Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
- hondaboy
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Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:54 am
Picked up an old school Raleigh a few months ago for $40 out of Gumtree, straight frame and forks. Have already started work on it, will post more pics shortly.
Can anyone with Raleigh expertise help to identify the year/model of this bike? It's a 10-speed with cotter cranks, not sure what other components can be used to identify the year/model?
Cheers
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby .isaac. » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:50 am
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby brauluver » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:39 am
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby rkelsen » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:46 am
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/dating.html
Enjoy!
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- hondaboy
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby hondaboy » Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:39 am
A Brazilian tourist was selling it, he was initially asking $50 but I told him it was a bit worn and a few parts needed replacementEvilGenius wrote:Sweet Bike. I'm surprised that you picked it up off gum tree for 40. I can't seem to find a decent 80's roadie on their for under 150. The saddle is original and retro and could be added to the final product I 'spose. You've done well in finding this.
brauluver wrote:Nothing special, probably a lower end model like a scorpio.
According to the serial number, it's a 1974 model. None of the 1970 models have the rear brake cable running along the top of the tube like minerkelsen wrote:Luckily, there's loads of info about Raleigh bikes on teh interwebs:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/dating.html
Enjoy!
Too lateEvilGenius wrote:Paint it Black!
It does have some black in it though... more pics to come
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- drubie
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby drubie » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:36 pm
The Australian sold Raleighs *might* be different to Sheldon - it wouldn't surprise me if it was an asian sourced frame that the local distributor badged up.
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby HappyHumber » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:31 pm
Of course, there's no guarantee those parts are original, so if you can find a few such codes - take an average them for a rough guide. Even then, you're likely to get some time disparity as the bike manufacturer/assembler sourced different stock from Shimano. The complete one-owner original Indi Hawk I've been given had a range of Shimano codes spreading over about 18 months from late '79 to early '81.
Hit me up via the BNA dm; I'll get an alert. If y'know, you know.
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby hondaboy » Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:24 pm
That's all I've come across so far, will keep searching parts for clues
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- sturmey archer
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby sturmey archer » Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:46 pm
My Raleigh "Team 12" frame has a serial that doesn't line up with Sheldon at all - TI88060807. The Shimano bits had date codes from 1988/1989 and it has Panasonic team colors. It has top tube brazed on cable guides like your frame.drubie wrote:Looks early 1980s to me - black plastic on stem shifters, foam grips, turbo copy seat etc. Too early for aero levers.
The Australian sold Raleighs *might* be different to Sheldon - it wouldn't surprise me if it was an asian sourced frame that the local distributor badged up.
- hondaboy
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby hondaboy » Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:48 pm
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
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- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby .isaac. » Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:16 am
- hondaboy
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:59 am
Total cost - $364:
$40 - frame… including forks, seatpost, crankset, handlebar etc (Gumtree)
$100 - wheels (Catch of the Day)
$102 - tubes and tyres (eBay)
$29 - paint (Bunnings)
$1 – rear axle spacers (Cycle Centre)
$21 - new bearings and 15T rear sprocket (eBay)
$10 - brake lever (eBay)
$18 - pedals (eBay)
$9 - bar tape (Torpedo7)
$9 - brake pads (Torpedo7)
$25 - saddle (CoTD)
Total weight saving - 3kg:
1.4kg: new alloy wheels + tyres vs original wheels + tyres, single gears vs 5-speed cassette (3.3kg vs 4.7kg)
0.15kg: plastic pedals vs steel (200g vs 250g pedals)
1.6kg removal of:
Gearing components: front rear derailleurs, levers, outer chainring, cables and guides.
Brake components: rear brake, lever, cable and guides
Handlebar ends
~4†of chain
Special thanks:
The late Sheldon Brown, for not being there to answer my questions via email. RIP Sheldon Brown.
Cycle Centre, Perth. For axle spacers, and also advising that 3/32†fixed sprockets simply did not exist, when in fact they were all over eBay.
eBay, for providing parts that supposedly did not exist, and helping exploit Asian children in the production of these parts.
