custom 1970s 5 speed Raleigh FOR SALE

[Dead Rats]

Here's another custom winter project just about finished, a bling little 5 speed retro fun bike. It began life as a very tired teen-sized 1976 Raleigh with bent forks which I picked up on eBay... I say Raleigh, they definitely made it - but Lord knows what it was badge up as!

I completely stripped it down and faced the BB and headset mountings before having the frame (and a an pair of flat steel 'bars) sandblasted at Descaling Services in Levenhulme. Here it is back in the summer... fresh from 'blasting with the 57cm Sun Worksop I finished in December:

The fork and bottom bracket threads were masked off before I handed the frame and 'bars over to my buddy Andrew who began by applying several layers of etch spray primer followed by six coats of the main ivory colour. After two weeks of air hardening in his studio the deep red lug detailing was applied (his idea!). We then fitted NOS Raleigh decals to the downtube and seat-tube before six coats of clear lacquer were applied. After two more weeks of air-hardening, the headtube badge was refitted to the finished frame and the rebuild process began.

Freemans supplied the new fork and the lovely Stronglight headset was from the spares box... I cut the fork a little long to allow for potential future fitting of centre-pull brakes (ie there's space for a cable hanger on the steerer). The bars, pedals, saddle, grips, mech, cable guides, chain and brakes also came from my spares bin and I have another crankset with an integral chainguard in case it throws it's chain (it hasn't so far)! LGF donated the stem (ta!) and the rest came from eBay and the RB forum.

All done:

Frame: Raleigh made 50cm lugged steel frame sprayed ivory with deep red lugs and NOS decals... features horizontal drop-outs, braze-on top tube pump mounting and eyelets for mudguards

Fork: NOS chromed steel 1” threaded fork with mudguard eyelets

Headset: Stronglight 1" threaded (roller bearings)
Stem: 85mm Cinelli 1A quill
Handlebar: unknown flat steel bar painted to match the frame
Grips: Brave Connectors lock-on (brown with gold lockrings) + new generic end caps

Brake Levers: chromed steel (from a 1981 Hercules roadster)
Brake Calipers: Weinmann Capella
Brake Pads: new (steel specific)
Brake Cables: new inners with vintage gold outers
Brake Cable Guides: chromed steel x3

Shifter: Huret
Rear Derailleur: Huret Svelto (Raleigh edition)
Derailleur Cable: new inner with vintage gold outer
Derailleur Cable Guide: Huret (downtube band-on pipe type)
Freewheel: 14-28 tooth Regina Atom 77 5 speed
Chain: Sedis gold
Cranks: cottered steel
Chainrings: steel 46T 3/32"
Bottom Bracket: cottered with new bearings
Pedals: Union rat trap

Front Rim: Rigida Superchromix 27 x 1 1/4"
Rear Rim: Raleigh 27 x 1 1/4"
Rim Tape: Hermanns
Front Hub: 1975 Normandy large flange (with new axle assembly and bearings)
Rear Hub: 1985 Maillard small flange with new track nuts
Tyres: Michelin World Tour 27 x 1 1/4"
Tubes: 27 x 1 1/4" Presta

Saddle: San Marco brown suede
Seatpost: chromed 25.4mm
Seatpost Binder: Raleigh

Extras: gold cable end crimps

 

[playford]

http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/product ... el%20Forks

one of these forks? are they threaded?

 

[dubmaster77]

Hi Love your bike im doing something very simillar with a slighty older Dawes frame... Im thinkink Moustach handlebars though!

 

[Dead Rats]

http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/product2.asp?product_id=1235&pname=Steel%20Forks

one of these forks? are they threaded?

that's 'em... yeah 1" (standard 24TPI) they come threaded low enough to fit my frame and there can't be many frames with that short a head tube!? Not amazing quality but good for the price and the guy at the shop is nice to deal with

 

[Dead Rats]

Hi Love your bike im doing something very simillar with a slighty older Dawes frame... Im thinkink Moustach handlebars though!

cheers... I'll look fwd to seeing the Dawes!

 

[playford]

outstanding, I have a french threaded front fork, so one of those and a chrome headset will look the job

 

[Goldie]

That looks absolutely the business - I like it even more than the Sun. It's all the better for having looked so unloved at the start. Would you stick it in for rBOTM?

There's a lad called Sam Dempsey who works at the Craft and Design Centre in the northern quarter who's done something a bit similar, again with a big lugs 26 inch wheeled Raleigh:

 

[playford]

Really great attention to detail, just goes to show a budget type build doesent have to look cheap.

 

[Dead Rats]

That looks absolutely the business - I like it even more than the Sun. It's all the better for having looked so unloved at the start. Would you stick it in for rBOTM?

There's a lad called Sam Dempsey who works at the Craft and Design Centre in the northern quarter who's done something a bit similar, again with a big lugs 26 inch wheeled Raleigh:

Yes I've seen that bike in the flesh (after I had this one sprayed I might add!) 'tis lovely - pricey though IIRC! I also love what they've done with the handlebar bike hanger too!

 

[Spokesmann]

Great looking machine, Im not overly keen on flat bars like these, but this does hang together well. The old Huret Svelto is nice. Should turn a few heads this summer!