3 Raleigh Twenty Folder Bike and non Folding Shopper R20 w/ AW-3 hubs

English made vintage Raleigh shoppers or Raleigh Twenty, R20 upgraded all with ALLOY WHEELS to make them rideable

the English Version for British and Canadian Market comes with ISO451 rims and the American or USA version ISO406 rims which is fat and heavy smaller diameter than the 451.

The smaller wider heavier 406 made the USA version rides like a dog. heavy and slow because or heavy rotating mass made the bike almost unrideable in my opinion. The English 451 larger wheel version although still made of Steel is way better.

451-406=45 yes the difference of 45mm is quite significant in the wheel size difference. These 2 numbers 451/406 corresponds to the diameter size of the rims in Millimeters specifically the Bead Seat "diameter" or BSD.

406 tire/wheel size are quite common in the USA in BMX bikes hence exported versions[to USA] unfortunately came with this tire/wheel size.

English and Canadian and even Australian/New Zealand versions mainly were 451 wheel size.

All of these units shown here were upgraded to Alloy Rims and got rid of the rusty, heavy Steel rim parts.

The ride and handling had dramatically improved from crappy to great!

The main reason no one [in the USA] keeps these things nor rides them is the fact that they are unrideable with the big fat heavy rims. You could go maybe a mile or so and your dead tired very poor rollers. Also braking is very poor especially the rear brakes so your just left with a barely functional front brake.


Another main drawback of the steel rims is safety ! and could be the number one issue with these bikes. the chromed steel rims combined with extra long reach caliper brakes on the 406 makes stopping almost non existent especially when the rim sides get some moisture or get wet braking is almost nil and a danger too ride.

But once upgraded they are a delight. All the versions I have acquired go through these upgrade process of removing the steel rims and upgrading them to Aluminium Alloys and better brake pads.

Kool-Stop Continental Salmon/pink pads are the recommended brakes for these.