1984 Raleigh Rapide restoration
Discussion
Hi folks.
I've just become the very proud owner of a 1984 Raleigh Rapide racing cycle.
it was advertised locally for £60 but i put in a cheeky offer of £45 and it got accepted!
At first i just wanted a cheap as chips s
tty old bike to convert to a single speed. After a little bit of research i found out that it was actually a pretty decent bike with a decent frame.
For the £45 i wasnt expecting too much other than maybe a usable frame, forks, headset and seat tube.
When i collected the bike i was astounded to see that it is actually pretty original bar a few exceptions, and in mostly decent order, other than being VERY GRUBBY.
Anyway, i have decided to restore the bike instead of butchering it for a single speed. As its not worth hundreds and hundreds im just going to be doing all the work myself with total budget (including the bike) of around £130-£150, definitely no more though.
CUE THE PICTURES!!
I've just become the very proud owner of a 1984 Raleigh Rapide racing cycle.
it was advertised locally for £60 but i put in a cheeky offer of £45 and it got accepted!
At first i just wanted a cheap as chips s
tty old bike to convert to a single speed. After a little bit of research i found out that it was actually a pretty decent bike with a decent frame.For the £45 i wasnt expecting too much other than maybe a usable frame, forks, headset and seat tube.
When i collected the bike i was astounded to see that it is actually pretty original bar a few exceptions, and in mostly decent order, other than being VERY GRUBBY.
Anyway, i have decided to restore the bike instead of butchering it for a single speed. As its not worth hundreds and hundreds im just going to be doing all the work myself with total budget (including the bike) of around £130-£150, definitely no more though.
CUE THE PICTURES!!
Edited by slomax on Tuesday 17th July 23:47
Strip down and a good, well needed clean up of all components.
original wienman side pull brakes
original wheels (mallard hubs, wienman rims)
original mallard QR skewers
Original bars and stem with Raleigh stamp
Original Sachs Huret Front derailleur
original seatpost
Saddle (selle italia SMP)
Original weinman brake levers
Original Sakae SA crankset
Original chainrings (look nearly new)
Broken spoke and buckled rear wheel (sob)
going to take it to the LBS to see if it is rescue-able
original wienman side pull brakes
original wheels (mallard hubs, wienman rims)
original mallard QR skewers
Original bars and stem with Raleigh stamp
Original Sachs Huret Front derailleur
original seatpost
Saddle (selle italia SMP)
Original weinman brake levers
Original Sakae SA crankset
Original chainrings (look nearly new)
Broken spoke and buckled rear wheel (sob)
going to take it to the LBS to see if it is rescue-able
Built back up after a wipe down of the frame and most of the rusty areas of chrome attacked with a soft scourer.
Will need stripping and painting. Probably going to do it myself to as original as possible (note the original Oyster paint colour
)
Left the front derailleur off for the time being and put some cheap flat pedals i had lying around the garage on as i couldn't get my feet in the toe clips!
frame number?
Weighed it this evening just to see and it comes in at exactly 11.2kgs
Will need stripping and painting. Probably going to do it myself to as original as possible (note the original Oyster paint colour
)Left the front derailleur off for the time being and put some cheap flat pedals i had lying around the garage on as i couldn't get my feet in the toe clips!
frame number?
Weighed it this evening just to see and it comes in at exactly 11.2kgs
don't worry, the bar tape is going straight in the bin and will be replaced by black or red tape, depending on what colour scheme i go for, i keep changing my mind!
Not pulled the stem out or removed the headset yet so we will wait and see. It does feel a little lumpy though. I'm hoping it can just be rebuilt with some new bb's and a load of grease!
On the plus side my LBS has said that the rear wheel is salvageable and requires 2 new spokes. Still i had budgeted for £50 on a new wheel but its only gonna be circa £15 for a true and replacement of spokes
Not pulled the stem out or removed the headset yet so we will wait and see. It does feel a little lumpy though. I'm hoping it can just be rebuilt with some new bb's and a load of grease!
On the plus side my LBS has said that the rear wheel is salvageable and requires 2 new spokes. Still i had budgeted for £50 on a new wheel but its only gonna be circa £15 for a true and replacement of spokes
Edited by slomax on Wednesday 18th July 16:32
righty. Finally decided on colour. Black frame with red details.
Just ordered
- new tubes
- vittoria tyres (black and red)
- black brake lines and cables
- new gear cables
- red bar tape
- decent full set of brake pads
- 1979 shimano 600 downtube friction shifters
found 3 tins of black, 1 primer and 2 lacquer spray paint in the garage (all new). Hence the paint scheme, think it should look pretty good!
going to polish up the brakes, stem, bars and seat post.
eventually might get a nice vintage rear derailleur to finish off the look.
