I appreciate the insight guys, really.

Well played

rxtech -
I ride a conversion. I've never injured myself on the shifter bosses, although I did once give myself a small scrape from the TT cable guides.

Don't grind anything off - what's the point? Clean looks? At some point, should you enjoy riding fixed, you may want to upgrade to either a nicer conversion or a nice track frame. You'll be glad you've got something you can either flip to fund your new build or ride around as a road bike.

Yes, it will have a low BB - the only time I had an issue with pedal strike is when I was running 172.5s, which were too long for me anyway.

Don't repaint or powdercoat the frame, it's going to cost you a ton. Looks fine the way it is, anyway. And do you really want to be worried about your fancy paint if you're riding it around town and locking it up? I did a ride up to Nyack and we're sitting in a coffee shop having a snack. Everything else on the rack cost at least 5 times what my bike did - Sevens, Mootses, a Havnoonian, a couple of Cervelos, etc. Someone knocked over a few of the bikes and everyone cleared out of the coffee shop to go see if their baby was OK. I looked outside and said to my friend 'Make sure mine isn't in the street where it'll get run over, OK?' Spend the cash on a decent wheelset instead.

And use spacers on the axle instead of cold setting it, so you can run gears in the back later.

I *love* these threads! Somebody posts about fixifying a marginally classic frame, and the hornets come out of the nest!

Rxtech, y'all should do what you want with the frame- it's your bike and a well-done fixie can be absolutely beautiful. Cut off the dang braze-ons; you can always get clamp-on stuff if you want to go back to geared. And there *are* such things as derailleur hangers. If you want to preserve the frame, give it some framesaver and don't crash it.

Oh, yeah, the "49-107" numbers are the gear inches development with the original crank and freewheel. I learned everything I know from Sheldon Brown: https://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html

IMHO if you're not interested in having a nice classic road bike, then just cut all that stuff off and powder coat it--that way nobody will ever know that it was once a nicer classic and it will irritate fewer people. Just go whole hog and wreck it... it's better than leaving it half-wrecked. I don't see any point at all in preserving the paint just to grind things off later. It's just my opinion. Personally, I wouldn't mess it up, but it's your bike.

Karl

Well here's a before and after example from the fixed gear gallery. I much prefer the before, the after wouldn't get a second look from me out on the street. I guess I just dig the "old used patina" of the older bikes. but as was said above, it's your bike, do what you want.

That paint will only be original once. Leave it as it is. It'll be much more interesting (patina and all) than a generic looking powdercoat. Those are a dime a dozen. I'd much rather be able to see the bike's history.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I guess we'll see what happens from here on out. Ciao.

Alright guys, I've made a decision. I know some have explained the importance of keeping it's orginality and that others might frown upon it being "genericized," but many have suggested to do whatever I please. So, therefore, I've decided to powdercoat it, mainly because a couple of my old friends from school, work for a powdercoating company called "American Powdercoating" located here in Bakersfield, CA. They gave me a pretty good deal and many people that i've asked about the company have given me nothing but positive feedbacks about their work. Sorry to disappoint, but it just seems right. As far as loosing it's originality, I guess for me, it's still going to be that very same Raleigh my uncle had given to me.

Anyhow, once again, thank you for your comments. Powdercoated picture results will be up shortly.

No particular harm done. I've yet to come across an '86 Raleigh Grand Prix that does not have poorly-finished, soft paint in the first place - and for that matter, the decaling isn't too attractive either.

Good opportunity to apply some earlier Raleigh lettering variants (as stickers, I believe - IIRC, decals do not adhere to p-coat) if you do have it refinished.

-Kurt

THE NEW LOOK: Powdercoated

l_b496d1d8b73a0f79a42691db7e3e637e.jpg New color scheme.

l_89d15a038e408e0657a3f667890834a5.jpg Makes the decal look even better.

l_2659c04f0edf54b16509b833add1d58f.jpg Raleighhhhhh.

l_485c5607073ee04aefc958945590e9df.jpg Back end.

l_046ad3c32855ed7dbd0930ac690179aa.jpg Original patent code.

l_7afacedd5ec9a28932a5b0a904c76926.jpg No more cable guides.

l_ed6d7daa88eb94dc0eed9146c7672b88.jpg For them water bottles...

l_0b23a71d2f999d3ccfe8429bb05414cc.jpg Branded.

l_446cfc6da1e91b15c8e9ccc7e61fedfe.jpg Base.

l_e9d8a095afb6429f673bc3c2dacf24a6.jpg Raleigh fork.

l_3a45d15dcfc1be6fa51b9aaf747801a1.jpg NO more shifter bosses; right.

l_12607fdd6536e7866bb854e5f4b22990.jpg NO more shifter bosses; left.

