Upgrading a 1980's Raleigh...

Superbalicious

My Dad is quite happy with his 501 framed Raleigh Banana, I've tried to tempt him into the world of aluminium and carbon fibre, but he's happy to stay put. However, he's mentioned the possibility of buying a turbo trainer, just to keep the legs spinning when he can't get out for a ride. Now we're talking turbos, rather than rollers...

I've explained that the majority turbos (if not all?) fit via the rear quick release and, as his Banana has traditional hubs (and hence his trusty box spanner goes everywhere with him), they're unlikely to fit his bike. The Banana is a 12 speed with non-indexed gears, so I was wondering whether its possible for him to upgrade his steel wheels to something which he could use his existing cassette with (I think it's a screw on type?).

So, I suppose my question is whether there are factory built wheels available for this type of setup, or whether he'd have to get something hand built? I suppose I could suggest he upgrades to maybe a 9 or 10 speed, so that he could use factory built wheels and have the benefit of a more modern gear set (mind you, he always comments that bikes come with only a 50/34 these days as he's still using a 52/48...!)

Any advice gratefully received, apart from just buying a new bike as I've tried that one already

ugo.santalucia

Zenith hub built with something cheap

rolf_f

I don't think you need to worry about getting anything built up. I sourced a cheap (Raleigh branded) set of wheels for my Tourer about 4 years ago when I first got it going. That was for freewheel and it wasn't old stock as such. I daresay similar are available for road bike spacings. I used those wheels until I wore the freewheel out and then changed to handbuilts for cassette.

As for updating the Banana - if he's happy with non indexed gears, stop nagging him! They are fine. You can spend a whole lot of money modernising an old bike and at the end of it you still have an old bike but you also have a big hole in your pocket.

FWIW, I like my Campag Centaur 10 speed bikes but I've so far ridden 500 miles since the start of the year on the above mentioned tourer which has friction shifters. They, like the Campag 10 speed, are excellent.

Superbalicious

Thanks for the replies. I've found some alloy rims on Shimano QR hubs, with a threaded rear hub, at Graham Weigh Cycles, might give them a call to see if they're what we need.

dynamicbrick

It'll come down the the subtle bits - for example, the gap between the rear forks will be narrower on the Raleigh than modern axles/spindles; so you'll need to cold-set the frame.

Indexing the gears is a doddle - most 90s downtube shifters will have index for the rear, and you'll be surprised at how cheap decent rear mechs are on eBay.

I completely modernised my 80s Peugeot at the following cost off eBay;

£30 pair Vuelta Airline rims
£7 Campag from mech, friction
£4 pair Shimano Exage shifters, r/h indexed
£43 Dura-Ace 7410 (very high end 90s) Cranks, BB, and chainrings
£14 105 indexed rear for 8spd
£15 105 aero brake levers.
£20 for new Shimano 8spd cassette from LBS

rolf_f

dynamicbrick wrote:

Indexing the gears is a doddle - most 90s downtube shifters will have index for the rear, and you'll be surprised at how cheap decent rear mechs are on eBay.

True - but there's bugger all point. It's still an extra thing to adjust and it doesn't really serve any purpose - not on a six speed anyway. Indexing was a technology waiting for the STi. DT shifters are nicer without IMO.

Component prices can be madly cheap but it doesn't sound as though the OP needs any!

dynamicbrick

Well I found it useful - I'm not the indestructible sprite I was as a yoof. Having a shifter mounted somewhere down near my shins, within inches of the front wheel, and requiring a look down/back was asking for trouble.

Click - CLACK... done.

The 80s brakes, however...

rolf_f

dynamicbrick wrote:

Well I found it useful - I'm not the indestructible sprite I was as a yoof. Having a shifter mounted somewhere down near my shins, within inches of the front wheel, and requiring a look down/back was asking for trouble.

Click - CLACK... done.

The 80s brakes, however...

You've forgotten your skills! You don't need to look back - it's all in the feel!
There is one clear benefit of keeping the shifters un-indexed on an old bike - it minimises any issues due to worn components.

And yes - where did Weinmann get all that cheese from....... That said, my 1980 Raleigh just benefitted from the Weinmanns being replaced by contemporary Suntour Superbe. Not sure they are any worse than brakes made a quarter of a century later.

Monty Dog

You don't need to change anything on the bike, you just need a pair of Tacx adapter nuts that screw onto the end of the wheel spindle:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-axle-nuts- ... qr-wheels/

Superbalicious

Monty Dog wrote:

You don't need to change anything on the bike, you just need a pair of Tacx adapter nuts that screw onto the end of the wheel spindle:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-axle-nuts- ... qr-wheels/

Excellent, they're just what we need, many thanks