Raleigh Team Banana Project

[Gunk]

Chain is now on, I’ve set up all the gearing and it works perfectly. Once the seat post arrives I’ll stick the bike on the Turbo Trainer for a proper shakedown

 

[JhnBssll]

Excellent work, I'm looking forward to seeing this one finished

 

[Gunk]

Thanks John, it’s not up to your levels of engineering, but I’m enjoying doing it.

 

[Gunk]

Had a stroke of luck today, I was mooching around Halfords earlier whilst my daughter was in Hobbycraft and they had the correct diameter seatpost in ally for £4.99.



The chrome one I have on order off eBay was more, so moral is to always look locally before buying on line.
Anyway the chrome one will go in stock for a future project.

 

[Gunk]

So, seat on and a quick shakedown first of all on Tacx

 

[Gunk]

All felt good, gears all changed smoothly, so then a quick run around the block. It rides really well, super smooth and the basic 12 speed gearing will be perfect for local rides. Next weekend I’ll take it a bit further and then check everything for tightness and readjust all the cables.

I’m really pleased with it, especially considering the condition when I bought it.



I was lucky with the frame, it was completely rust free, and the BB and head bearings were both excellent. The only parts which are original is the front crankset, handlebars and seat. I’ve replaced everything else.

 

[raleighnut]

All felt good, gears all changed smoothly, so then a quick run around the block. It rides really well, super smooth and the basic 12 speed gearing will be perfect for local rides. Next weekend I’ll take it a bit further and then check everything for tightness and readjust all the cables.

I’m really pleased with it, especially considering the condition when I bought it.

View attachment 499147

I was lucky with the frame, it was completely rust free, and the BB and head bearings were both excellent. The only parts which are original is the front crankset, handlebars and seat. I’ve replaced everything else.

View attachment 499148

View attachment 499149

View attachment 499150

Come out nice

 

[Toshiba Boy]

Gunk, great job fella.

 

[rogerzilla]

You need to look after the BB and head bearings. Looking at them, they're Raleigh threading. NOS parts are expensive now and conversion to ISO is even more expensive. You can fit any JIS* lower headset parts but the upper headset must be 26tpi Raleigh.

*do NOT ream the head tube to ISO or the top Raleigh cup will be loose - Raleigh head tube ID is the same as JIS, not ISO.

 

[Reynard]

Mmmmmm, that's scrubbed up really rather nicely...

 

[Nigelnightmare]

I use "Altrans" (acid cleaner) to de-rust things like the crank set then use copper wire wool and finally "Solvo Autosol" chrome polish.

It looks V/nice with the black rims.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I think you've done an awesome job, that looks incredible given what it started out as. I have a real love for these 1980s team replicas as my first road bike was a Peugeot ANC Halfords replica. Super thread, thanks and well done!

 

[Gunk]

I think you've done an awesome job, that looks incredible given what it started out as. I have a real love for these 1980s team replicas as my first road bike was a Peugeot ANC Halfords replica. Super thread, thanks and well done!

Thanks 👍

 

[Gunk]

Seven mile test ride today, it’s really nice and smooth. Ergos are not right, seat was too high and bars too low.

I’m going to swap the ‘80’s seat for a more modern racing saddle, but I’m nit picking I’m really pleased with it, and it’ll be perfect for commuting into the city this summer

 

[midlife]

By the time this banana had come out Raleigh had switched to normal English ISO threads