I'm very happy with the outcome and I can't thank enough my friend Ric @ Bakersfield American Powder-coating for taking care of it. Hope you guys like it, cause I do.

Thanks for viewing.

*Bump before dinner.

holy crap that was fast. i guess that's the best way, like ripping off a bandaid.

Yes, nice job, but when will you fixie fellows learn that the headset is supposed to be removed before you paint the thing? Makes it look like a genuine off-the-street, rattle-can paint job from all but close up.

-Kurt

Agreed, the white headset looks ridiculous. The rest of the bike looks great!

Cudak888. They took the fork off and headset and painted it separately. They handed it to me piece by piece. I just asked my friend at the shop to put it for me. I'm getting the original seat post powdercoated as well. It was a 2 day process. Brought it in early morning Thursday and picked it up at 5 before they closed this afternoon. No need to be negative already. Jesus.

ARe you also getting the stem handlebars crank pedals saddlerails hubs rims spokes powdercoated? you're not gonna stop at the seatpost and headset, I hope.

[quote=rxtech06;6961653]Cudak888. I'm getting the original seat post powdercoated as well. QUOTE]

Not the whole thing I hope, or it won't fit.

No, I'm thinkin about going with a black and white look, for now. White frame, and maybye white oury grips. Otherwise, straight handle bar, wheels, chain, crankset, pretty much everything else black. Yeah it might be two toned, but what the hell. that's just the plan for now. I'm sure i'll change my mind later. One of the reasons why I chose white is because it goes with any color, so we'll see how I feel when the time comes.

I'd bet that he couldn't tighten it down too hard either for fear of damaging the paint. Considering the thickness of powdercoat, I'm left in wonder as to how the cup races, insides of the washers, and threading was masked in entirety without someone going absolutely mad.

Regardless though, it does not aid the appearance of the bike one bit - to see a painted headset the same exact color of the frame is to see something that looks like severe kludge, for it almost always is. Could have least installed a black headset if you were going for the B/W theme.

I don't get the point of powdercoating it, then again, I don't get the point of the whole fixie fashionista thing either.

-Kurt

P.S.: Do realize that the ideas of fixie culture don't particularly jive here at C&V (and mind you, I addressed all fixie builds with my comment), and you might recieve constructive criticism as a result. If you can't take it, we have a forum that will better suit your tastes: Singlespeed & Fixed Gear.

Word...........

Folks, please do not edit user names when quoting user comments.

You know, that's a rather narow view of "property." It's certainly in line with contemporary American thinking, but still a narrow view. The concept of "private property" is itself a recent historical innovation, and even within the framework of "private property," people don't necessarily do whatever they want with "their property."

Some kinds of property are used and eventually discarded as "personal property," in accordance with one's whims. Some people view all property through this lens-- even the land and it's resources.

Other types of property are held in private possession, to be used and enjoyed while one is alive, and then passed on to future generations. Under this view, the person "owning" the property is mindful that the property is not "personal property," but is only held in stewardship, to be used and enjoyed, before being passed on to future generations. Examples of this view of property include the land and its resources, as well as other types of property, such as art.

Who would think it a reasonable use of "property" for a private "owner" to repaint a Van Gogh to suit his whims? The Van Gogh, is, after all, his "property," to do with as he pleases, and yet I suspect that many who unthinkingly put forth the meaning-laden phrase "it's your property" would take nevertheless take offense at the destruction of "property" that is held in stewardship for future generations.

Whether or not it's sacrilege to cut off the downtube bosses, I'd be pretty concerned about weakening the frame at this point - I once tried the same thing on an old 531 frame and was left with two holes and a lot of daylight at that point, plus a scrap frame - lesson learned! I'd suggest buying two domed rubber tap (faucet?) washers at the hardware store deep enough to cover the bosses. Drill the centres out to the right size and put the screws back (slightly countersunk) and no strength is lost - and you won't rip your legs in the event of a tumble.

No holes in the downtube and no rubber bungs! Shows the value of a professional job, rather than an amateur attempt - I take my suggestion back. I thought the green & lilac looked good but the plain white finish is excellent. Is there any reason a fixed conversion can't still be a classic? Not my thing, I'll admit, but back in the 1970's a lot of us British club cyclists only had one frame. We'd put a fixed wheel on (with brakes) for winter riding/training, replace the gears in the spring and add a rack and panniers for touring holidays. Anyway, have fun with it - post some photos when it's built, I'll look out on the SS&FG forum as well, just in case.

But this is a bicycle, not a Van Gogh.