I finally got The Sun ready for a run and it seems to handle really well, even if it is a little bit on the small side. Now I just need to think about finding her a new home…

I’ve left her as original as possible and any painting I have done was functional rather than purely cosmetic. Flat black rubbed back down to blend in with the original paint as best I could.

The rear wheel was stripped down and rebuilt, replacing the broken spokes and those that snapped on tightening with some 50-year old stainless steel Raleigh spokes. These have the Raliegh  “R” at the hub end so can be easily distinguished.

The original Villiers freewheel was beyond repair so has been replaced with a modern part – although I have a vintage Baylis-Wiley freewheel which can be swapped in for “authenticity”. Chain is new and much smoother running than the over-stretched original Coventry.

Hubs, pedals and bottom bracket were all stripped, cleaned and rebuilt using high quality marine grease which is a little bit thicker than modern lithium cycle lubricants but lasts longer and repels moisture more effectively.

Rear brake blocks are original, just cleaned up and the repainted, the front blocks are NOS leather-lined jobs that work better on steel rims in the wet. This is Scotland and wet is  a major part of the national costume.

The hide on the Brooks B2 could still do with some TLC and moisturising.

Still, not bad for a lady in her seventies…eh?

r:B