Well, with my Dynatech MT4 and my RSP Ti (an RSP 500/600 frame)all but finished I managed to get hold of a frame I'd been after for many many years.
I used to have a Raleigh M-Trax 300 Elite with Reynolds Optima butted frame back in 1998, which I bought new from Allen's Cycles in Barnsley.
It was stolen soon after by some scumbag who broke into my garage one night.
Since then I have always pined after my lost Bike, and no bike has ever been the same!
Lately with my new found Retrobike obsession I managed to get the aforementioned MT4 and RSP and built them up (along with an M-Trax 200 and RSP 250 I gave to my son and nephew respectively), but I always longed for the same M-Trax I used to have.
Then a few weeks back I by chance came upon an M-Trax for sale in adverts.ie - an Irish Loot type site.
It wasn't an M-Trax 300 Elite, but close enough, a 350 Elite, which had the same frame, painted in 'Copper chromica' rather than my old one being in 'Gold chromica'. The Copper Chromica is a tad darker and redder than the Gold - so not much difference, but thanks to the seller - who happens to be a retrobike.co.uk member himself - del28 - I bought the Frame! (The sale was for complete bike, in almost the catalogue spec (bar the wheels and stem)
a Shame the decals have been rubbed off it parts
Lovely colour frame I think.
It arrived complete with Diatech aheadset, LX front E-type Mech (with UN52E Bottom Bracket) , RSP Ti flat bars and an Art adjustable stem.
I was over the moon - so I started building it up, with some parts I had been buying and other's I bought after I acquired the Frame - deciding to go for XT parts.
The Original Spec is listen on the sheet below; (It's the M-Trax 350 Elite)
For some strange reason, the 350 Elite is Copper Chromica and 300 Elite Gold Chromica.
Mine is a 350 Elite in Gold Chromica!
Same frame so doesn't really matter, anyway, I prefer Gold.
And a Link to the 1997 M-Trax catalogue (pdf)
http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/n ... ary%29.pdf
And the top of the range Ti M-Trax 450 Elite is the following; (same as what Barrie Clarke used to race in)
And this is how the 350 Elite looked;
Here it is finished now (November 2015)
The following is the build thread
So after gathering some parts, this is what I managed to photograph today in the rain, sleet and snow (brought it outside for a few minutes just to snap it, then back indoors).
It isn't finished, brakes and gears haven't been set and saddle not set - and needs a nice new Stem, but it's essentially done.
I used the fork which was on my RSP Ti (The Marzocchi Z3, Polished, TF Tuned, 80mm travel, 175mm 1 1/8" steerer)
The fork was taken off my RSP as it was too heavy, and probably had too much travel. It is a superb fork though, and looks the business. I think it suits the M-Trax, but I am thinking of replacing it with something else, more about that later.
Full Spec.
Frame - Raleigh Special Products M-Trax 350 Elite, Reynolds Optima butted tubing in Copper Chromica
Headset - Diacompe Diatech threadless
Fork - Marzocchi Bomber Z3 TF Tuned
Stem - Art Adjustable
Bars - RSP Ti flat
Grips - WTB dual compound
Seatpost - USE Titanium
Saddle - WTB Rocket V
Rear Derailleur - Shimano XT M739
Brake Levers - Shimano XT M739S
Shifters - Shimano XT M740
Brakes - Shimano XT M750 V Brakes
Front Derailleur - Shimano LX M570 E-type
Hubs - Shimano XT M737 Parallax
Skewers - Shimano XT
Bottom Bracket - Shimano UN52E
Rims - Mavic X517 SUP
Tyres - Michelin Wild Race'R Advanced 2.0
Tubes - Continental with Dunlop Valve
Chainset - Specialites TA Compact
Granny Ring - Action Tec Ti
Bolts - Blackspire
Cranks - Raceface Turbine LP
Pedals - Wellgo CNC M142 Flat
Cables - Shimano XTR/SLR
WEIGHT - 25.5 lbs
Haven't ridden it yet, but feel the forks aren't suited to the build - well they look good, but they're heavy, and probably too long ravel. BUT I'll ride it first and then comment!
However I do absolutely love the Magura Rond Quake Air I have on my RSP Ti and to be honest, I want a pair of those for this bike - that's probably my real reason!
The bike hasn't been finished, need to adjust brakes and gears, cut and secure cables, and adjust the saddle.
The Bottom Bracket spindle seems to be too long for the cranks - may need a 107mm one, I think Royce or Phil again!
And I'm seeking a new Stem - a decent one such as a Controltech, Pace RC45, Ringle Zooka or something which'll suit the frame.