First purchase:
Budget STARS 700c flip-flop wheelset
Front 1000g, rear 1235g
This was actually an impulse buy months prior to any definite wheels in motion for a fixie build
$100 landed from Catch of the Day
16 tooth fixed sprocket/16 tooth freewheel sprocket
Quando hubs, bladed spokes
Second purchase:
Michelin Lithion Race tyres (700x23c in blue)
Continental race tubes with presta valves
$102 landed from eBay
The old-school 80s forks ends were just a couple mm too narrow to house the new axle. A bit of rubbing inside and it opened up quicker than a Catholic school girl.
With a single sprocket now substituting a cassette of gears, the rear fixie hub was 20mm too narrow for the frame. I popped into Cycle Centre in town, had a rummage through their spare parts bin and $1 later had a couple of spacers. One spacer added on the right.
I later discovered the flip-flop sprockets were different sizes. The freewheel sprocket was designed for a 3/32†chain (same size as the original chain on the bike) whilst the fixed sprocket was designed for a 1/8†chain (typically used on single speed bikes). No idea why they were mismatched but it kind of defeats the purpose having a flip-flop setup, possibly why it was going dirt cheap on CoTD in the first place...
So I turned to eBay and discovered most of the fixed sprockets were in fact designed for a 1/8†chain, but eventually stumbled across 3/32†size fixed sprockets.
$11 delivered.
I opted for a 15 tooth sprocket (right) over the original 16T, to keep in line with the advice of Sheldon Brown:
http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html#flip-flop
15T fixed / 16T freewheel
Both now 3/32" ^_^
Decided I wasn’t going to bother with a rear brake for a couple of reasons… the front brake does most of the braking anyway, and if need be rear braking would be applied via opposing force on the pedals. I took to the frame with the angle grinder and removed the rear brake cable guides along the top tube, and the derailleur cable guides on the rest of the bike.
Being a budget fixie build, I opted to use the existing cottered crankset instead of buying a new crankset. This also meant not having to replace the bottom bracket. Since the inner chainring provided a straight enough chainline, I removed the outer chainring.
Sanding back the frame and forks proved a tedious process. I used a circular wire brush drill attachment for the job, well, 3 in total. Managed to get it to a bare metal state, apart from the underside near the bottom bracket, not that it matters as the sun never shines there anyway.
Sanding the lugs and inbetween >.<
Sanding disc a bit worn v_v
Temporarily pieced together
Thought it would be worth inspecting the bearings on a racer that had stood the time of roughly 3 decades. Pulled apart the bottom bracket and steering brackets and cleaned up what I could. Replaced the bottom bracket and steering bearings for $10
Bottom Bracket bearings: old vs new
Steering bearings : old vs new
One coat of primer
Finally matt black forks and a blue frame emerge
Cleaned up with the rest of the original parts.
Wheels on
New pedals $18 landed from eBay, 150g lighter than original
Bit of matt black love
New levers, I sprayed then front one matt black.
These were $10 delivered from eBay
Matt black front brake with new pads
Goodbye handlebar ends
Hello new flipped over handlebars
Add 1 x front blue brake lever.
Finally pieced together (minus new saddle)
Back from first ride
Back in the bike garage with the tandem and roadie
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
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Re: Raleigh fixie build
Postby nathann » Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:15 am
Anyway, looks pretty good, except that I dislike how high you put the stem (but that's probably cause you need it like that) and that's about it.
What happened to the Raleigh badge on the headtube?
- hondaboy
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:31 am
I have short arms
I accidentally destroyed the badge, it was a really weak alloy and pretty much melted when sanding the frame.
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- hondaboy
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Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:37 pm
It rides really smooth btw, took it out for a 20km run and was a dream to ride (for me anyway, I have nothing else to compare it to)
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby Moe » Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:26 pm
Otherwise, good job, looks great. I would have left the brakes, stem etc... nice and shiny though.
