IamNed

Sorry for being new if this is not the forum to post this. I'm looking for a bike to goof around with and possible make as a beater fixed gear. Looking at a (years are approximate) 1970 Raleigh Record or a 1974 Schwinn Le Tour. Any opinions on which would be a better starter bike for converting for a relative newbie? Both bikes are aged but fairly rust free and working.

Bandera

Having been responsible for the assembly of a great many of both during the boom era, and as an advocate of riding FG conversions on the road I have a clear preference.
If both are in about the same (good) condition: Schwinn LeTour, no question.

If you are correct on the dates the Letour was a Japanese build model from the Panasonic factory designed to compete with the Grand Prix Raleigh models.
I'm an old Raleigh guy myself but the import Schwinns of the early 70's were better quality in every aspect than equivalent European models.
They came to us properly boxed so damage was nill, the spec was high, the paint was shiny (and in fun colors) and they were built by workers who cared about quality.

Follow Sheldon Brown's FG conversion advice:

Fixed Gear Conversions

Get a proper track-style rear hub, leave both brakes (at least the front) in operation and use serious foot retention.
That's how we did it "back when" those bikes were new and converted for winter FG base miles by serious club riders.

Post pics when done.

-Bandera

IamNed

Thanks for the response Bandera. For some reason I am leaning that way as well. I am only guessing on the year of the Schwinn. Pic below if there is an indication of Japanese influence or not. My most fun bike is a 2014 Raleigh Rush Hour fixed gear that I assume has a track hub. I'd love to attempt to convert a bike that if I screw up the first time, I don't care about the $40 or $25 I spent buying it.

DiabloScott

I think I had both of those bikes... same year for the Le Tour, more recent for the Record... maybe 1980.
Some thinking points:

They're probably both 27" wheels - if they're in good shape you could do a suicide track cog since you'll be keeping the brakes anyway.

Any difference in the cranks? Better to singulate one over the other?

You might prefer a fixed gear that doesn't have braze-ons for shifters... but I think these were both stem shifter bikes.

Is using fenders a criteria and does that make one of the bikes a better choice?

IamNed

I'm guessing the Schwinn has 26" tires. Not sure on the Raleigh. I haven't seen either bike in person. My experience on other recent low cost bikes is that I have to move quickly. Raleigh pic below. I've spent time researching/googling and reading about a bike then to find it sold.

andr0id

I rode one of those Le Tours for a while in the '80s. It was a pretty decent riding bike.
It had 27" wheels I think, not 26".

Mine looked just like this.



I like Raleighs too, but would probably prefer the Schwinn for a fixed.

IamNed

Hi DiabloScott,

For some odd reason bottom brackets scare me. If it is working fine I hate to mess with it. Noises from bottom brackets tick me off when they tick. I have this problem on my Cannondale CAAD10. If I can singulate easily without replacing initially that would be my preference. Not sure if I can determine this with a glance. I would not enjoy having two chain rings, I know that.

The Le Tour has stem shifters, the Raleigh has down tube. The braze ons would not bother me too much, although it appears neither has water bottle braze ons, like my current fixed gear.

Fenders are not a criteria.

ThermionicScott 

Since by doing a conversion you're already signing up for more work than just buying a FG/SS online, I'd pick whichever one has more convenient parts standards. @Bandera and/or whomever has more experience with these frames: would the Raleigh also have their proprietary threading? I see a cottered crank. If the Schwinn has English threading, that'll be easier to convert and would get my vote.

Bandera

Wrong guess, both 27X1 1/4 OEM, keep in mind that brake reach may/may not accommodate a switch to 700C if the plan is to get a track type wheel w/ alloy rims.

These projects can quickly turn into an irreversible money pit of questionable function, Caveat Emptor.
The kluged-fixie conversion is a negative value proposition unless you enjoyed the process and get a good useful FG out of it.

-Bandera

Bandera

The bike in the pic almost certainly does adding complexity and cost and Whitworth-ness to the project much less a cottered crank.
If you don't speak 26TPI and cotter pins pass.

A 70's LeTour is a doddle to work with in comparison for replacement parts.

OP: If you are shy about overhauling BBs you may want to re-think this project, you are in for re-packing and getting a proper chainline just to start.

As one is wont to say in the SS/FG sub-forum: "Kilo TT."

-Bandera

DiabloScott

Yeah. This will be a fun exersize in conversion. I was given a free bike and did the conversion to FG and it was fun... but the bike didn't fit - then I was given another free bike and was able to transfer all the FG-specific parts... so the second one was free. Then I bought a FG complete bike. Then I bought another one.

IamNed

So, the nice lady with the 1970 to 1972 (I can't find a serial number anywhere) Raliegh Record, when I told her no thanks, asked if I wanted it for free. So I took it. It really is in rough shape. I then also bought for nearly free a 1986 Nishiki Sport with Suntour SVX twelve speed gears. I figure the Raleigh will be a good bike to destroy, and the Nishiki will be a bike to convert to a single speed or fixed gear road bike. Correct?

Also, as I move through this project, being new, is there a better forum to post my errors and questions? Single speed/fixed gear forum? Classic? Jeez there are a lot of subjects here.

The Nishiki:
The Raleigh:

Jax Rhapsody

Schwinn Calientes are the only ones I know to have 26" rims. I've yet to have a problem going from 27 to 700c.