Originally Posted by
NKOTB
Picked up this thing a few weeks back
Tried to reveal the original paint, but failed miserably.
The bike now looks like this.
Couldn't find any decals underneath the spraypaint, so still no idea of the make. Somehow the wishbone seatstay and straight blade fork have given me an inkling it might be a Raleigh of some sort.
Parts were and are low end. Shimano 200gs derailleurs, stapled biopace chainset, cheap Shimano cantis and 200GS levers. 7 speed Deore LX STI shifters though, not integrated to the brake levers, so might be a later upgrade. The seatpost is 26.4 Strong and the weight of the frameset is around 5 kilos. Any ideas of the manufacturer would be appreciated.
I think what you have there is a Nishiki "(Richard) Cunningham Design" _______________ bike. It could be an Ariel or a Cascade, pretty sure it's a Cascade, I don't believe the Ariel came with brazed rack mounts on the seatstay yoke. I have a 1988 Ariel with a straight blade fork and non-elevated chainstays, I have a 1989 Alien made from Tange Prestige with elevated chainstays, and I have a 1990 Ariel with a straight blade fork and elevated Chainstays. None of my frames have rack mounts but the Ariels have threaded eyelets on the drop outs. These are great 4130 CrMo frames and forks and are really nice platforms for conversions. My 1988 Ariel has a "N" cut into the lugged seat support, the two newer frames do not. Does you frame have the "N" cut into the top of the seat tube (see picture)?
Check the bottom end of the seatstay yoke, the curved bottom should have a threaded eyelet brazed on the end for a fender mount.
I made my '89 Alien into a 1x9 96'er using a Rick Hunter SuperCrown fork, people always ask about the bike.
I'm in the process of converting my '90 Ariel into a drop bar conversion with a new SOMA lugged crown cyclocross fork. I'm having brake bosses welded on the fork for a 26" front wheel instead of the 700C that is intended to run. The natural flex of the longer steel fork legs allows the fork to absorb most everything, much in the same fashion an Ibis Bowtie frame flexes under load. The uncut steer tube will also allow me to set the drop bar height exactly where I need it... no more messing with various stems trying to find the ideal set up.
