My "Ralph" build thread

steelie600

My frame came back from being powder coated today aswell as some more bits through the front door, so ive started to build her up and she's looking quite tasty! So I thought i'd share where im up to

Suntour 2012 XCR DA LO forks Ebay bargain brand fire new


RockShox BAR 2.1 shock bought off her for £40 also brand fire new


Deda Stem and Hope spacers, and yes I know its technically a road stem, but I like the look of it!!


Continental rim tape and downhill inner tubes, much tastyness


Aest headset, nice Japanese bearings in here!


Nice cheap brake discs, good quality and only £5 the pair!!


Mavic rims on Quando hubs and stainless spokes again much cheapness £10 the pair


Schwalbe racing Ralph in Cube racing compound (whatever the fuck that is) Again ebay bargain £10 the pair


Nice comfy seat, £3


The frame fresh from http://www.wilkinsonspowdercoating.co.uk Excellent quality of finish although they did get some media in the tubes which was an arse to get out!


Now for built up shots, Took me 3 hours and a lot of sweat to get it like this, Machined the bearing faces and pivot faces and trimmed the steerer myself(only had a junior hacksaw available took me 1 hour alone!!)LOL

ilovedirt

You seem to have quite an eye for the bargains, not bad!
I know your pain of sawing through steel steerers too haha.

steelie600

Ahh mate it was torture!! And all cos I couldnt be arsed to go work and get my pipe cutter!! LOL

ilovedirt

Lol, it would have blunted your pipe cutter anyway, they're only made for copper.

steelie600

Nope ive got different blades for it, but I see your point! LOL But im quite chuffed with the end product!

sloppycowpat

:shock: how did you manage to get the bits so cheap that's mad

and it is looking a lot better than i thought it would i like the white a lot

steelie600

This will piss you off then, total cost so far, INCLUDING powder coating £250 and there isnt a single part that isnt BRAND FIRE NEW.

Another couple of ton and ill be done! £2k's worth (ish) bike for less than £500!

lawman

steelie600 wrote:

Another couple of ton and ill be done! £2k's worth (ish) bike for less than £500!

take about 1.5k off and you're about right on valuation! saying its worth 2k is, well politely ambitious! looks ok considering and some good deals too

Twelly

Doing a good job so far, the £2k valuation is a bit steep but looking good none the less.

What was the frame from?

Where did you find those wheels for £10? Curious for a cheap build for the girlfriend..

steelie600

the 2k is just a generalisation tbf. The frames a ds900 or 950 I think not entirely sure cos ive binned the box. But had univega stickers on the bike in a god awful design and really shitty almost maroon red powdercoat.

Wheels were just ones some guy had bought for a project but bought the wrong ones, he didnt need the disc hubs, i put 20 quid on em and got them for 4 quid plus 6 for postage

ilovedirt

I think it's just a generic BSO frame tbh, I used to have a Barracuda that was almost identical to that.

steelie600

Funny you should say that, ive seen a few that look very similar if not identical, barracuda is one, there was a raleigh, and im sure a saracen.

Would I be right in saying that in 2000 ish Raleigh made all the above AND Univega's?? If so it could be that the same frame was spead over a few brands?? Or am I just being a knob again?

But I assure you the frame defo had univega stickers on it and was in a box with univega on it although a very battered box LOL

Chunkers1980

Doesn't matter what it is, what gears are you having on it?

ilovedirt

I literally have no idea mate.

steelie600

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Doesn't matter what it is, what gears are you having on it?

Ive got acera 3x9 on the way but ill make it 2x9 and whack a saint bashguard where the big ring was. BUT have just bought an xt 9 speed mech and shifters (both) off here so that will tighten up the shifts and sell the acera mech and shifters to recoup my spend on the xt stuff.

Winner winner chicken dinner as they say!

Cables will be goodridge teflons. in white, and the brakes are xt's in white

Not sure about the silver chain yet, whether or not to change to a gold one?? Hmmmmm any thoughts??

ilovedirt

My chain used to be silver, it's black now. Might as well just keep the silver one...

Twelly

I thought about getting a gold chain once


Then I realised my surname wasn't 'Cent' or 'T'

IT66T

I'm loving the bike so far and the white powder coating looks mint .

steelie600

IT66T wrote:

I'm loving the bike so far and the white powder coating looks mint .

