Seems a shame to ruin it! Classic Raleigh Pro Race.
Discussion
Bit of background, I've cycled all my life, had a Raleigh Pro Race back when I was around 13, kept it for years wore it out really then got shut of it perhaps around 6 years back.
Regretted it ever since.
I used to be super fit, then I discovered cars, birds and beer and from 18 onwards piled the weight on, I'm now 32 in a few days and to be honest I'm fat, I need to lose weight, I'm not happy with myself, Ive got an amazing gf (god knows how) who says she doesn't care but I do. Sure I'm not the only person to be there.
So 6 months ago I went out and bought a classic Peugeot Pure Gold. It was super tidy but absolutely crap, the wheels needed replacing as they weren't hooked rims and it was just a horrible bike in most ways but was totally original (mid 80's) and very tidy.
I sold it for a good profit and spent the money on a sight unseen ally framed zeus road bike with some nice components. It's a shed, the chains so stretched it's borderline useless, the tyres were dead, all the cables needed replacing, the tape needed replacing, the usual stuff.
What wasn't usual or repairable was the massive crack that I found on removing the seat post from the frame because the PO fitted the wrong size post and cracked the frame. Or the crack propagating up the steerer tube. Not really wanting to experience a frame break at 30mph downhill one day I started hunting a bike frame quickly, sorted the mechanicals out on my frame which are now fine and hoped for the best.
Well that happened today, a Raleigh Pro Race locally, apparently hardly used, £90 no bids, I waited and waited expecting it to go for silly money as these old Raleighs do (way more than they are worth considering most are only 501 tubing and basic components, but they are a nice ride and bullet proof).
Well basically I won it. £90 bargain!
I expected to need to do some work on it so I went to fetch it and wow, it's as new, literally as new, the spokes are shiny, the black rims haven't any wear from the brakes, no damage to the frame at all, zero rust, even the original Raleigh Gum walls are as new. Apparently bought by a lady who hated the ride and only rode it up the street and back and put it away for 15-20 years.
Now I know the bikes nothing special but the condition makes it special. I've changed the tyres for some vittorias that I can ride on as I can't bring myself to ruin the original tyres, but now I'm remembering my old bike and how grotty the rims looked once the anodising wore off, there is no way to protect them, it seems such a shame.
So now I have a dilemma, stop being wet and just ride it, after all I drive rare old cars daily, a bikes just the same isn't it? Except I can't replace the rims really....
Buy an old set of wheels, stick a new block on the rear so I don't wear the chain etc. And use them as daily wheels and store the originals.
Keep it as a toy and just buy a frame to transfer the bits off the deathtrap on to.
Can you even buy new wheels (I would only need a rear really as I can use the deathtrap front, can't use the rear as it has 8 speed cassette hub on it) to take a screw on block for 6 speed shimano gears?
Regretted it ever since.
I used to be super fit, then I discovered cars, birds and beer and from 18 onwards piled the weight on, I'm now 32 in a few days and to be honest I'm fat, I need to lose weight, I'm not happy with myself, Ive got an amazing gf (god knows how) who says she doesn't care but I do. Sure I'm not the only person to be there.
So 6 months ago I went out and bought a classic Peugeot Pure Gold. It was super tidy but absolutely crap, the wheels needed replacing as they weren't hooked rims and it was just a horrible bike in most ways but was totally original (mid 80's) and very tidy.
I sold it for a good profit and spent the money on a sight unseen ally framed zeus road bike with some nice components. It's a shed, the chains so stretched it's borderline useless, the tyres were dead, all the cables needed replacing, the tape needed replacing, the usual stuff.
What wasn't usual or repairable was the massive crack that I found on removing the seat post from the frame because the PO fitted the wrong size post and cracked the frame. Or the crack propagating up the steerer tube. Not really wanting to experience a frame break at 30mph downhill one day I started hunting a bike frame quickly, sorted the mechanicals out on my frame which are now fine and hoped for the best.
Well that happened today, a Raleigh Pro Race locally, apparently hardly used, £90 no bids, I waited and waited expecting it to go for silly money as these old Raleighs do (way more than they are worth considering most are only 501 tubing and basic components, but they are a nice ride and bullet proof).
Well basically I won it. £90 bargain!
I expected to need to do some work on it so I went to fetch it and wow, it's as new, literally as new, the spokes are shiny, the black rims haven't any wear from the brakes, no damage to the frame at all, zero rust, even the original Raleigh Gum walls are as new. Apparently bought by a lady who hated the ride and only rode it up the street and back and put it away for 15-20 years.
Now I know the bikes nothing special but the condition makes it special. I've changed the tyres for some vittorias that I can ride on as I can't bring myself to ruin the original tyres, but now I'm remembering my old bike and how grotty the rims looked once the anodising wore off, there is no way to protect them, it seems such a shame.
So now I have a dilemma, stop being wet and just ride it, after all I drive rare old cars daily, a bikes just the same isn't it? Except I can't replace the rims really....
Buy an old set of wheels, stick a new block on the rear so I don't wear the chain etc. And use them as daily wheels and store the originals.
Keep it as a toy and just buy a frame to transfer the bits off the deathtrap on to.
Can you even buy new wheels (I would only need a rear really as I can use the deathtrap front, can't use the rear as it has 8 speed cassette hub on it) to take a screw on block for 6 speed shimano gears?
Chain etc will wear with use, and can be replaced.
You'll want to replace cables and brake blocks (as they'll be next to useless by now). Bin the old tyres (they're probably rotten).
Wheels, you will find that the braking surface of the old rims are probably a lot less grippy than new ones.
Personally, I'd use it - but if you're worried about "ruining" it, just hang it on the wall without spending anything on it, and go buy yourself a shiny new bike. It sounds a bit like not wanting to get the new running shoes dirty.
You'll want to replace cables and brake blocks (as they'll be next to useless by now). Bin the old tyres (they're probably rotten).
Wheels, you will find that the braking surface of the old rims are probably a lot less grippy than new ones.
Personally, I'd use it - but if you're worried about "ruining" it, just hang it on the wall without spending anything on it, and go buy yourself a shiny new bike. It sounds a bit like not wanting to get the new running shoes dirty.
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