Classic & Vintage - need help with vintage bike

Hi, i am hoping someone could help. I picked a bike up yesterday and I believe it is a vintage bike. It is a Rudge Royale. I tried looking for a vin number but couldn't find it. does anyone know anything about these bikes? i would love to have any info you could give me, thanks!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/shortandbubbly/IMG_0001.jpg

Rudge was a re-named raleigh.Raleigh made rudge , humber,robbin hood,and others.

Yep, a rudge would be vintage alright. Kurt should be along soon. The forks look eerily like a "Firenze" bike I saw the other day. Does this rudge have chrome cottered cranks?,,,,BD

Yes it does have chrome cottered cranks would this bike be worth anything

Looks to be a boom-era 10-speed. Not worth much in that condition. Somebody might buy it for a fixed-gear project.

Looks to be a boom-era 10-speed. Not worth much in that condition. Somebody might buy it for a fixed-gear project.

There really are people that will work on bikes for the joy of it, and not hatchet job every non-531 frame into a fixie... :D

Hear, hear.

Like an LBS owner/daily rider told me once. Fixed gear is the quickest way to ruin your knees. I took that to heart, and never felt the need to build one. The only problem I have with derailleur bikes, is the inability to shift while sitting still. It seems uncivilized, lol.,,,,BD

...The only problem I have with derailleur bikes, is the inability to shift while sitting still. It seems uncivilized, lol.,,,,BD
One way to partially solve that problem is with Sram's Dual Drive. It has a 7 to 9 speed cassette on a 3 speed internal hub.

Has anyone noticed the Fork Crown? It looks very similar to the Nervex crown on my '66 Paramount. Wouldn't that up it several notches above a "boom era" bike?

I think the stem shifters, chainwheel guard and dork disk place it towards the enty level bikes.

There really are people that will work on bikes for the joy of it, and not hatchet job every non-531 frame into a fixie... :D

You're preaching to the choir. I was just responding to his question about whether or not it's worth much. :)

I think the stem shifters, chainwheel guard and dork disk place it towards the enty level bikes.
I've seen Paramounts with stem shifters and the "Spoke Protector" could be from a set of replacement wheels. It's out of focus but look at the fork crown.

There really are people that will work on bikes for the joy of it, and not hatchet job every non-531 frame into a fixie...

I am happy to hear that!

As I said before, the fork crown looks very much like the one I saw on a Firenze roadie the other day.,,,,BD

There really are people that will work on bikes for the joy of it, and not hatchet job every non-531 frame into a fixie...

I have built up a couple old Steel framed, 70's riders, into single speed/fixed gear bikes.
I don't ride too much single/fixed, but I will say this (at my age, 51) I don't see it as something that is that bad for your health (joints)
It forces the rider to be more AWARE of their surroundings... to be in control of the bike as your legs do most of the starting/stopping. I can see the attraction. Around town, over lever ground as a commuter, or to the cafe... what could be better than two wheels and a brake?

As far as hatcheting up old reynolds frames?
The bikes that I resurrected had spent the better part of 2 decades, collecting dust in garages and basements. They got new life and are in use again (one by my 20 year old daughter who just FLIPPED when she rode the fixie the first time). There are some purists out there who have the time (and $$) and inclination to piece together and re-build 70's 10-12 speeds up again. Things evolve. If a steel frame is revived into a spry around town rider... so be it. Better than being ignored. In ten years, that old bike hanging in the rafters might get torn down and recycled anyway.

*plink plink*

....would this bike be worth anything

It's a very small frame in rough shape....IMHO $30-50 would be fair if that's roughly what you paid

To respond in a generic way to a couple of posts, I did not mean to indicate that turning a bike into a fixie is a bad thing, just that some people will keep bikes as multi-speed even if they are not the current hot properties. :D

I think the stem shifters, chainwheel guard and dork disk place it towards the enty level bikes.
I have a schwinn world with down tube shifters single pull brakes no chain guards on crank or wheel and 27 X 1 tires . Is it a top of the line race bike or just a build up from spare parts

To respond in a generic way to a couple of posts, I did not mean to indicate that turning a bike into a fixie is a bad thing, just that some people will keep bikes as multi-speed even if they are not the current hot properties.

Darwin... I know where you are coming from :^)
I have a tendency to ramble on and on (shrugs)

Fact is... I like to have an extra gear to choose from now and then.
I used to think the whole cannibalizing of old bikes was sacriledge... but keeping anything in use is a good thing. I think too many bikers want the fastest and lightest and newest. They neglect to note that our bodies adapt to whatever we use. I used to ride a Felt F-70... prolly 18- pounds or so. NOw I ride a Jamis Aurora... prolly 25+ pounds... but I've adapted and it feels fine. I'm sure the Fuji S-10S I'm working up as my nasty weather commuter is heavier... but I'll adapt... and it's mojo will be worth it.

One way to partially solve that problem is with Sram's Dual Drive. It has a 7 to 9 speed cassette on a 3 speed internal hub.

Has anyone noticed the Fork Crown? It looks very similar to the Nervex crown on my '66 Paramount. Wouldn't that up it several notches above a "boom era" bike?

The fork crown looks quite like the 1976 Record shown in the catalog at RetroRaleighs: http://retroraleighs.com/catalogs/1976/pages/11-76-record.html. I'd guess that this bike is equivalent.

Neal

... The only problem I have with derailleur bikes, is the inability to shift while sitting still. ...

I do it all the time.

1) When stopping, put one foot on the ground, leaving the other clipped, strapped, or "cliplessed" into its pedal.
2) Bring clipped foot to the top of the pedal stroke.
3) Lift the rear tire clear of the ground.
4) Move the desired shift lever in the desired direction while pushing down and around with the clipped-in leg. One can generally effect a decent cog change in a fraction of a pedal revolution.

I do the same thing usually. But without special pedals. Most of my road bikes have platforms or rat traps.
I love the nexus though. Pull up to a stop, and turn the grip shift. 7654321((ripppp) lol.,,,,BD

I guess I'm spoiled by internals huh? Oh well, I can live with it.

Like an LBS owner/daily rider told me once. Fixed gear is the quickest way to ruin your knees. I took that to heart, and never felt the need to build one. The only problem I have with derailleur bikes, is the inability to shift while sitting still. It seems uncivilized, lol.,,,,BD

fixed gear isn't the QUICKEST way...and is only bad with the wrong gearing.

There really are people that will work on bikes for the joy of it, and not hatchet job every non-531 frame into a fixie... :D
+1

For the record, and to clarify my earlier clarification, I was not suggesting turning this bike into a fixie hatchet job, nor attempting to hijack the thread for a discussion on the philosophy of vintage bicycle upkeep. The OP asked whether the bicycle is worth anything, and I mentioned the fixed gear angle merely because if he is trying to sell the bike, pointing out its attributes desireable for a fixie conversion may be the best way to extract more money from it. :o

thank you all for the help i looked at the raleigh link i was sent and the bike does look alot like that one i have a raleigh record sprint that has campagnolo brakes and front derailleur if there is anyone interested i am trying to sell it you can email me for pics at bikelover22679@yahoo.com thanks again for all the help