Warren128

Hi Folks,

I just finished upgrading my 1987 Raleigh with a modern drivetrain. I thought I'd add it to this thread.

RobbieTunes

Oh.
My.
Goodness.

That is bike porn.

plonz 

As a fellow Raleigh Racing USA owner, your bike turned out terrific. I think the mid 80s Raleigh's are perfect for the resto-mod treatment and you nailed it.

vstkrc

I have a Raleigh too

I'm a college student on a budget though, so it's not nearly as decked out as some of the other more elegant and/or mean machines I've seen in this thread. However, it's functional, which is what I need since I commute with it. 1986 Raleigh Grand Prix rebuilt with SRAM Rival 22:




For the future: a different quill stem adapter so that I can properly slam the stem and possibly a slightly shorter stem as well.

RobbieTunes

That is really, really nice. With those colors, looks like you go to the RI School of Design..... Seriously, that is one of the best looking Raleighs I've ever seen.
Good job, and welcome to the forum. Rhode Island, has some of the best restaurants I've ever been to.

May want to look into a Deda. Really nice bike, again.

plonz 

Today's yoot and their bar tape! You see these green and purple Grand Prix from time to time and yours is right there with the best of them. Nice work.

Italuminium

Nice bike! And a familiar avatar too... History major?

RobbieTunes

Best thread on BF

icepick_trotsky 

Why isn't it a sticky yet? Mods?

pm04

Soo cool. Love the bar tape.
I have same year with Shimano 105/Sora.

pm04

@vstkrc, meant to ask what size tires you running on your Grand Prix. I have 23 but thinking trying 28s.
thanks

vstkrc

Nice! I especially love how the 1986 paint scheme has the nice purple head tube accent.

Anyway, I'm running 25's on mine with a fairly narrow rim. I have clearance for fenders with the 25's (but alas, no eyelets) so I think 28's will be fine.

Also, thanks for the kind words guys! I love looking at all the nice bikes that get posted. This whole thread is just filled with impressive bikes.
@Italuminium, Not a history major but I did a project on the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (I think I have that right) in high school and I found the history of the corporation really amazing. Also helped that they had a cool logo That's how it came to be my avatar.

greg3rd48 

@vstkrc and @Warren128 Gorgeous bikes! The upgrade choices compliment the bike perfectly.

Warren128

Greg (and others), thanks for the nice words

It was as much fun to assemble it from personally selected parts, as it is to ride it.

Soody

Looks lovely. If you described it to me i'd say it'd be gaudy AF but it isn't.

vstkrc

@greg3rd48

Can't PM yet it seems (missing 8 posts) but here's what I have to say about Rival:


Absolutely no issues during installation, but I've only ridden it for about 200 miles. I like the groupset very much but I do have to point out that there are several significant differences between the 2014 and 2015 Rival groupsets (I'm running the 2015 Rival 22 group). Firstly is that the shape of the lever hoods for the Rival 22 group is different. It's the new ergo shape that's now on every 11 speed SRAM group. It's rounder than the older hoods and comfier in my opinion. Also, the SRAM shifters from Rival and up now inherit the "ZeroLoss" shift technology that was formerly only available on Red groups. I'm running the Rival 22 crankset that belongs with the group and same with the calipers. The crankset seems stiff enough to me but I haven't ridden enough high-end componentry to compare it against anything else. (I commute, so stiffness isn't a concern. Also, not sure if the 2015 crankset has the 2014's OCT technology, so the newer cranks might be less stiff). The front derailleur is "yaw" model for a theoretical 22 speeds but it's difficult to adjust it perfectly for that. Braking is okay but I'm just starting to break in the pads so it's still getting better. Not sure about FSA cranks and calipers. What models?


I definitely prefer the aesthetics of SRAM groups to Shimano stuff and I think it'll suit a black Fuji quite well. Like I said, I haven't been riding it terribly long so while I like it now I'm now sure how it fairs in the long term. A friend of mine who also rode Rival 22 for longer talked about how his shifter/derailleurs required frequent tuning for top notch functioning. I guess I would attribute that to lower quality shift cables but I'm not sure.


Sorry if I kinda spewed a lot of comments, but I do actually enjoy SRAM componentry a lot so I wanted to give detailed descriptions. Let me know if I missed something.

greg3rd48 

@vstkrc

Thanks a lot for the detailed comment. I agree that the 22 group looks great. I will be in touch with you once I finally pick up a group to pick your brain a bit. Once again I reiterate well done on an eye-catching build!

mr.slick

Here is a 7-speed Microshift retrofit on a pink Univega Nuovo Sport. Altogether I've spent $100 acquiring and upgrading this bike. That doesn't include the money that I will get for the vintage Huret Jubilee rear derailleur that came with the bike when I bought it on craigslist...which will be sold on ebay. The Microshift shifters work well with an inexpensive Tourney rear derailleur as well as the stock front derailleur. I've nicknamed this bike "Maglia Rosa" for obvious reasons.

bieterman 

Lemond57

RobbieTunes

Welcome to the forum.
Nice job.

For the price of a couple of good tires, you end up with a nice frame, modern components, and no lack of performance.

RobbieTunes

Welcome to the forum.

That is something.
First one I've ever seen outside the catalog scan. Japan's "we can build 'Italian' racing frames."

RobbieTunes

?? A little light on the content this morning?

papik

post 1990 GITANE "Mach" equipped with CAMPAGNOLO "Chorus" and a triple crankset STRONGLIGHT 80...

RobbieTunes

Goes anywhere. Does anything. Looks ace while doing it.
Pretty much in a nutshell.