Classic & Vintage - Rear Wheel problem on Raleigh

Hey guys, I picked up quite a nice Raleigh roadie the other day from Ebay. I got it, and a freestyle BMX, for about $15, mostly because the guy listed badly. Anyhow, I pick them up, and the Raleigh has been repainted, so there's no telling what bike it was. It has not terribly narrow quick release alloys (Maillard hubs), horizontal dropouts, Cinelli bars, Shimano 105 groupset and a close ratio freewheel. It's very nice, really, just needed a rear brake cable, some bar tape, and clips and straps. Or so it seemed.

I'd pumped the tires up, and they held air, so I thought I'd ride it round from the garage to my garden, and start work on it (it's to give to a friend). I get on, and it feels REALLY wierd and unstable. So I get off and wheel it up there, and on inspection, no fewer than six drive side spokes were broken, at the hub. They were still in position, hence the fact that I hadn't noticed. Looking closely at the wheel, it seems pretty straight, but there is what could be a crack in the rim at one point. What do you think? Worth taking it in for the LBS to work on, or does it sound like a dead issue? I could liberate the front wheel for use on another project, and then look for another set. I'm always short of wheels - kerb finds inevitably have either had their rims bent by kids, or are rusty chrome ones :(

new rim I guess, with new spokes. The big question is - is it a horribly rare rim size?

- joel

Almost certainly not, though I don't know what size it is, exactly. It's certainly 700c.

some older raleighs had a bizarre 26"ish size is all. If they're 27" ro 700cs you shouldn't have a problem.

- Joel

Re-sell the BMX and use the money to get a replacement wheelset. That will leave you with some spare parts for wheel repairs.

I'm keeping the BMX, though I could probably get $50 for it with a bit of tweaking. I wanted a freestyle BMX as a kid, and since it fell into my lap, I figured it was mant for me. I'm probably going to break my neck!

Anyhow, I didn't think Ebay was going to be my friend, since track cranksets, and brooks seats etc are never cheap. However, it turns out there are PLENTY of cheap wheelsets. There's a guy in my town selling several, all going for less than $10 at the moment. I may lay in a stock......

Where are these rims? I have a 70-80ish looking Peugeot stickered PH10s that someone took a super champion front wheel from it.

I'm keeping the BMX, though I could probably get $50 for it with a bit of tweaking. I wanted a freestyle BMX as a kid, and since it fell into my lap, I figured it was mant for me. I'm probably going to break my neck!

Anyhow, I didn't think Ebay was going to be my friend, since track cranksets, and brooks seats etc are never cheap. However, it turns out there are PLENTY of cheap wheelsets. There's a guy in my town selling several, all going for less than $10 at the moment. I may lay in a stock......

I figured there was a reason you got the BMX in the deal. I try to keep my knees away from my ears when I ride, but I recognize that some folks kinda like it. :D I'm always open to $10.00 wheelsets. Will have to take a look.

I'm in the UK, and the $10 wheelsets are too, as are the wheels I'm taking off the Raleigh! I got the BMX cos it was just part of the deal, but hey, I figure I can have some fun trying to prove a bike can fly!

I'm in the UK, and the $10 wheelsets are too, as are the wheels I'm taking off the Raleigh! I got the BMX cos it was just part of the deal, but hey, I figure I can have some fun trying to prove a bike can fly!

Well the shipping on a $10.00 wheelset would kind of kill that deal for me. Good news for you though.

Be careful with that BMX. We'd rather hear from you than read about you. :)

Unbelievably, I got today pair of Campagnolo Omega Strada Hardox road wheels, 700c, for tubs, with a freewheel (or cassette, or whatever - not sure), shimano hubs, and also an Alesa Alloy front wheel, also 700c, for a total of £6.98 (about $10). They're 15 miles from my house too, so no shipping....

So, it looks like my friend who's getting the Raleigh is getting a FAR better wheelset than he thought.....

Let me know if you find any $10.00 Masis. :D

I don't know if that's likely, but I keep hoping for a cheap english classic. A Rotrax would be ideal, since they were built 15 mins from my house, but a Grubb, or a Stan Pike, or something, languishing in the garage of someone who just thinks it's a "crappy old racer". Maybe one day. I was pleased enough with my free Falcon Westminster!