Falcon Explorer 12

[biggs682]

@Glasgow44 the cdf are great bikes go for it would be my advice

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

one of these is a Genesis Croix de Fer 30 and the bike shop told me this has a steel Reynolds frame. Would that be a good alternative to an aluminium frame/carbon forks. I went for a spin on the Croix de Fer and I was really surprised at how light the steel was. J

Personally I would not touch any modern aluminium/carbon fork bike with a bargepole. Most of them look ugly for a start, with grossly oversized tubing and forks that often look like table legs. There is nothing pleasing about the appearance of them, whereas the Genesis still looks like a proper bike..
Reynolds have been in business for over 100 years and have made high quality lightweight double-butted frame tubing since 1935, so they have well-proven products. I own six Reynolds steel frames, 2 x double-butted 531, 3 x double-butted 501, and 1 x plain-gauge 500. The average age of them is almost 30 years, and 3 of them are well-used MTB's that have probably seen some rough treatment in their time but are still as good as the day they were built - with none of the cracking that is all too common on aluminium frames that have done some mileage. Steel every time for me, and anything made properly from Reynolds tubing won't disappoint.

 

[Boon 51]

I have been looking at a Raleigh 5 speed . What would the front chain ring be and what would be the numbers on the 5 speed cassette. 12x 24 perhaps,

 

[biggs682]

I have been looking at a Raleigh 5 speed . What would the front chain ring be and what would be the numbers on the 5 speed cassette. 12x 24 perhaps,

I would have thought somewhere between 44 and 52 and either a 28 or 24 .

Easily swapped to a 6 or 7 speed normally .

 

[Boon 51]

I would have thought somewhere between 44 and 52 and either a 28 or 24 .

Easily swapped to a 6 or 7 speed normally .

Oh ok.. I forgot you can change things lol.

 

[biggs682]

Oh ok.. I forgot you can change things lol.

I always find that riding a 5 or 6 speed is like driving a big engined auto car

 

[Boon 51]

I always find that riding a 5 or 6 speed is like driving a big engined auto car

I going to have a look at a couple of Mixte's tomorrow one is top end 1990 ish £130 10 speed the other 1980 ish 5 speed £75 of near offer?

 

[biggs682]

I going to have a look at a couple of Mixte's tomorrow one is top end 1990 ish £130 10 speed the other 1980 ish 5 speed £75 of near offer?

Are they proper mixte's ie twin sloping tubes ?

For yourself ? If so check how the reach feels as the tend to be quite short normally .

 

[Boon 51]

Here they are.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-...-inch-Mixte-Frame-Good-Condition/223363761126

/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Raleigh-Ladies-Road-Bike-20-5-inch-Mixte-Frame-Good-Condition/223363761126

 

[midlife]

Are both those links the same?

 

[Boon 51]

Are both those links the same?

I did not see that I will add the other.

 

[Boon 51]

Here we are.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-...-inch-Mixte-Frame-Good-Condition/223363761126

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Here we are.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-...-inch-Mixte-Frame-Good-Condition/223363761126

That looks nice.

 

[midlife]

The 3 links go to a Raleigh with steel cottered cranks and steel brakes / steel rims. That's a lot of steel lol.

 

[biggs682]

@Boon 51 does this link work for you ? https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=127758