axle.
This axle might fit straight in.
www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Prestine-Prestine-THREADLESS-Sealed-bearing-bottom-bracket-for-frames-with-damaged-threads-16505.htm
I work at Halfords now so take my frame in to use the Bottom Bracket thread cutter. Is a large tool that is used to clean out damaged bottom brackets. They are very costly to buy.

But I have rethreaded them using no special tools. I get bottom bracket cups with the 24tpi. Screw them in a bit then back off. They are hardened steel. It takes a while. Clean out the BB every couple of turns. Heres the BB cup way in the frame.

The BB shell needs narrowing. Is good to cut from both sides. I cut a thin bit off the shell. 2 or 3mm. It then needs faced. Or made flat. There are special tools to do that. They are even more expensive than the BB threading tool. I have flat faced BB cups. As in the picture. Then file the face of the BB so its right down on the bb cup. Is more difficult on the drive side. Fit the cup and check for high spots. Then remove cup and carefully file the frame.
Heres the frame with the cranks on. It has a normal cup and cone BB. Theres reasonable clearance between the crank ends and the frame.

I did make a swage mark for the chain ring though.

Mines got its own thread somewhere in here....

You can usually find threadless BB's cheaper than that. I've seen them for £10 or so.

From this (gold one)


To this


Orange ;D

Fat rubber nom nom.

Interesting to find out how many Shopper freaks are amongst us