Sir Real

I helped my parents clean out their garage when I dug out the bike I was given in 1978, a Raleigh Record Ace. The frame is still solid, but the paint is a little rough (I rode the hell out of it back then). The shifters and brakes are functional, and the entire bike is filthy. What if anything can or even should I do with it?

ElJamoquio

Nothing very rare, from what I can tell (but I'm no expert). Still, I think it's pretty. Do you need a commuter?

ElJamoquio

Oh - and flip it! Get rid of the dork disk! Nice garage door, but put the chain in the big ring/small cog next time!

Sprocket Man

Yeah, it looks pretty good. I'd say it's worth salvaging. If the derailleurs don't work to well, the rear dropouts look horizontal enough to convert it into a fixed gear.

Sir Real

I forgot to mention, the wheels are true, bu the rear hub does not spin freely. How easy is it to find 27" wheels anymore?

How do I flip that stem? The garage door is only a month old. I had to convince my wife that white was the color to get.

Stallionforce

Ditto: make a fixie.

the beef

Ride it as a beater, nothing wrong with that bike.

sac02

I agree on the fixie idea. Old road bike + not worth much + horizontal dropouts = perfect fixie conversion. It's all the rage right now; all the cool kids are doing it. I've been riding my conversion setup as a commuter for about 6 months now and love it.

Mac

Flak

My favourite nostalgic option, lovingly restore it as close to its original condition as possible, damn the cost. I very much regret not keeping my first real bike.

Psimet2001 

Worth cleaning it up. Ride it and sind the answer yourself.

spry

Isn,t the concrete supposed to be recessed under the door so the rain and water does not run in?

Nice classic bike though.

Greybeard

There are 27" wheels out there but I would look and see if it just needs the bearings serviced first. That is something you can probably do yourself.

By "flip it" ElJamoquio probably meant to clean it up and sell it.

Sir Real

There's a one inch rise in the concrete behind the door.

Godwin

Take it completely apart, clean it up, replace anything that can't be saved with some vintage stuff from ebay, take off the dork disc, replace the 27s with some new 700s, come up with a very stylish colour coordination of tires, tape, housing, seat ect. take it to the classic and vintage forum if you need more help. I love vintage bikes and they make the best commuters because even though they look awesome and can function perfectly, theives usually go straight for anything that looks new, so you can chain it up outside work everyday. You'll get to learn a lot about bike mechanics in the process as well.

Bike Cottage

nice old bike. I've got a suggestion, clean it up and get out the old school canvas Converse shoes and youtube your own version of "Breaking Away". Anybody know what type of bike that was? Either way I know it would clean up nice and yes you can still get 27 inch rims, either through JB Importers or through sheldonbrown.com. chrome Rigida's would look sweet but Weinmann's are lighter (aluminum) Good luck with it.

Godwin

I'd go for 700s instead, as long as there's some room for the shoes to come down a bit, you shouldn't have a problem. Find a local wheel builder if you can, you don't need new mavics or lightwieghts on the bike but a good clean wheelset will make the bike a pleasure to ride.

Surferbruce

another vote for a fixed gear, you could make that thing look really sweet.

sprcoop

I didn't think it was that easy to move from 27" to 700s. I thought it took a special brake conversion or something. Nice to know if I am wrong.

Godwin

Well, I guess I shouldn't be so quick with that, my bike didn't have a problem taking them but you never know. I have heard otherwise but from what I understand, worse case scenario you'd have to buy new (old) brakes which the bike may need anyway. I prefer 700s to 27s so I think it would be worth checking out, all you need is to find one wheel to make sure.

Sir Real

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got another bike with 700s so I can grab one off it to see if I'd need new brakes.

merlinextraligh

Depends on the reach of the brake calipers. The 700c rim will be a bit smaller. If you look at the pic, he has some room to move the pads down in the calipers. It might be close, but I think it will work with the existing calipers. If not, you've got to find longer reach calipers.

vpiuva

You've got the needed 4mm to convert to 700c. Old center-pulls are good for that if nothing else. The BF C&V'ers can help you out if you have any questions. With the serial # you can date it and probably too the manufacturing plant with the help of Sheldon Brown's info including the https://retroraleighs.com/ site (many catalogues)

dirtyphotons

tallbike

scrapmetal

Thats exactly my bike

I saved it from scrapmetal and started biking. Over the two years I had to replace the rear wheel (I am clydesdale) and few other parts.
Still I need to get better bike, now, when I know I will stick to biking for life.

dogpound

yea, I moved from 27s to 700s.
got a set of IRO hubs/wheels and converted a nishiki from the 80s.
great ride.