Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New cyclist (with a fixed up POS bike)

edit: sorry I cannot spell so for some reason I typed "cycleist" instead of the correct spelling (cyclist) please do not think any less of me

Ok now to the original post...

Hello everybody. This is my first post on bikeforums.net but I have been lurking here for a few weeks now.
Here's my story...

I have just finished my first year of Law School at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. I have not yet found a summer job (I will probably end up shadowing a few lawyers to court dates and such) so I have a lot of time on my hands. I do not own a car and I have moved back north to my parents house so I have no means of transportation and at 6'1 290 lbs I need to get into shape and loose some of this extra "college drinking weight". I found an old bicycle in my parents shed which used to belong to our neighbor before he moved and has not been used in about 10 years. With this extra time and a desire to get back into shape I decided to fix up the bike and start riding (I had not ridden a bike in 7 years). After spending a week messing around with the bike I got her all fixed up and took her on a little ride two days ago. I ended up going about 6 miles and felt good after. I will go out again today when the weather clears up a bit and take her a little further, pushing a little harder.

I just wanted to introduce my self to the community and I have included a picture of my fixed up Raleigh Record.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q131/kennydakid/HPIM0939.jpg

Wow, that's a good looking ride! I have a think for steel, and for vintage rides. No idea why, I just do :).

Looks great, keep enjoying it. From the picture the only suggestion I'd have is to look into a new set of tires (looks like some dry rot) and give 'er a good greasing everywhere else.

And, of course, enjoy it! :D

The bike looks fine.
Here at Clyde world you need to realize that cycling becomes the obsession, not anything else as trivial as weight loss or fitness. Just ride the daylights out of that sucker and before you know it you will be fitter and thinner. The benefits will sneak up on you.

Nice Ride! :beer:

Congrats on attending Law School, our society is in dire need of more lawyers. As for the bike, it actually looks pretty sweet. Get some tubes with Presta valves, some handlebar tape and clipless pedals and you've got a pretty nice machine. Not too shabby. Enjoy!

yeah that is my next step (replacing the tires) I checked them over and they are "usable" for now. The bicycle was stored in a shed near my parents lawnmower so it was close to gasoline for a few years which contributed to the bikes condition.

This is a list of what I have done...
Replaced the tubes
replaced the brake pads
replaced the saddle
cleaned the bike
adjusted the brakes, saddle position and handlebars
cleaned and greased the chain

I still need to replaces the tires, put something on the handlebars to make them more comfortable and get some kind of water bottle holder (and a hand pump for the tires (I am screwed if i am on a ride and I get a flat I have a spare tube and patch kit but no pump)

I like vintage steel framed road bikes too

I really like the downtube shifters. They're elegant in their simplicity. How does the bike fit you? Is it about the right size?

[B]edit: sorry I cannot spell so for some reason I typed "cycleist" instead of the correct spelling (cyclist) please do not think any less of me

Fear not, I speak fluent Typonese.


Gotta say, that's a very nice Raleigh you have there. You need to drop in on the Vintage and Classic forum and share the pic with everyoone. There are several Raleigh enthusiasts there who would love to see and hear about it. they can probably tel you all you need or want to know about yor steed.

Welcome from another Newbie, and JUST RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!:thumb:

edit: sorry I cannot spell so for some reason I typed "cycleist" instead of the correct spelling (cyclist) please do not think any less of me

Ok now to the original post...

Hello everybody. This is my first post on bikeforums.net but I have been lurking here for a few weeks now.
Here's my story...

I have just finished my first year of Law School at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. I have not yet found a summer job (I will probably end up shadowing a few lawyers to court dates and such) so I have a lot of time on my hands. I do not own a car and I have moved back north to my parents house so I have no means of transportation and at 6'1 290 lbs I need to get into shape and loose some of this extra "college drinking weight". I found an old bicycle in my parents shed which used to belong to our neighbor before he moved and has not been used in about 10 years. With this extra time and a desire to get back into shape I decided to fix up the bike and start riding (I had not ridden a bike in 7 years). After spending a week messing around with the bike I got her all fixed up and took her on a little ride two days ago. I ended up going about 6 miles and felt good after. I will go out again today when the weather clears up a bit and take her a little further, pushing a little harder.

I just wanted to introduce my self to the community and I have included a picture of my fixed up Raleigh Record.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q131/kennydakid/HPIM0939.jpg

If spelling is not your forte, download a copy of Firefox, and the dictionary extension, it works like the spell checker in a word processor in that it underlines spelling problems, of course that doesn't help if you type vat instead of cat, but it does know how to spell cyclist.

