Thinking of trying the singlespeed thing 🙄 , like the retro 80/90's raleigh 501 / 531 tubed racers of that age with rear drop outs that have a little movement to act as a chain tensioner for a SS project.
Only one seen on ebay, anyone else had a punt and done it ?
Pics ?
Ratios ?
Ta 😆
Where are you based? I've just moved to Nottingham and this just seems like the right thing to do.
As I recall, most Raleighs have a forward facing drop out, so tension shouldn't be a problem. Let me know how you get on,
Alex
It works just fine. My first ever SS in '96 was built using a Claud Butler 501 frame with forward facing dropouts to allow some tension adjustment. I used a 36/18 gear, 2:1 is always a good starting point.
Nah, it'll never work ... 😉
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That took all of about 15 minutes to build. I could only use the F&F (and headset) as the rest of the stuff was pretty weak/awful. The only unusual component requirement was that it needed deep-drop calipers - as this bike originally had 27 1/4 steel rims, which were replaced by 700c's.
It's a 1980's Raleigh Eclipse in '18-23' (just a basic cro-mo tubeset), so it was pretty much entry-level in it's day. I've had it ages, I think a paid a tenner for it.
Built for commuting / nipping into town on, so it's supposed to look a bit thrown together (to deter a second look). Can be a bit harsh on worn out surfaces tho', and get scarily wobbly on fast downhills, (a combination of the frame and slightly dodgy wheel choice).
What he said. The cheapest kit is generally badged "18-23" and is fairly basic plain gauge steel. 501 is a sticker Reynolds will let you have if you pay them if I recall correctly. Once you get to 521 and 531 you're into decent stuff.
A 531 frame with forks and headset will weigh in at just under 6lbs. The really good bikes were made at Carlton and were branded Carlton or Raleigh. If you come across a Carlton at a good price (or an Edison/Eddison for that matter - built by ex Carlton frameshop gaffer Eddie and his son) snap it up, they're very good frames.
However, the better stuff is more likely to have short dropouts with a hanger. The cheaper frames tend to have quite long semi-horizontal dropouts with the derailleur fixed with one of those claw things - like you see on the really cheap derailleurs today.
The key thing for me would be to try and pick up a bike where some of the work has been done / there was OK kit from the factory. A lot of Raleighs came with chrome rims and really low end Weinmann calipers, so you end up buying a pair of dual pivots and some alu wheels just to be able to stop.
It really depends on your aims though - pub bike or flashy? 😀
Might be worth trying the Uni's security office - undergrads have gone home now and there are a few abandoned looking bikes locked up. I imagine they must have a purge at some point.
Alex - if you're ever in Mansfield, Karl V Cycles has a couple of really nice Raleighs to ogle, and a glass cabinet full of shiney campag bits.
Alex, you could have mine but at 23 inch its probably a bit big
I'm starting mine with a 48t chainring, 'coz I is 'ard*
*and 48t chainrings and 20t sprokets are cheep :p