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby elStado » Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:43 pm
I am still deciding on tires, I was thinking of getting the Bontrager Race Lite which are about $28each from Evans cycles. The tires need to be quite tough as I will be riding it in all conditions and I dislike having to patch punctures. I am also deciding on grip tape, was thinking of getting blue, but that might be too much colour, also considered some ridiculous 90s pattern just for a laugh.
Very nice built, looks very clean and fun. Paint job looks great too (from what the photos show).
Great to read through your and see how you did certain things and also where you got your bits and how much it cost. Very useful.
What brand/type paint did you buy? Also what seat did you get? I got some cheap $25 seat from CotD as well, last week when they had a bike sale. Seemed decent enough for a spare seat for the project bike. The current seat on the bike is literally falling apart.
Oh, as Moe mentioned, how have you faired with those long cranks and smallish chainring? Looks like it would be pretty tricky to deal with down slopes.
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby rkelsen » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:08 pm
"Se vuoi dirmi di sì,
divertirlo perché,
non ha senso per me,
la mia vita senza te.
Dimmi quando tu verrai,
dimmi quando quando quando?"
Courtesy of the inimitable G. Morandi, (but as sung by Murph and the Magic Tones).
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby elStado » Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:54 am
- hondaboy
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Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:28 pm
It is small but for the riding I do it's manageable. The intention of the build was to keep it cheap and simple, changing the crankset would also require a new bottom bracket.Moe wrote:I would recommend getting some new cranks. That chainring looks very small, you will probably find yourself spinning out down hills.
Otherwise, good job, looks great. I would have left the brakes, stem etc... nice and shiny though.
I thought the matt stem/brakes would compliment the forks. It will eventually scrape off anyway I guess.
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- hondaboy
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Northside, Perth
Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:33 pm
A cheap brand from Bunnings, ~$3 a can. I'll definitely have my next frame blasted/coated the spraycan job doesn't cut it if you're doing a nice build.elStado wrote:What brand/type paint did you buy?
Also what seat did you get? I got some cheap $25 seat from CotD as well, last week when they had a bike sale. Seemed decent enough for a spare seat for the project bike.
Yeah would have been the same one, yet to have mine delivered. Time will tell how bad it is for a cheapie!
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- hondaboy
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Northside, Perth
Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:35 pm
Either turps or metho spirits, whatever I found in the shed I can't remember hahaelStado wrote:Also, what did you use to clean up the components (crank, chainring, bars etc)? They look very shiny and clean.
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
- elStado
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Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby elStado » Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:56 pm
Cool, I'm not doing a super nice (expensive) build, but I figured that $70 to have the frame and forks sand blasted and powdercoated would be a good cost effective, easy and durable option. I have done some spray painting in my time and it is so annoying and time consuming, not to mention all the mess and fumes. Rather leave that business to the pros.hondaboy wrote:A cheap brand from Bunnings, ~$3 a can. I'll definitely have my next frame blasted/coated the spraycan job doesn't cut it if you're doing a nice build.
Yeah would have been the same one, yet to have mine delivered. Time will tell how bad it is for a cheapie!
Ok, I thought you might have used polish or something.hondaboy wrote:Either turps or metho spirits, whatever I found in the shed I can't remember haha
As soon as I get my gear from CotD, I ordered that saddle and the toolkit, I'll dismantle my bike and give all the parts a good clean. I'll also check out the lube and bearings to make sure they are tip top and I might replace the brake cables, although they are in OK condition for an old bike (no visible damage or fraying etc).
I finished Uni in a week.. can't wait to have some free time to get my project bike cranking.
Just gotta write one more report..
- hondaboy
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- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Northside, Perth
Re: Raleigh fixie build (image heavy)
Postby hondaboy » Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:44 pm
2008 Avanti Pista
2007 Giant Trance 1
1994 Nashbar Tandem Sold
1980s Raleigh fixie Sold
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