TampaRaleigh

Now that I've finished up my son's bike, I'm in the planning/gathering stages for my next project. Here's the frame that I'm starting with:



(It's not rare or unusual... plenty of these old Raleighs around, so try not to get too upset about my plans. )

Here's what I'm thinking. I want something very "clean" looking.

1. Downtube shifter bosses - gone.
2. Top tube cable guides - gone.
3. Chainstay derailleur cable stop - gone.
4. Strip frame and powdercoat in cream/offwhite color.
5. Fork is bent - replace with chrome fork.
6. GB Randonneur bars and GB stem. (Already have)
7. Stitch-on brown elkhide bar "tape".
8. Brown brooks saddle.
9. Some kind of "track" (single chainring) crankset. (I'm open to suggestion for a good British crankset)
10. SRAM 2 speed automatix coaster brake hub.
11. Vintage high flange front hub.
12. VO PBP polished rims.
13. 700x28 tires
14. Fenders.


Thoughts and/or ideas?

azgreg

Sounds cool, can't wait to see it done.

Velognome 

My thoughts....dropbars and some tread on the rear wheel to lay down some awsome skids.....my other thought would be to use a bigger frame so I could ride too!

cobrabyte

Sounds like a fun build! Perfect from for it too

TampaRaleigh

The only thing that I'm REALLY having a hard time with is the crankset.

Should I go classic:


Or more modern with a classic look:

John E

For general fooling around, it is arguably a fun project. My first bike was a Schwinn "middleweight" with a 2-speed Bendix coaster hub controlled by a shifter which resembled a brake lever. I got a low-end 10-speed about 6 months later and never looked back. What I hated about the Schwinn was that I frequently needed something between the 67 gear-inch high and the 50 gear-inch low.

Your Raleigh would be much lighter and more responsive than my Schwinn.

Cross Creek

I've done a couple like that, only with somewhat more recent vintage frames (one of which I ground off all the offending braze ons and powder coated), as well as a Rivendell Sam I'm finishing up right now with the freewheel version of that hub. The Automatix hub is seamless in operation and (so far) bulletproof. The two bikes I used the coaster version on have 26" mtb rims, one with Soma New Xpress 1.95 tires (corrected--I had forgotten the Fat Franks didn't fit)-- a sort of lightweight cruiser on an old Bianchi Milano frame. The Sam has VO rims in 650b. For the converted Milano, I used a NOS crank that I had a devil of a time finding a silver chain ring for (94mm), the other got a Pake track/single set from Soma. The Sam got a clone of your pictured IRD made by FSA (Gimondi track set) from Universal. Any way you go, I'll bet you'll love the end result. There's something hypnotic about a single speed with overdrive!

TampaRaleigh

That's exactly what I'm going for. A "fooling around" bike for leisurely rides, picnics, etc. Being in Florida, the terrain is flat enough that we rarely need a range of gears, but sometimes it's nice to have a low gear for pedalling up overpasses.

nlerner

I have the SRAM 2-speed automatic shifting hub on one bike and like it a great deal. The gear ratios are a bit wacky, so I'm still fiddling with what's ideal, but it's a much better performing hub than the Sturmey Archer two-speed kick back, which I killed after a winter of commuting on it.

Velognome 

I wouldn't want a smashed cotter ending my afternoon and laying down rubber...so I'd go cotterless

mparker326

I've built up several of the 2 speed coaster bikes, but I've used vintage Bendix hubs. They are cool for cruising around, but that is about it. My advice would be: build up the wheel first and make sure you like it before you put all that money into the bike.

puchfinnland

im rebuilding a duomatic hub and complete bike , just started this afternoon.
I love the simlpicity of it.
waiting for the parts which should come this week
the LBS boss even likes the bike

TampaRaleigh

This may be a dumb question... but are there any English, single chainring, cotterless cranks? I honestly can't think of any manufacturers at the moment... and I wanted to try to keep this "as English as possible".

puchfinnland

stronglight 3 spider cranks look plenty proper!

TampaRaleigh

Velognome 

Take a double...use the outer ring and file off (gasp! ) the inner shoulders....It's now a single

JohnDThompson 

Williams:

TampaRaleigh

want! Need! Must have!!!

nlerner

Lots of English bikes used Stronglight or Nervar cotterless cranks. I like running a Stronglight 93 with a single ring:

sailorbenjamin

I like coaster brakes a lot. I just got a 2 speed SA hub, but it would be great in 2 of the bikes I ride a lot and I can't decide which.

Velognome 

Good call , Hilarystone has one for 125pounds....call before midnight tonight to prevent future regret

Saguaro

Go modern with the classic look. Then panto the crankset with the Cream colored paint. This will look great with the SRAM hub and the overall look of the bike.

TampaRaleigh

Progress is slow (for financial reasons)... but it's progress nonetheless!

Stem and center section of bars polished:




Chrome fork on its way... hopefully before the weekend.

TampaRaleigh

All of the unneeded bits have been hacked off of the frame and it's in the shop being stripped, sandblasted and powdercoated. I can't wait to see how it will turn out!

Another apology to the "purists" out there... I ordered downtube decals from Cyclomondo. RL49. I always loved this font. Other than that, the frame will be naked of decals.

sailorbenjamin

My favorite Raleigh font, too.