I bought a white seat post for it too and the powder coat on that matches exactly! = WIN

HOWEVER bearing in mind my seat post hole is for a 30.9, the post is 30.9+ powder coat (not by me might I add by the manufacturer) = Kev's had to dig his king pin bush reamer out to shave 0.1mm(ish) the internal diameter of the seat post recepticle!!

Kev was most puzzled at why the correct post wouldn't go in the front bottom hole till it tigged about the powder coat!

Seat post isnt going back tho cos it matches innit! I might have to trim it down tho, bought a 400mm one with the mindset get a long one and chop it down, cant extend one thats too short can ya!

Twelly

steelie600 wrote:

Kev was most puzzled at why the correct post would go in the front bottom hole

*giggle*

steelie600

one of the other forums I spam on has "front bottom" on the swear filter for bar stewards. Thought it would be funny

chez_m356

ilovedirt wrote:

I think it's just a generic BSO frame tbh, I used to have a Barracuda that was almost identical to that.

this-

steelie600

I kinda hope it isnt a bso, although this does bear more than a passing resemblance. Im gonna have to do some digging to see if Raleigh or Derby cycle or what ever theyre called used that frame for more than one bike cos im sure ive seen a Saracen and a Raleigh that look the same too

Briggo

It's a generic frame, see it all the time ridden by the masses in various guises.

sloppycowpat

oh well, a wellish spec'd bso is better than bog standard bso

Briggo

sloppycowpat wrote:

oh well, a wellish spec'd bso is better than bog standard bso

Aye, I believe someone has done a similar project on here before but they knew it was a BSO from the start

Whack a few semi decent parts on it and it can't be all that bad I guess, although I bet it weighs a bit?

steelie600

No frame was really light ill try and weigh it in a bit so we can get an idea but personally I think its light compared to my steel framed BSO POS that im on atm!

done slight bit of research as you cand find feck all out about Univega's, and the frame will most definately have been made by Raleigh. SO ive fired an email off to Univega as it stands now, to see if they can shed any light, on wether this frame was used for BSO's and their bikes.

Either way, I like it and im sure it will serve me well, even if the frame is shared with BSO's

chez_m356

steelie600 wrote:

No frame was really light ill try and weigh it in a bit so we can get an idea but personally I think its light compared to my steel framed BSO POS that im on atm!

done slight bit of research as you cand find feck all out about Univega's, and the frame will most definitely have been made by Raleigh. SO ive fired an email off to Univega as it stands now, to see if they can shed any light, on wether this frame was used for BSO's and their bikes.

seems the wrong shape for univega http://www.bikepedia.com/Quickbike/Bike ... &Type=bike

steelie600

Hmm yer right you know! Defo had their stickers on it tho and was in their box, was open tho, dont think ill have been had over anyhow as it was an ex work collegue that sold it me.

We'll wait see what Univega say about it, IF they reply. But not so hopefull of good news tbh.

Still onwards and upwards, its a fairly decent bike, and ill be blasting it off stuff very soon! AND it looks quite boss! So im happy!

steelie600

Thread title altered to reflect the uncertainty of manufacturer! We shall refer to this bike from now on as a "Ralph One" or just "Ralph" LOL

steelie600

Hallo Peeps

Isa mee, Fatbloke, father of Ralph, I bring thee good tidings and pictures of shiny things!

The post man will be even busier tomorrow! LOL

Today my Stoppers have arrived! Woop


Although I am gutted the hoses are black though! BUT to be fair they do actually go with my monochrome look so i'll probably just leave em as is!

Also my front brake Bracket has arrived so I have fitted the front caliper.




I was expecting mounting brackets with the calipers, but alas none come. I already knew I needed a front one due to the 203mm disc, but I've now gotta order a rear one. I've been to every bike shop in Crewe and they all looked at me if I was an alien, "asking for something like that, on a friday? How very dare you!" Except one! Andy at JE Williams was very helpful, he had a couple of spare brackets in his box and gave them to me to try and if they fit drop a fiver in next time im passing! THATS customer service right there. Unfortunately neither of the brackets were the right one, but ill still bung him a fiver anyway!

And my seat and post have been fitted,


So were getting there! Still no reply of Univega as to whether or not it is one of their frames but meh, its Ralph and he's mine! LOL My geary and bar-ee bits should be here the morn, so more spanner twiddling and HOPEFULLY will be on the road by next weekend!! Canny wait!!