Mark Manley
Raleigh Fan
A couple of years ago I was in my local bike shop when my friend who owns it said that there was a rusty old Raleigh out the back that I was welcome to but if I did not take it that day the scrapman would be taking it the next, how could I resist? Luckily I was on my motorbike and had some straps so home it came.
On taking it apart I realised just about everything was toast including unfortuntely the SA 4 speed hub which was a lump of rust inside so most of it ended up in a skip anyway but the frame and forks were still solid which I kept while I considered their future.
There was a little too much patina for my taste and rather than keep it original I opted for a dark red colour with Lenton Clubman decals, sprayed with aerosols it passes the 6' test and looks ok at 3', in my opinion anyway. I already have a collection of Sakae Ringyo components mostly bought in poor condition and brought back to life on my polishing wheel and the shop it came from supplied me with a nos Shimano 3 speed hub, headset and Bluemels mudguards.
The colour scheme is inspired by the Raleigh Trent of the 1960s which I find quite pleasing, the white on the headtube is wrap rather than paint so is easily removed If I get the urge. It should really have white wall tyres but I used what I had and if anyone has a Raleigh number 1, 16" pump in white they would like to sell please get in touch and the correct length mudguard stays are on their way which will allow use of the original mounts.
I do like the Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub but find the Shimano which has the same ratios to be a lot smoother when changing gear, due to copyright it does apparently have completely different internals to the SA. There is a Brook rack to go on it but it needs blasting and painting to match first.
And the spec sheet.
Frame: Raleigh Lenton 531 21"
Fork: Raleigh 531
Headset: Raleigh nos
Stem: Sakae Ringyo
Handlebar: Sakae Ringyo riser
Brake Levers: Raleigh nos
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 500
Brake Pads: Weinmann
Shifter: Shimano
Chain: Sunrace
Cranks: Sakae Ringyo Apex 170mm
Chainring: Sakae Ringyo 36T
Bottom Bracket: Raleigh
Pedals: Raleigh nos
Chainguard: Raleigh
Rims: Rigida 26 x 1 3/8 36 spokes
Front hub: Sakae Ringyo
Rear hub: Shimano 3 speed nos
Hub Skewer: Sakae Ringyo
Tyres: Raleigh branded
Mudguards: Bluemels Lightweight
Saddle: Brooks
Seatpost: Sakae Ringyo 25.4mm
Extras: Lion bell and a Brooks rack to be fitted
Weight: 12KG (originally 17KG)
On taking it apart I realised just about everything was toast including unfortuntely the SA 4 speed hub which was a lump of rust inside so most of it ended up in a skip anyway but the frame and forks were still solid which I kept while I considered their future.
There was a little too much patina for my taste and rather than keep it original I opted for a dark red colour with Lenton Clubman decals, sprayed with aerosols it passes the 6' test and looks ok at 3', in my opinion anyway. I already have a collection of Sakae Ringyo components mostly bought in poor condition and brought back to life on my polishing wheel and the shop it came from supplied me with a nos Shimano 3 speed hub, headset and Bluemels mudguards.
The colour scheme is inspired by the Raleigh Trent of the 1960s which I find quite pleasing, the white on the headtube is wrap rather than paint so is easily removed If I get the urge. It should really have white wall tyres but I used what I had and if anyone has a Raleigh number 1, 16" pump in white they would like to sell please get in touch and the correct length mudguard stays are on their way which will allow use of the original mounts.
I do like the Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub but find the Shimano which has the same ratios to be a lot smoother when changing gear, due to copyright it does apparently have completely different internals to the SA. There is a Brook rack to go on it but it needs blasting and painting to match first.
And the spec sheet.
Frame: Raleigh Lenton 531 21"
Fork: Raleigh 531
Headset: Raleigh nos
Stem: Sakae Ringyo
Handlebar: Sakae Ringyo riser
Brake Levers: Raleigh nos
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 500
Brake Pads: Weinmann
Shifter: Shimano
Chain: Sunrace
Cranks: Sakae Ringyo Apex 170mm
Chainring: Sakae Ringyo 36T
Bottom Bracket: Raleigh
Pedals: Raleigh nos
Chainguard: Raleigh
Rims: Rigida 26 x 1 3/8 36 spokes
Front hub: Sakae Ringyo
Rear hub: Shimano 3 speed nos
Hub Skewer: Sakae Ringyo
Tyres: Raleigh branded
Mudguards: Bluemels Lightweight
Saddle: Brooks
Seatpost: Sakae Ringyo 25.4mm
Extras: Lion bell and a Brooks rack to be fitted
Weight: 12KG (originally 17KG)
