Raleigh Panache.

[raleighnut]

Fibrax still make dedicated brake blocks for steel rims, called 'Raincheaters' they're available at SJS cycles for £3.99 a pair

 

[dicko]

I bought my wife a Raleigh Panache for her birthday in 1988 she was delighted and it started us both taking up cycling as a hobby again. She used it every day for work into and out of Bournemouth, to the Gym the New Forest, France in fact everywhere she loved her Panache. It had one gear change lever right hand side of handlebar down tube.

 

[haleno1]

It sounds like you have the saddle height more or less where it should be. Your legs shouldn't be dead straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. The best way of getting this more or less correct is to sit on the bike, put your heels on the pedal at its lowest point and set the saddle height so your leg is actually dead straight. That way, when you pedal with the ball of your foot, there will be a slight bend in your knee. It's only a rough guide though because of different foot sizes.
Regarding your brakes...
You have chromed steel rims. Braking in the wet is going to be...fun.

Hiya. Yeah I made that exact adjustment yesterday my leg is straight when the pedal is ar its lowest point. I think the saddle was slightly too low as I was getting knee ache. I gave it a little clean up yesterday but it didn’t need much really. I might spring for new brake pads to be honest. It’s just daft little adjustments to my preference now. Im
Going to post a pic of the tyres tomorrow so people can give me their opinion if they need replacing. I’m trying to find a white gel seat aswell although that black cover one is very good.

 

[haleno1]

you might want new brake blocks. If the old ones have gone a bit hard they will be less effective. make sure the blocks are hitting the rim properly and not touching the tyre. The "suicide levers" the ones you can reach from the tops of the handlebars were never that effective even when new, but you should be able to adjust the "biting point" of the brake by shortening the cable a bit at the brake caliper. you want the just a very small gap when the brakes aren't on, so there is no rubbing, but then plenty of leverage when you do squeeze the lever.

Yeah they are hard. They look old too. I adjusted the brakes a little bit and they are a bit better but need to take a closer look. The front one mainly. The back seems ok although I will change them all at the same time.

 

[haleno1]

Fibrax still make dedicated brake blocks for steel rims, called 'Raincheaters' they're available at SJS cycles for £3.99 a pair

I’ll look it up thanks.