Kentis19

hey guys just found this raleigh record (year=?) in my attic and it was my dads and hasnt been rode for over 10 years. serial number on bottom bracket is nonexistant...
first is this worth anything as a "classic"? im fairly sure it has most if not all OEM parts.

second would it be considered ruining a classic if i converted this frame to a fixed gear?

thanks in advance

garage sale GT

A record was a pretty ordinary model. It's not classic but due to the fixed gear fad nice road bikes of almost any description are going for a lot. Records seem to go for $150 or $200 or so if they are clean.

You don't have to change anything permanently to go fixed. Save your derailleurs, shifters, cables, stack bolts, freewheel, other chainring, etc. in case you ever want to go back.

bikepartsusa.com had 27" flip flop rear wheels with Weinmann rims for $52. Better than risking your neck braking without a reverse thread lockring.

cycleheimer

Being it was your dad's, probably best to treasure it & ride it as it is. You can always pick up something else to turn into a fixed gear. Post some pictures and you will probably get some more specific information on it, as well as links to sites with more information on your bike. It probably has steel rims, cottered crankset, and the like. Good serviceable transportation, which is probably what your dad got it for. IMHO...clean it up & enjoy it like it is.

Blue Order

If you don't have pics, it didn't happen.

cycleheimer

"You don't have to change anything permanently to go fixed. Save your derailleurs, shifters, cables, stack bolts, freewheel, other chainring, etc. in case you ever want to go back."

That would be a smart way to do it. Run it by your dad, he may think it's a neat idea, especially if you can carefully put it back "as it was" later, or at least have the parts around as an option to do so. Depending on condition and market, $50 to $200 is a rough price range. For $200 it probably would have to be like "N.O.S." in alot of markets.

garage sale GT

You can definitely screw it up if you try to convert the existing rear wheel. Redishing and screwing around with the freewheel threads are two potential danger areas.

Also, the sprocket can come off while you're stopping. In addition to the risk of death or injury, the threads will almost certainly be screwed up if you force off the sprocket against a lockring.

bikemeister

Why not just try single speed? S.S. freewheels can be had everywhere (or you can make one out of an old freewheel - I think Regina are the best for this). Take off the deraillers and their shifters and cables, and UR done. Nothing permanent, no messing with the dish, and you can convert it back to original later without a lot of hassle.

Bam42685

Whatever you do, just don't put it back in the attic! Before $4 a gallon gas my Mom couldn't give her Le Tour II away so she threw it out. Now she wishes she had it back. I'd vote fixed gear over collecting dust.

Kentis19

wow thanks all for the help

dont worry i wont do anything permanent and my dad thinks a fixed would be cool. i do know the record was made in nottingham does that make it any more rare/cool? and i would just restore this one but i already have a raleigh olympian (made in USA) which is in perfect condition. i use that for my road riding/exercise

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I generally think higher of Nottingham Raleigh's than Carlton Raleigh's...Nottingham was the original Raleigh factory. The literature on the Record explains that its name derives from "Record Beater" although I question whether you'd be beating many records on one