Building a town bike from some vintage steel..
07-27-11, 05:33 PM
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Building a town bike from some vintage steel..
Hi guys, I am planning on doing a little summer project and build an around-town bike for going to the doc, coffee shop, quick trips to the store for small items, etc from this:
A 1985 Raleigh Bighorn I paid $3 (Yup, three bucks) for at an auction. I replaced the chain and lubed it up and she rides great.
What do you guys recommend doing to it to make it into a kick-butt townie bike?
Ryan
A 1985 Raleigh Bighorn I paid $3 (Yup, three bucks) for at an auction. I replaced the chain and lubed it up and she rides great.
What do you guys recommend doing to it to make it into a kick-butt townie bike?
Ryan
07-27-11, 05:53 PM
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Better fenders, rack, slick tires, and a basket. If you want: dyno hub, lights and upright style handle bars.
Aaron
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
07-27-11, 05:57 PM
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Proper fenders
NItto Technomic stem
Some Porteur or North Road bars
that will require some changes to the gear shifting biz
maybe a 1 x 8 drive train
It's a shame it has cantis (I'm assuming tires are 26") you could do 650B
NItto Technomic stem
Some Porteur or North Road bars
that will require some changes to the gear shifting biz
maybe a 1 x 8 drive train
It's a shame it has cantis (I'm assuming tires are 26") you could do 650B
07-27-11, 06:33 PM
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
07-27-11, 06:41 PM
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I like that... with the skinny tires
or you could go with fatter tires... something like this.... with porteur bars
Here's a close up of the homemade chain guard (52Tooth chainring, with the teeth ground off)
I have two 1 x bikes...I dig the simplicity for town.
or you could go with fatter tires... something like this.... with porteur bars
Here's a close up of the homemade chain guard (52Tooth chainring, with the teeth ground off)
I have two 1 x bikes...I dig the simplicity for town.
07-27-11, 07:03 PM
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I just did something very similar with a mountain bike from early 90's.
I've since hooked up the front canti's as well as shortened the bar tape a little. It still need different tires (thinking whitewall balloon tires) and some fenders.
Nice low range drivetrain with a 48/38/28 combo, and it can still get some speed on the 48.
And a nice open/upright cockpit.
Bike = $35
Bars/stem = $25
Cables/housing = $35
Bell+bottle cage= $15
Rack = free
I've since hooked up the front canti's as well as shortened the bar tape a little. It still need different tires (thinking whitewall balloon tires) and some fenders.
Nice low range drivetrain with a 48/38/28 combo, and it can still get some speed on the 48.
And a nice open/upright cockpit.
Bike = $35
Bars/stem = $25
Cables/housing = $35
Bell+bottle cage= $15
Rack = free
07-27-11, 07:20 PM
#7
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I'm working on a similar project. VO tourist bars, 26 x 1.5 road tires, front and rear racks. 22.2 bar, so the existing brake and shifter levers can be used.
07-27-11, 08:13 PM
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Champion of the Low End
As suggested, lose the stem (and the bar ends while you're at it). I echo the suggestion of losing the front derailleur and shifter. New cables and brake pads.
07-27-11, 08:25 PM
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What a great find. You certainly have a lot of options to transform the bike into a town bike. But I guess I will be the first to offer a dissenting view. I believe the first generation Raleigh Mountain Tour bikes will eventually be collectible in their own right, and it appears that yours is in a nice original condition. I would remove the bar extensions, enjoy it as is, and find a nice Raleigh Sports 3-speed for your town bike.
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