A couple of things, first get some nice wrap for those bars, makes riding much more comfortable and safer......

yeah its about the right size. I have never been fitted for a bike before so i do not know how a bike is supposed to fit but It feels comfortable when I ride it. I wish the saddle could go the slightest bit higher but I am afraid to push it any more. I have a 32" inseam (well maybe more like a 31.5 inch). I might in the coming year (when I have a job and can afford to) go to my LBS and get fitted for a more modern bike when I know what I want. I have spent the past day tweaking the saddle height and position to maximize comfort and can't wait for the dreary weather to clear so I can test her out again

The bike looks fine.
Here at Clyde world you need to realize that cycling becomes the obsession, not anything else as trivial as weight loss or fitness. Just ride the daylights out of that sucker and before you know it you will be fitter and thinner. The benefits will sneak up on you.

The absolute truth! Think of cycling as fun, and the other things are just side benefits of enjoying life :D .

Oh, and Welcome to BikeForums!

East Hill

+1 on the bar tape. You should be able to find instructions online so you can just buy the tape at an LBS and do it yourself. Someone mentioned switching to Presta valves...
I'm not sure why unless the wheels themselves were shot and you needed to replace them. Shrader valves should be fine and easier to find tubes for in 27" size.

If you want an upgrade that won't break the bank but will add pleasure to your ride get a new saddle if that one is causing discomfort. You can get sized for a proper one.

I might in the coming year (when I have a job and can afford to) go to my LBS and get fitted for a more modern bike when I know what I want. I have spent the past day tweaking the saddle height and position to maximize comfort and can't wait for the dreary weather to clear so I can test her out again

Exactly. Pay your dues on this bike, then you will be a better consumer when you upgrade. In the meantime, this is a perfectly good bike and ideally suited for your needs. :thumb:

just took it for another ride around through the woods. After today's ride I realized that I need to get some kind of water bottle holder/cage whatever. I have been riding with a backpack on to hold some tools and a water bottle because I do not yet trust the bike (I mean I did do the setting up myself and I have never fixed a bike before) It responded beautifully today though (even in the damp weather).

I also need to get some tape for the handlebars (Maybe I will pick some up today)

Nice Raleigh you got there Massken! Ride it and love it. The weight loss will come but slowly, don't fuss over day to day weight. Even if your not loosing weight your becoming a healthier person by doing some cardio.

yeah I mean I used to be active. Hell, I was playing college base ball 4 years ago (quit partway through my sophomore year to focus on school. (I mean it was D3)

I was always big but I was 252 when I was playing ball lifting 4 days a week and running the other 3 now I am 290+ It took me 4 years to put on the 40 lbs It will take a while to take it off.

EDIT: By the way apparently the Raleigh is a 1970 according to info I have received on the classic & vintage forum

Cool bike, I like the simplistic look.

Welcome!

Cool bike. Ever want to get rid of her ill take it off your hands. Glad to see your riding it and got the bike out of certain doom in the shed

Pretty nice bike.

A good place for part time and summer jobs while attending Law School is clerking for Judges, but I'm sure you already know that.

Best of luck in Law School, I hear it only gets harder. :D :D

Water for sure. Nice bike! I like the color a lot.

You need tires. And when you get tires, pick up some cloth Velox rim tape. Its likely the tape is origanal on your bike (or at least 10 yrs old) and will break right as your changing a tire 20-30 miles from home.

And making your own out of blown innertube just bites. Trust me

Cheap hint: If you want leather bar wrap, you can use steering wheel leather wrap and twine the inner end just like Brooks Leather Wrap, but much cheaper. ;) Shellac the twine on the inner part though and wrap it in the right direction.

Cheap hint: If you want leather bar wrap, you can use steering wheel leather wrap and twine the inner end just like Brooks Leather Wrap, but much cheaper. ;) Shellac the twine on the inner part though and wrap it in the right direction.

Genius. Pure genius.

Not my genius, I picked that little tidbit up over in Classic and Vintage. ;)

You can also use Wine Corks for bar ends if you want that "Vintage" look, as well. :D

Genius. Pure genius.

Hey if it rides and gets you somewhere reliably it is not a POS:) Good job on working on it.

If the seat post is about maxed out for height you can go to your LBS and get a longer one.

yeah its about the right size. I have never been fitted for a bike before so i do not know how a bike is supposed to fit but It feels comfortable when I ride it. I wish the saddle could go the slightest bit higher but I am afraid to push it any more. I have a 32" inseam (well maybe more like a 31.5 inch). I might in the coming year (when I have a job and can afford to) go to my LBS and get fitted for a more modern bike when I know what I want. I have spent the past day tweaking the saddle height and position to maximize comfort and can't wait for the dreary weather to clear so I can test her out again

That seat post is not out very far, I can't imagine it is maxed out.

You can also use Wine Corks for bar ends if you want that "Vintage" look, as well. :D

Wine corks?

http://www.durf.org/old_site/images/home/franzia.jpg