Hey Im wanting to get fit and so I thought I would build a racer.  I looked to see if I had suitable bits.  Ive got a Raleigh touring bike frame thats made of Reynolds 531.   But its about 25", so too big.  Ive got a black and green Raleigh thats 501, and got nice unicrown forks, but its about 23" so to big.  
So I found a Raliegh Flyer frame thats 21".  Thats nearly ok.  Plus its in Team colours   But the frames just Carbospec tubing  
I got Campag cranks and gear mechs for it from Ebay.  But got out bid on the BB.   The BB in the frame was looonnggg, about 127mm.  I looked through my big box of axles and got the smallest one, a 117mm.  The rings are still half an inch from the chain stay, the front mechs at maximum reach, and rattles on the chain.  Have to see if I can get a shorter one.

Ive built a single speed road bike from a Elswick Hopper Whirlwind.

Im trying to get more into road bikes.  I used to race road bikes.  And go touring to.  But lost my nerve.  And put a bit of weight on so it was difficult to bend down to the drops.
My Whirlwind dont have drops.  Its quite good off road.  Even though its geared for 68".  
But its got something wrong with the crummy Raleigh headset.  Think it just needs looked at.  Creaks a bit.
So I thought I would dig my Flyer out from the back of the shed.  It was hiding behind my Raleigh Caprice and my Raleigh Arena.
I pumped the tyres up and went out in the mist yesterday afternoon.  Its a good going bike.  Its just Carbospec tubing.  But seems lively in conparision to my modded Raleigh Phaser MTB that I ussually ride.  I went out to the bridge.  Running the brakes most of the time though.  I climbed up the steep hill to the next village.  Its a great climber, even with a lump like me on it.  I planned to come home from the village.  But I went the other way to the next village.  I then thought to do a loop then back from there.  Nope  just kept on riding.  I got to a gentle uphill into the wind.  With hardly any visibility as the mist was thick there.  I tried riding on the drops.  Was ok.  The bikes not going to run away from me on an uphill.  
I had some chain rub on the front mech.  Thought it cant be bent rings as its got Campag cranks.  Not cheap steel rings.  Was the BB cup loose.  
I got to the main road.  Just a country road though.  Was very misty still.  A white Mercedes Cabrio passed me with its fog light on.  It dissapeared into the gloom immediately.  
I got to a long downhill that Ive seen over 40mph on a bike.  But was firm on the brakes till I smelt the aluminium.  I got off to give the brakes and my hands a rest.  
I did about 15 miles.  Will have to fit a computer to that bike.
I adjusted the BB and cleaned the brakes and rims.
I went out today.  Went and climbed a really big hill.  Then felt the chain rubbing again.  Come on.  Ive only done 3 miles since adjusting the BB.  So I freewheeled down the smooth road.  I felt bumping from the back wheel.  I got these wheels on a big old Raleigh I got at auction in town.  So the tyres could be 15 years old.  Theres a tare in the tread of the rear tyre.  Ive got another tyre in the shed.  I went to the loch.  Theres a path that goes round it now.  

It got over the hill to my village really easy.  
I did about 10 miles

The handlebars look cool on the Elswick

The Elswick is a badge engineered Raleigh.
Its got drop bars flipped up and cut off.  Its a fashoin with the Fixie and single speed owners.  Its got CLB aero levers with the cables under thick red foam from an exercise bike.  Thats nice and comfy.  
I built the rear wheel with a Maillard five speed freewheel hub thats common on old Raleigh Racers.  I put the spacers on the other side of the hub. Its got a single speed freewheel.  The rims are 27" steel.   The cranks are the mankiest SR cranks I had.  The big ring had a few teeth corroded through.  So I cut and filed them off.  I filed it round so its a chainguard.  Its geared for 68".  
I hand sanded the cranks and Weiman 500 brake calipers.  There really shiny.  I should have polished the SR aero stem and the brake levers.  
I might rebuild the wheels on 700c rims.  Ive got a pair of tubular rims, the say Durex on them, they'll be safe then.   I cant get tubs for a good price though

Quote :

tubular rims, the say Durex on them, they'll be safe then.

yep, no worries about hearing the pitter patter of new rims with those  

 

I was out on my Whirlwind on wednesday.  I havent biked to anywhere on it.  Just out for a few miles then back.  I thought I would go to the next village.  It was after 4pm when I left.  Theres a steep hill.  It was a struggle to climb it.  When I got over the hill, it started to rain.  I could see that the clouds were patchy.  So kept on going.  But after 5 minutes it got really heavy.  I hid behind a bush.  But it was short showers of hard rain.  I carried on.  It got sunny further along.  I got to the next village in 35 minutes for the 5 miles.  Not fast, but I had stopped for a while. I went to the supermarket.  There expensive.  I got crisps and a lottery ticket.  But juice was to dear.  
I went to my bike and a man was standing there.  He spoke to me.  Was my cousin Peter.  I didnt recognise him.  Havent seen him since January.  He rents a house in the village.  So I followed him to his house.  He went to make a cup of tea, but got tins of Tennents lager out instead.  I dont drink too fast.  His son has a minimoto.  A dirt bike with the honda moped copy engine.  But its throttle was in bits, so no playing with it.  He had a BMX frame that he asked about building up.  Its a Mongoose.  But just a frame with BB and headset cups.  I said I could give him a Haro frame with all the bits minus wheels.  These frames use 14mm axles.  I have a pair of 14mm axled wheels.  But the rears quite buckled.  Ive got other low end BMXs that I could give him.
I left about 8pm.  Was cold and I had on a t shirt.  I got home in 35minutes too.  No I wasnt drunk.  
My bike was making a new noise.  Only on hills tho.  Yip it was the lock jangling on the seat stays.  

ive been offered a 1987 peugeot racer

that might be new enough to use completely standard components.
Ive got a Peugeot Elan frame that has a 23.7mm seat pin size.  Be difficult to get a replacement.  

This is a Raleigh Grifter forum

And the pictures are posted in the others pics section so allowed. You can post pictures of other bikes you have here.