Just ordered
- new tubes
- vittoria tyres (black and red)
- black brake lines and cables
- new gear cables
- red bar tape
- decent full set of brake pads
- 1979 shimano 600 downtube friction shifters
found 3 tins of black, 1 primer and 2 lacquer spray paint in the garage (all new). Hence the paint scheme, think it should look pretty good!
going to polish up the brakes, stem, bars and seat post.
eventually might get a nice vintage rear derailleur to finish off the look.
Righty, total spend so far on build. I don't think there is any more to come out other than maybe a head stock badge and some stickers. I budgeted for a complete bike at £150. BUT this was assuming i would need a new rear wheel. I have not counted things i have found in the garage like paint etc.
There is a potential i will need to buy a new headset, in which case it will go up a bit.
There is a potential i will need to buy a new headset, in which case it will go up a bit.
| PART | COST | RUNNING TOTAL |
| complete bike | £45 | £45.00 |
| inner tubes | £4.99 | £49.99 |
| vittoria tyres | £7.99x2=£15.98 | £65.97 |
| clarks brake blocks | £4.99x2=£9.98 | £75.95 |
| Bar tape | £5.95 | £81.90 |
| clarks gear cables | £3.99 | £85.89 |
| clarks brake cables | £4.99 | £90.88 |
| Shimano downtube shifters | £10 | £100.88 |
| Rear wheel true/repair | £11.60 | £112.48 |
| Vintage rear Derailluer | Free!! (tbc) | £112.48 |
Edited by slomax on Thursday 19th July 21:25
Justayellowbadge said:
I have a Record Sprint that did about 50 miles then got put away. Original dpwn to bar tape, tyres pedals, everything.
Tyres are perished and it needs stripping and lubricating but the frame and components are mint with original decals.
Might be worth a bit. I was watching one on ebay that needed a full resto. Looked in similar nick to mine. Not sure how original it was though. Tyres are perished and it needs stripping and lubricating but the frame and components are mint with original decals.
It went for just under £100 (90 something).
Seems a shame that its been left dormant. Are you going to get it out and use it, keep hold of it, or sell it?
here's one for sale at the moment that looks pretty damn original too!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Retro-1980s-Rale...
Edited by slomax on Wednesday 18th July 22:54
slomax said:
Justayellowbadge said:
I have a Record Sprint that did about 50 miles then got put away. Original dpwn to bar tape, tyres pedals, everything.
Tyres are perished and it needs stripping and lubricating but the frame and components are mint with original decals.
Might be worth a bit. I was watching one on ebay that needed a full resto. Looked in similar nick to mine. Not sure how original it was though. Tyres are perished and it needs stripping and lubricating but the frame and components are mint with original decals.
It went for just under £100 (90 something).
Seems a shame that its been left dormant. Are you going to get it out and use it, keep hold of it, or sell it?
Think its about time for an update.... don't you?
stripped it down and used a chemical stripper on the paint ready for a renewal.
Following a lot a preparation and rubbing down i finally got the frame and forks done. while the paint was hardening i set to on some of the other components.
the wheels needed wire wool-ing and i polished up the other alloy components and lacquered them to keep em shiny.
Mostly re-assembled here are the pics!!
stripped it down and used a chemical stripper on the paint ready for a renewal.
Following a lot a preparation and rubbing down i finally got the frame and forks done. while the paint was hardening i set to on some of the other components.
the wheels needed wire wool-ing and i polished up the other alloy components and lacquered them to keep em shiny.
Mostly re-assembled here are the pics!!
UPDATE!!
| PART | COST | RUNNING TOTAL |
| complete bike | £45 | £45.00 |
| inner tubes (2) | £4.99 | £49.99 |
| vittoria tyres | £7.99x2=£15.98 | £65.97 |
| clarks brake blocks | £4.99x2=£9.98 | £75.95 |
| Bar tape | £5.95 | £81.90 |
| clarks gear cables | £3.99 | £85.89 |
| clarks brake cables | £4.99 | £90.88 |
| Shimano downtube shifters | £10 | £100.88 |
| Rear wheel true/repair | £11.60 | £112.48 |
| Good used raleigh head badge | £7.50 | £119.98 |
| Stem bolt and quill | £2.50 | £122.48 |
| Vinyl stickers | £8.99 | £131.47 |
| Selle Italia Nekkar saddle | half price @ £19.99 | £151.46 |
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff