Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Raleigh Record fixie?

Just wondering if there are any problems converting a raleigh record? bb problems...stem size...seat posts...etc....here are some pictures...not sure of the year though....

http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/3421/rr0mt.jpg
http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/40/rr23yh.jpg

I've done this one, but it turned out kind of heavy. Cranks were junk, wheels were junk, i was able to reuse the rest.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/june/KamilWalas.htm

EDIT: needless to say, i sold it.

It's heavy, but I love that bike. I've got one in that paint scheme. Go nuts.

what happened to the other frame? damn you quick girl... how the hell do you get frames so quick?

Looks like a nice frame, don't know the specifics though, important thing is to just do it and get on a bike and ride.

the stem and saddle look nice

I just want to make sure this is a standard bike...with standard easy to find parts....I may keep it orginal for now and build up my motobecane and then later transfer the parts over...I just like this bumble bee color scheme....

what happened to the other frame? damn you quick girl... how the hell do you get frames so quick?

Looks like a nice frame, don't know the specifics though, important thing is to just do it and get on a bike and ride.


I look on craigslist everyday for cheap roadbikes with nice colours....it's obbsessive really.

The bike's are kind of junkers and if parts aren't in good working order, you can have problems finding the appropriate Raleigh sized bits. I believe it is mostly the seatpost and headset you have to worry about. Oh, and it's got 27" wheels. Personally I wouldn't.

we all understand and have that 'problem'. I just got a new bike but still on the look out for new frames.

Damn, can't believe I'm home on a friday... being sick blows... good thing it's raining so I don't feel so bad.

anyways, hurry and get a bike together, we're waiting to see you new fixie.

I'm diggin that shade of yellow

look the fork looks weird..what's the silver circle thing?
http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/7818/rr36nd.jpg

Ps...I already bought wheels and tools...

That's the trademark Raleigh thimble fork.

don't know much about the frame but aesthetically it looks nice. I'm kinda digging that circle thingy. but it is 27" which I personally don't like, and the clearance between the downtube and front wheel is huge. Just little thing here and there. If it's only the color you like, you can always paint some other frame that color scheme.

It is not a "fast" bike, its a randonneur, so its got not so agressive geometry, may feel like a cruiser compared to some. Depends on your riding style. I felt like i was driving a caddy.

Is it officially supposed to be a randonneur? It was basically Raleigh's low-end bike-boom ride. I owned one for a short time and that mofo was HEAVY. No, really heavy.

Raleigh was the company that pioneered the All Steel Bicycle and the Record carried that legacy forward with distinction.

The cottered cranks may be a pain, too. If you can avoid servicing the bottom bracket, that seems best.

edit: any idea what year that is? Mine had a lugged fork crown, not the thimble fork.

I have that bike as a fixie, but the bottom bracket was a problem. The cottered cranks finally gave up the ghost on me (as they always do on a fixie for some reason) and I'm having trouble finding a new spindle. The BB has Raleigh threading so it won't take a cartridge BB. You need to find a new spindle for the existing cups but needless to say, BB spindles are hard to come by these days, and this one takes a weird size. Other than that though, it's been fine. Heavy, but fine.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh26.html

There can be some threading incompatibility issues with the BB as well. Sheldon is a great resource though.

hmm... i think i remember records having weak dropouts. that combined with the heavy frame and the cottered cranks would make me vote 'nay' on this bike for a fixie.
i do like the color schemes on those old raleighs though.

Did you end up doing anything with the bottom bracket? I am currently attempting to update the bottom bracket on my Raleigh Record and was curious about what you did.
Thanks.

-brian

I dig the color, reminds me of the schoolbus yellow that old Peugeots used to come in.

I look on craigslist everyday for cheap roadbikes with nice colours....it's obbsessive really.

+1.. I love finding the free ones!

my first fixed-gear was a raleigh record i got for free when a customer bought a new bike from us. he told me to do whatever i pleased with the bike, and when i saw the dropouts i knew exactly what i wanted.
ended up digging up a crank, stem, chain, and set of track drops in the back of the store and went to town. it turned out really nicely, and it's still being ridden by a close friend of mine on long island. look for it!

I found a 1970's RR in a LBS that was never built up... brand new. In blue. Put an IRO BB and crank on it. I never had a real fixed gear bike before because I always had MTB's. So to me this bike is great, until I build up the one that's on its way( a real fixed gear frame ).
I love this bike, even though it's 2030 tubing. It's new so it's in mint condition, just one tiny ding.

I will be using it as a single speed when I get my new frame. The only issue was that the seat tube won't accomodate the newer posts. No biggie. It's a cool bike and everyone seems to love it.