Cliuless

Hi guys, I'm new to the whole bike scene.

I've been looking around for some single speed/fixed gear bikes for easy commuting.

I recently found an ad posted for a 1983 Antique Bike from the local classifieds. I've inquired with the lady about the brand, and she told me Raleigh.

Is this a reliable bike brand? Any inputs etc. thanks!

Kayce

Raleigh is the schwinn of england. They had anything from a top flight professional race bike all the way down to a pile of garbage. With out any more info(model names, or photos of the bikes) there is really no way to know if its one worth getting, or how easy it will be to make into a single speed.

EssEllSee

Judging by the fact that you are new to the bike scene, I advise against attempting to convert an '83 Raleigh to a fixed/SS. Check out bikesdirect.com for some decent starter bikes - more specifically the Kilo TT

Cliuless

Here are the images placed on the add





She messaged me and told me that the bike is a fixed gear speed.

Not sure if the extra info provided will give any insight onto this particular bike.

TheBikeRollsOn 

HAHAHA she lied.

TheBikeRollsOn 

Anyways, that's a mixte frame, it is sort of a gender neutral frame, pretty strong but usually pretty heavy. I probably wouldn't pay much more than like $30 for that bike, and it's not worth converting to a fixed gear, though it would make a fun single speed project. If you want a fixed gear I'd suggest looking for something else, or get a bike from bikesdirect like someone else suggested.

Kayce

If you have a buddy that really knows bikes its a pretty good canidate, enough to say if the price is right do it. But if you are on your own I would look at a different route.

If you have the buddy it would be a solid frame, and you get to know a lot of things on bike repair and have some fun putting together a project.

JesusBananas

Neither she nor you knows what that means, apparently.

Fixed gear bikes (and singlespeed, obviously) only have one speed. That bike has multiple gears and a derailleur, which means that it is neither. A fixed gear bike is different from a singlespeed bike in one way: a fixed gear cannot coast.

If you are just looking for a commuter, I would recommend a cheap singlespeed bike or a used bike of any kind, provided it is intact and rideable.

TheBikeRollsOn 

I want to know exactly who told that lady that the Raleigh was a fixed gear, I mean, she had to have heard it from somewhere.

JesusBananas

I assume that she interpreted the question as "does the bike have gears?" and had never heard of the phrase "fixed gear" before.

Cliuless

Yeah, I don't know anything about FG/SS bikes other than the fact they are good commuter bikes; which is what I am looking for.
She didn't say it blatantly like she knew what the bike was, she told me "it says RALEIGH" and is a fixed gear.

But, I guess thats why I signed up on these forums. So I pick the right bike, lol.

TheBikeRollsOn 

Bikes with gears also make good commuters. What type of terrain are you riding on and how far is the commute? A fixed gear is a bike with one gear that is fixed to the rear wheel (meaning you cannot coast, if the bike is moving, then the pedals are moving). So a fixed gear might not be the best option depending on what you're trying to do.

Cliuless

I will be using this bike to get to and from campus, as well as in and around campus, as well as the occasional grocery store visit.

I'd prefer it to be lightweight, and fairly easy to use. Just something simple, which is why the SS/FG appealed to me.

The terrain is fairly urban, it will be a city commuter, and for campus.

LapinAgile

This just in from Tucson Craigslist: Raleigh single speed... but it also has a derailleur...Maybe the seller forgot to say that the gears are broke, so you have to ride it SS......

https://tucson.craigslist.org/bik/2487394488.html

motobeCarnage 

maybe the shifters don't work and the hub is rusted to **** :dunno:

TheBikeRollsOn 

Or maybe that is a chain tensioner... a part that is used on single speeds to keep the chain tight when you don't have horizontal dropouts.

EDIT: That's directed towards Lapin.

TheBikeRollsOn 

Actually, now that I look at it, that Raleigh Lapin posted is a pretty cool bike at $180, especially if the rear hub has a fixed side. Reynolds 531, original Turbo saddle, pretty cool setup minus the pedals.

LapinAgile

You certainly may be right...and probably are after looking at a closeup from chrome.

EssEllSee

That is definitely a chain tensioner...

And that bike isnt too shabby if you are taller..

TheBikeRollsOn 

Yep, it's a tensioner, I was being facetious.