So any comments?
Should I change the forks?
Any stem suggestions?
Cheers!
I used to have a Raleigh M-Trax 300 Elite with Reynolds Optima butted frame back in 1998, which I bought new from Allen's Cycles in Barnsley.
It was stolen soon after by some scumbag who broke into my garage one night.
Since then I have always pined after my lost Bike, and no bike has ever been the same!
Lately with my new found Retrobike obsession I managed to get the aforementioned MT4 and RSP and built them up (along with an M-Trax 200 and RSP 250 I gave to my son and nephew respectively), but I always longed for the same M-Trax I used to have.
Then a few weeks back I by chance came upon an M-Trax for sale in adverts.ie - an Irish Loot type site.
It wasn't an M-Trax 300 Elite, but close enough, a 350 Elite, which had the same frame, painted in 'Copper chromica' rather than my old one being in 'Gold chromica'. The Copper Chromica is a tad darker and redder than the Gold - so not much difference, but thanks to the seller - who happens to be a retrobike.co.uk member himself - del28 - I bought the Frame! (The sale was for complete bike, in almost the catalogue spec (bar the wheels and stem)
a Shame the decals have been rubbed off it parts
Lovely colour frame I think.It arrived complete with Diatech aheadset, LX front E-type Mech (with UN52E Bottom Bracket) , RSP Ti flat bars and an Art adjustable stem.
I was over the moon - so I started building it up, with some parts I had been buying and other's I bought after I acquired the Frame - deciding to go for XT parts.
The Original Spec is listen on the sheet below; (It's the M-Trax 350 Elite)
For some strange reason, the 350 Elite is Copper Chromica and 300 Elite Gold Chromica.
Mine is a 350 Elite in Gold Chromica!
Same frame so doesn't really matter, anyway, I prefer Gold.
And a Link to the 1997 M-Trax catalogue (pdf)
http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/n ... ary%29.pdf
And the top of the range Ti M-Trax 450 Elite is the following; (same as what Barrie Clarke used to race in)
And this is how the 350 Elite looked;
Here it is finished now (November 2015)
The following is the build thread
So after gathering some parts, this is what I managed to photograph today in the rain, sleet and snow (brought it outside for a few minutes just to snap it, then back indoors).
It isn't finished, brakes and gears haven't been set and saddle not set - and needs a nice new Stem, but it's essentially done.
I used the fork which was on my RSP Ti (The Marzocchi Z3, Polished, TF Tuned, 80mm travel, 175mm 1 1/8" steerer)
The fork was taken off my RSP as it was too heavy, and probably had too much travel. It is a superb fork though, and looks the business. I think it suits the M-Trax, but I am thinking of replacing it with something else, more about that later.
Full Spec.
Frame - Raleigh Special Products M-Trax 350 Elite, Reynolds Optima butted tubing in Copper Chromica
Headset - Diacompe Diatech threadless
Fork - Marzocchi Bomber Z3 TF Tuned
Stem - Art Adjustable
Bars - RSP Ti flat
Grips - WTB dual compound
Seatpost - USE Titanium
Saddle - WTB Rocket V
Rear Derailleur - Shimano XT M739
Brake Levers - Shimano XT M739S
Shifters - Shimano XT M740
Brakes - Shimano XT M750 V Brakes
Front Derailleur - Shimano LX M570 E-type
Hubs - Shimano XT M737 Parallax
Skewers - Shimano XT
Bottom Bracket - Shimano UN52E
Rims - Mavic X517 SUP
Tyres - Michelin Wild Race'R Advanced 2.0
Tubes - Continental with Dunlop Valve
Chainset - Specialites TA Compact
Granny Ring - Action Tec Ti
Bolts - Blackspire
Cranks - Raceface Turbine LP
Pedals - Wellgo CNC M142 Flat
Cables - Shimano XTR/SLR
WEIGHT - 25.5 lbs
Haven't ridden it yet, but feel the forks aren't suited to the build - well they look good, but they're heavy, and probably too long ravel. BUT I'll ride it first and then comment!
However I do absolutely love the Magura Rond Quake Air I have on my RSP Ti and to be honest, I want a pair of those for this bike - that's probably my real reason!
The bike hasn't been finished, need to adjust brakes and gears, cut and secure cables, and adjust the saddle.
The Bottom Bracket spindle seems to be too long for the cranks - may need a 107mm one, I think Royce or Phil again!
And I'm seeking a new Stem - a decent one such as a Controltech, Pace RC45, Ringle Zooka or something which'll suit the frame.
So any comments?
Should I change the forks?
Any stem suggestions?
Cheers!
