80's racers

[JuniorD]

There is nothing nicer than an 80s or 90s frame chromed forks and seat and chain stays.

I used to have a Concorde Max built up just like this one, but with Spinergy Rev-X wheels. Something I always regretted selling (though I did make 50% profit on it)

[MDMA .]

^^ perfect.

[lufbramatt]

MDMA . said:

^^ perfect.

yep. "Super Nice"

[griffter]

Here’s mine. 1989 Reynolds 531, bought new when I was 16, owned and ridden ever since.
Rebuilt twice with pick’n’mix components, mix of cheap new and eBay. Now has modern tektro brakes.
I cold set the frame for a modern wheel set which came off a carbon b’twin.
The downtube shifters and original Sachs mechs are staying! But they do mean this is my highest geared bike and whilst fast downhill, it’s a bit flexible and hard work going up. All good fun.

[georgezippy]

andySC said:

£20 ! How have you got on with getting a wider hub in? Mine is 126mm at the back & I’ve been advised not to try & force a 130mm (modern hub) in there. Only a couple of mm either side but it’s a “no-no” apparently ..this was my plan at one stage & I fancied a modern Campagnolo groupset. 753 can’t be “cold set” so I’ve let it be. That said if it lets go & it’s cost you £20 it’s worth a punt ! Ilkeston (it’s got a SB frame number?) would sometimes use 531 rear ends on some frames as all the 753 stuff was bespoke & that’ll sprag quite easily.

Well I assume my wheel is 130mm at the hub, not measured it. it goes in quite easily with only a gentle pull on the frame. It's been this way for years so am not really concerned. As you say, it wasn't expensive, I rode around on it for a while before I really found out what 753 was and it was my first attempt at building a bike, I did notice how quick it was the first time I got it going, and it had cheaper and heavier bits on then.
Am loving the old frames with pricey aero wheels on, maybe it's time for an upgrade

[Mr Ted]

Ilovejapcrap said:

Hello all,

Ive been looking at a lot of Raleigh and Peugeot racers on EBAY.

Basically me and my mate are doing a few bike rides, nothing amazing, just a steady ride with a few pub stops.

Hes got a 80's peugeot and its kinda got me hankering. I realise it will want new tyres etc more than likely and a good service grease etc.

But how much harder is it to really use than say a 500 quid modern one. he seemed fine peddling along with me.

Gearing is where the biggest difference is, my late 1970s Carlton is typical of the more sporting bikes of the era as it has 10 speeds, 5 on the rear and 'double clanger' on the front. Rear cassettes are typically 28-14 with fronts being 52/42 add to that the extra weight of even a 531 frame and climbing will feel a lot different. A lot of bikes at that time had just 5 speeds so look around for a 10 speed.

Brakes are OK, most were centre pull and with some modern blocks should be OK if the rims are running true, most rims won't unless the bike has been restored!!

Tyres are mostly 27" X 1.25", you can't fit 700 tyres to those rims so you have to use something from the limited range available, fortunately Schwalbe Marathons are terrific.

Frames tended to have a lot more fork rake than moderns so very stable at speed, personally I am not a fan of the modern trend for low rake forks that, to me, make modern bikes look like they have had a front end shunt!

In good condition these old bikes can be a joy to ride, in anything less than good condition they can be horrible, the good news is they tended to use loads of lose ball bearings, steering head, bottom bracket and wheel hubs so straightforward to service. We used to buy tins of ball bearings from our local bike shop as you were guaranteed to lose some whenever you attempted maintenance!!

[JuniorD]

What Carlton do you have Mr Ted? I’ve a Carlton Carrera. It was my first proper road bike but it was already rather aged by the time I got it.

[Mr Ted]

JuniorD said:

What Carlton do you have Mr Ted? I’ve a Carlton Carrera. It was my first proper road bike but it was already rather aged by the time I got it.

Its a Corsair, finished in typical 70's bronze/brown, I am just refurbishing it at the moment , photos to follow!

I must have been a lot stronger as a teenager climbing my local hills with a bottom gear of 42-28! I previously had a bike with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer that my dad bought me, I still got up the hills, I don't remember having to do much pushing but it was 45 years ago so I might have selective memory

[C0ffin D0dger]

JuniorD said:

There is nothing nicer than an 80s or 90s frame chromed forks and seat and chain stays.

My Peugeot I had in the 80's ended up with chrome forks as opposed to the painted ones that came with it as I manged to "straighten" these by riding into the back of a parked car whilst not looking where I was going

That was my first new bike as my Dad took offence to the bloke who did cycling proficiency at my school basically deeming my bike he'd got from the second hand shop as un-roadworthy. Couldn't have been a happier 11 year old when I got it.

I used to borrow my Dad's Raleigh Record Sprint without him knowing when I was a bit older too so as to impress my mates. That was a nice bike to ride.

[colin_p]

C0ffin D0dger said:

I used to borrow my Dad's Raleigh Record Sprint without him knowing when I was a bit older too so as to impress my mates. That was a nice bike to ride.

That was the bike I Iusted over as a teen, especially the one with the gold anodised bits dripping off of it.

[magpie215]

Here's my 90s Falcon team banana.
Did my first 100 mile ride on it last week..surprisingly comfy.

[CoolC]

On a slight tangent. I've always fancied the idea of getting one of those generic carbon frames from AliExpress and painting it up in the Raleigh Banana colours.