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"Classic" Raleigh pioneer scratch-build (costed ou

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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 14:37 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: "Classic" Raleigh pioneer scratch-build (costed ou Reply with quote

Might be interesting for those considering building themselves a fashionable vintage or classic bicycle. It's not always the cheapest option but I've finished up with a very sturdy bicycle that's entirely fit for purpose and (I think) looks pretty smart.

I've built this bike for my Mother in Law. She does a lot of shopping and cycling and last time I was down to visit, she was slogging around on a knackered old halfords mountain bike.

She doesn't understand how to use the gears so it's stuck in top all the time meaning she has to get off and push it up hills, everything is rusted and loose. She also complains because she has to wear a rucksack that hurts her back and she gets wet and mucky if it rains.

SO, I decided to make her a new bike to suit her needs.

I started off with a frame. Needs to be a ladies frame because she sometimes wears a skirt and steel because she won't look after it. It needs horizontal dropouts because of the gearing I'm proposing to use. After a fair bit of searching, I found an old-style raleigh pioneer frame on ebay. £33 delivered, complete with headstock and forks but nothing else. Seatpost already out and a confirmation that the bottom bracket threads aren't stripped.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0858.jpg

The pioneer was one of the first "hybrid" bikes to come on the market. This one would have originally had a 5-speed derralieur but I want the simplicity and robustness of a hub gear. It probably came with 26" wheels originally but I want the flexability of having 700C rims.

It appears there is no option in this case other than to have a wheel built to this spec or to build it myself.

So, to the internet for instructions and a few days later, I have a wheel complete with Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub and a rigida hybrid rim designed for tandems, so very resistant to abuse.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/Image012-2.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0856.jpg

Since I've used that on the rear, it makes sense to use the same rim and hub make on the front. Sturmey archer hubs have sealed bearings and a huge flange making them very tough. As near to zero maintainance as I can get.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0859.jpg

Carrying on the Sturmey archer theme, I need a crankset. Got to order this seperately to the bottom bracket to get the chainline. Fit an old BB I keep lying around for this exact purpose, fit the hub and chainset, see how far out the chainline is then order a bottom bracket of the appropriate size to correct it.

So I got a Sturmey archer chainset with a bash ring to keep her trousers out of it, a good, strong single speed chain and the usual shimano square-taper sealed bottom bracket. I fitted bog basic plastic pedals because she often rides in open-toe shoes.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0861.jpg

That's the drivetrain out of the way with the exception of tyres. So wheel tape, inner tubes (I've gone for schrader valves so she can use the car pump) and a set of wire backed michellin world tour tyres with reflective sidewalls. These give decent grip, last for ages, are pretty puncture resistant and roll as well as anything.

Going to need to be able to stop the thing.

It would originally have had calliper brakes and it will this time. Only double acting ones this time. A pair of dia compe double acting callipers with long reach leaves room for mudguards and are highly effective. Paired with a set of shimano shorty brake levers which handily come with all the cables.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0860.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0863.jpg

Oh yeah. Something to sit on. Got a bargain sprung gel saddle. This is not the right saddle for this bike but ladies of a certain age have a real blind-spot in this regard. It has to be big and squishy. You can tell them it'll rub after doing a few miles but they will not listen. ig and squishy it is. Also needs a seatpost and a bolt. Seatposts are a sod, they could be ANY diameter. This one is improbably 25.8mm in diameter.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0862.jpg

Now we need to steer it. Needs a quill stem. I've gone for a really short, upright one. She's not going onto drops, hands up for comfort. Wide trekking handlebars with a slight kick-back will keep strain off the wrists.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0865.jpg

Couple of finishing touches. Colour co-ordinated bar tape instead of handgrips, which I put on all the bikes I build for something a bit out of the ordinary. Importantly, HUGE mudguards and a basket. Final Finishing touch, a 2-tone bell (not pictured).
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0857.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0864.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0853.jpg

The lovely Mrs stinkwheel in fetching panda earmuffs and stripey slippers demonstrating the upright riding geometry:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/pioneer/CIMG0854.jpg

I do need to alter the gearing. It's got 44 x 17 then the hub gearing which as it turns out is a little too high on the 700c rims. Perfect on the flat but there are a lot of hills where this bike is going. I'll drop the chainring down a couple of teeth.


Frame: £33
3-speed Hub: £80
Front hub: £25
Rims (pair): £40
Spokes and nipples: £13
Chain: £10
Crankset: £30
Bottom Bracket: £7
Pedals: £8
Rim tape: £4
Tubes: £10
Tyres: £20
Brake levers: £15
Brake callipers: £18
Seatpost: £5
Saddle: £7
Seat bolt (had to be a raleigh one): £6
Quill Stem: £10
Trekking bars: £6
Bar tape: £4
Basket: £15
Mudguards: £15
Bell (it's an awesome bell like they have on rickshaws!): £15

Total build cost: £396
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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colin1
Captain Safety



Joined: 17 Feb 2005
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PostPosted: 15:38 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah you are right about it not being the cheapest option compared to getting something new which does the same job.

I guess you had fun putting it all together though.
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stevo as b4
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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PostPosted: 18:40 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I imagine Stinkwheel built this because he:
a, wanted to end up with a long lasting bike with quality components and that would be tailored to the rider and it's useage.
b, Didn't want to see her end up with a bike that has some nasty or non durable components that would eventually fail/cause hassle
c, Wanted to do something he enjoys doing, and help out the Mother in Law at the same time.

For alot of people a cheapish off the peg mountain bike will do for most things, but there are always compromises and places where you can improve an off the peg bike.

I see it a bit like me re-building my KMX200, in that i could for say £2.5k go out and buy a new or nearly new 125cc supermoto style bike, and that spending the same on a 25year old trail bike will end me up with a nicer supermoto, but at cost that from an economics point of view makes no sense.

From the point of view of trying to make the best possible machine out of a 25year old bike, and do it because im interested in it, then it makes more sense.

Nice Thread anyway, it's nice to see a build thread about something other than a motorcycle for a change too! Smile
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 19:06 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevo has it.

Buy a brand new £360 hybrid bike and it'll have a whole load of nasty plastic bits (levers etc), cheapo no-name rims, galvanised spokes, open bearings and crappy cables and adjusters.

I know this because I bought one for myself a few years ago, it didn't even have a sealed bottom bracket and had half the normal number of wheel bearings in a spacer clip thing.

Actually, that's pretty much what made me take more of an interest in building bikes myself.

EDIT: Probably wouldn't get a Hybrid with a geared hub for £360 either. Cheap deralieurs are cheap but there is no such thing as a cheap geared hub.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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JonB
Afraid of Mileage



Joined: 03 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 19:33 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is a beautiful bike, harking back to a time when the UK built some brilliant bicycles. Respectfully rebuilt I say and the frame is a beauty, the colour scheme is excellent.

Only criticism I have is the god-awful bar tape. Wink
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 22:20 - 27 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

They'd run out of pale blue bar tape and white would be against the rules.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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chris-red
Have you considered a TDM?



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 12:32 - 28 Jan 2013    Post subject: Re: "Classic" Raleigh pioneer scratch-build (coste Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:



Took me a little while to work out that the chain wasn't going through the spokes. Laughing
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.
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