Healing Cruiser Rebuild (Raleigh 20 cousin/competition)

[@Stephens8x6Workshop]

Excellent mate, tastefully restored and fit for another 40 years. Stand and pump mod tops it off. I maintain and regularly ride my 1991 mountain bike complete with period lighting etc. Very low tech, low spec and old fashioned looking. gets laughed at by 'modern' cyclists but I love it. It's a shame to see old cycles that just need a bit of loving scrapped. Well done you.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks! - yes, so much of the old stuff with a bit of tlc will just keep going. Good chance (if not biffed) a lot of them will eventually outlast modern battery assisted tech. Ride on!

[@paulthesurfer7470]

Nice job, mate. I re-built a Raleigh "shopper 22" for my daughter. It was made exclusively by Morrison's in NZ and turned heads everywhere, here across the ditch.

[@MikeHawkey]

Nice. I had a 22 minus the wheels Once - put fixed hub modern 24” wheels on it. Pretty rare now! Thanks

[@ats-3693]

Memories, way back in the late 70's early 80's I had a Healing Cruiser and my sister had a Raleigh 20.

[@MikeHawkey]

Great locally built tanks!

[@ats-3693]

@@MikeHawkey Haha I remember I got my Cruiser new as a xmas present while I was hoping for a BMX bike which were just becoming a fad at the time, I really wanted an HMX 600, I wasn't too disappointed as you say the Cruiser was an absolute tank it lasted for years, it was still sitting around at my folks place in perfect working order for years after I left home.

[@FrancoDX]

Nice work and a tasteful restoration 👍🏼 I used to love working on old Raleigh and vintage bikes, a car ball joint puller is a good tool for pressing cotter pins in or out. P.S. Take care of your knees! Every time I saw you kneeling on the concrete I winced, I have problems with mine now after years of doing the same thing.

[@MikeHawkey]

Ballpoint puller sounds much more easy to move around than my vise! Thanks re knees - they are compensating for my back in some areas. Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@HughDWallace]

Thank you for this! I'm pretty sure I've just rediscovered my very first bike, bought for me circa 1983/4 when I lived in Lower Hutt. I had no idea of the brand but know it wasn't a Raleigh. I remember it being a bright red colour with a kick-back brake.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. They did a really nice bright metallic red then too. Kick back break always brings back fond memories. Will build something to feature one at sone stage. The cruiser wont be down hill off-roading, but great practical rider!

[@HughDWallace]

@@MikeHawkey I'm looking at getting an old Raleigh 20 to rebuild as an around town bike. Sadly, the chance of finding a Cruiser is basically zero as I'm living in Scotland now.

[@MikeHawkey]

@@HughDWallace I would imagine it would be some impossible oddball personal import. All said, the Raleigh 20’s are really the original and great cycles. Unless they changed in later years, one part that the cruiser had over the 20’s (or early ones) was the top bearing in the headset vs the 20’s bushings. But you can get bushings still I think, so more personal choice opinion.