Hello classic bicycle lovers:
I am forwarding a message which, as you can see, I sent to the list a little over a year ago. I am sending again because I received no responses. Is this bike so rare that nobody on this list has ever heard of it? Maybe there is someone new lurking out there who knows something about it. I will have it here in Fresno soon, and I intend to do some work getting it fitted with an appropriate rear derailleur and shift lever, as well as a correct rear wheel...
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com> To: RALEIGH531@aol.com Cc: bikecg@worldnet.att.net,classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 09:23:48 -0800 Subject: Re: [CR]Raleigh Carlton Questions Message-ID: <20010121.092350.-150679.0.bicyclemark@juno.com>
Although this bike is still in storage, I would like to inquire if anyone in this group has ever heard of a bicycle called RUMI ?
The one I have is light metallic blue, has a Mixte frame which has a two-hole type rear derailleur mount under the right chain-stay and just ahead of the right drop-out. The frame also appears to be of French origin, and has a single, brazed-on shift lever boss on the right side of the down-tube. It has a chrome-plated metal strip with the block letters "RUMI" riveted onto either side of the down-tube, a fancy, chrome-plated metal crest with a plastic insert, riveted to about the middle of the seat-tube (with a blue, white, & red band above and below), and a head-badge that has the words "RUMI, 60, and Special," on it.
The bike is equipped with aluminum fenders, with riveted-on rear carrier rack and Soubitez reflector/taillight, and an aluminum chain guard. I recall finding the words "MADE IN V. N." on one of these aluminum components, so I have assumed that the bike was originally built in France but sold in Viet Nam. It has an older Stronglight headset and a cottered steel crank, which I think is also by Stronglight. The brakes are very unusual too, but I can't remember their name brand. I am describing this bike from memory, so I am leaving out a lot. I've owned this bike for at least 10-years, and I still know very little about it. I believe it to be from around 1950, and think it was probably originally a 4-spd. derailleur bike because when I remove the 5-spd. wheel the rear triangle springs back inward. Oh yea', it has pedals that have "TANK" cut-out in both front and back plates, and I've seen these pedals in "The Data Book".
I hope there is someone out there who knows a little about this marque. I don't know which freewheel, derailleur and shift lever would be correct for this bike, and so far, I've been unable to locate a shift lever that will fit the smaller diameter mounting boss.
Anybody ?...
Happy Cycling and collecting everyone,
"Bicycle Mark" Perkins Fresno Cycling Club - Historian Fresno, California, U.S.A.
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