noglider 

(Original title: noglider's Raleigh International Frankenbike)

This has been nothing more than a concept for too long. I am about to start building it.

I have a 1970's Raleigh International frame and fork and am going to build it into a super-duper city bike. I like city bikes, but I don't like their heavy weight. Most components here will be light weight. The two exceptions are the hubs. They will have drum brakes.

Reasons for drum brakes:

- they may not be better, but I've never had them, so I'm intrigued
- they'll be low maintenance
- they get around the problem that this frame is designed for long-reach brakes, which are mediocre, at best.

HUBS
I have a Sturmey Archer front hub. I bought it new, and it arrived, and it's gorgeous beyond expectations.

I have a Shimano so-called roller-brake rear hub. I would have preferred a Sturmey Archer, but the price for this Shimano was too good to resist. It's a freehub with room for an 8- or 9-speed cassette.

I have most everything ready, and I will soon have time to begin the build.

FINISH
Oh, the finish. RobE30 was kind enough to put primer on the frame for me. I've been thinking this will be my first adventure in frame painting, but now I'm thinking I'll do something really silly such as cover it with contact paper instead. If it works out badly, I've lost no investment. I giant roll of it cost me $6.

RIMS
I have some 700c Sun CR-18 rims I bought for this project.

TIRES
Panaracer Pasela, of course

HANDLEBARS and STEM
Not sure yet, but I'm pretty sure they will be drop handlebars.

DRIVETRAIN
I have a Shimano 9-speed indexed drive train with a triple crank that I'm taking off a frankenbike I bought on craigslist.

PEDALS
Not sure yet, but I have tons of pedals.

HEADSET
May not have one yet.

I think I have spokes for one wheel but will have to buy them for the other wheel.

Pictures will come in dribbles, starting soon.

KonAaron Snake 

That's the one I picked up for rob I think. As I recall, it's a 74'.

noglider 

Yes that's the one. I had a 58, and he had a 56. Perfect trade for both of us.

How did you figure it was a 74?

KonAaron Snake 

If I recall, the previous owner identified it as such. If you give me the serial number, I'll check the Raleigh serials and see what we can learn!

Kobe 

I like the drum brake idea to get around the long reach brake problem.

How hard id it to remove contact paper? I have seen some member decoupage bikes that turned out well. The other idea you may want to try as long as you don't mind one day resripping it, is to let the kids in your bike class have at it. Get a half dozen cool colors and let them use their imagination.

KonAaron Snake 

Tom, are you planning on fenders and/or racks? Are you planning on carrying weight with it?

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Tom unless you did (or are doing) a freehub body swap on that shimano hub, its a 7 speed.

auchencrow

Sixty Fiver did it to his Gran Sport - it turned out great but it was a lot of work to do.
(I wish I could find a picture of it)
Anyway, he would be the one to tap on the decoupage methods and materials.

KonAaron Snake 

I might as well say this here too, having done something similar with an International...it's not the ideal frame for this. They're flexy and I don't think real good for weight. I think the build you're talking about will be heavy enough where the 2 pounds you save isn't really worth it.

ColonelJLloyd 

Cool project, Tom. Looking forward to the pics. I disagree, though, that long reach brakes are mediocre at best. I've used a couple sets of Tektro 55-73mm dual pivots and they're powerful. More than adequate.

noglider 

Here is my photo album, which I'll be adding to as the bike progresses.

Here are some pictures of the frame as it is currently.

noglider 

Below is a sample of the contact paper. I put the can on it to keep it flat. I put the fork on it for size context.

noglider 

Colonel, I'm glad to know those brakes are more than adequate. Maybe I'll get a set for my Raleigh Twenty. As I said, I've never had drum brakes, so that's a good reason to have them.

Velognome 

I like the toasty finish of the primer. I'd be tempted to clear coat it in a satin but not before selfbranding it with something like "Tomtom" or the likes. Cutting the conatact paper around the lugs will be tough, no?

Sixty Fiver

Those are such beautiful frames... expect nothing but awesome things from you on this one.

Kinda like the matte finish.. contrasts the chrome lugs quite nicely whereas with a bright and busy finish those lugs would vanish into the noise.

ColonelJLloyd 

I love flat paint jobs with chrome or otherwise shiny accents. Lookin' good, Tom.

KonAaron Snake 

Tom - y'know what would KILL on this frame? A custom headbadge...maybe your face or something.

Epicus07 

Laura from The Path Less Pedaled . com does some nice custom headbadges that support their tours.

You should check her out.

https://www.tangerinetreehouse.com/headbadges/

ColonelJLloyd 

The gal who made my headbadge already makes the perfect thing for Tom's bike.

Edit: Yes, Laura, that's her.

Epicus07 

Haha! That's perfect.

Should we start a collection to buy it for him? He must put that on his bike.

KonAaron Snake 

OH HECK YES! I'll toss in $5 to have that on Tom's bike!

We have a gal here named Jenn Green who does headbadges and is terrific. I had her make my wife some chainring shaped earings.

ColonelJLloyd 

Oh, I'm good for a fiver for sure.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Oh my god that is perfect!

I'm with the guys on this one....it looks awesome in Matte.

lostarchitect 

I would totally chip in on that mustache headbage!

Don't really like the contact paper, though.

realestvin7

This will be interesting.