Retro Raleigh MTB

[Alembicbassman]

Bought this Raleigh Gritstone from my local message board for a score

It's pretty shabby, but it'd be ashame to skip it.

Gonna spend the lighter nights doing a refurb and get it back on the trails.

Nice steel frame and forks

 

[Klaus]

That looks nice - could be a good run-around.
Interesting detail the guard over the derailler - I assume that'w what it is....
Have fun!

 

[Alembicbassman]

Now mostly stripped.

Surprisingly good condition, surface rust on the dome nuts and cable guides. Nothing seized

Mechs are completely bunged up with old dust and grease, but seem to show very little wear. All cables are shagged.

Hubs ran smooth, but grease had degraded, so will be fitted with new balls, cones showed very little wear.

BB runs nice and smooth with no paly.

Measured chain and it's fine too.

Horizontal dropouts So potential for a single speed conversion

Gonna pop it in the shed now and go for a ride out on my modern bike.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Now all stripped cleaned and ready for rebuild as a singlespeed

 

[pedallingpasty]

Nice job done there, like you say the paintwork seems in good nick. Bit of a bargain as well.
Like the matt grey (or is it green?) and purple highlights as well.
Think you doing right thing about SS. Enjoyed doing the same myself to a tired MTB for the first time and was really pleased by the performance gain because you are not dragging the old drive train around. Its a great way in giving an old bike a new lease of life. It does make me cringe what has been thrown into the back of a scrap mans truck that goes around our area, there must be some gems of frames in there sometimes.
Shall be following with interest in what you do.

 

[Alembicbassman]

The frame dates from 1995 ish from what I can gather. It's not a Far East made frame, Made in England stamped on it.

The paint on these old Raleigh frames is a lot more durable than my Halfords bikes. Looks pretty well baked on.

All the Altus groupset bits that came off it have been cleaned up and put on ebay. Most of them work fine, should get the £20 back the frame cost me.

 

[fleetey]

Hey that brings back some memories! - had a Gritstone myself - definitely 1995.........heavy from what I remember!

 

[Alembicbassman]

Not too heavy without all the gears and gogs.

Anyhow, headset, stem and handlebars on, brake levers and brakes on.

 

[Spokesmann]

Lovin that rich mauve/purple colour.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Seatpost and drivetrain arrived today so installed.

Can't really do much now until the wheels arrive next week.

Then it's a matter of setting up the brakes and drivetrain.

 

[fleetey]

Starting to look really good - I remember Raleigh had another popular bike at the time of a similar type - the Amazon - painted in a green crackle scheme I think. I preferred the silver/purple scheme of the Gritstone though!

 

[Alembicbassman]

There were some purple MTB wheels on ebay, would have bought them, but they were steel rims. Only £25 for the set though ! SJS had these for £50, which was within budget.

http://www.sjscycles...hubs-prod24598/

and added some suitably funky tyres

 

[l4dva]

Where did you get that rack/wall mount thing??

I've been looking to buy something just like that for my garage

 

[Alembicbassman]

Argos £10

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3333901/Trail/searchtext>BIKE+RACK.htm

 

[l4dva]

Excellent, thanks for that!

Impressive work on the bike by the way!