Ryan's Raleigh Fixie
It all started when...
Ryan came to Velow Bikeworks to see if we could give a new lease of life to his Raleigh fixed/track bike. A solid workhorse, it had finally given up the ghost when the lockring came loose and the sprocket stripped the hub thread.
The Challenge
Fixed wheel bikes require very little maintenance but this one had been run into the ground. Although the frame was still in perfectly good condition, many of the components were at the end of their usable life.
The sprocket had stripped the hub thread meaning the bike was unridable
My first task was to strip the bike and inspect the frame and all the components to see which of them could be salvaged or reused. The answer was: very few. Only the headset (after a clean and service) and stem (with new bolts) would appear on his 'new' bike. The frame was in good order with no dents or bends.
Almost all of the parts and components had come to the end of their usable life
BRIEF
Ryan and I chatted about what sort of look he wanted and came up with a brief for a stealthy/monochrome fixie. He wanted a black frame with all-new silver and black components.
The finished bike in all its monochrome glory
The fully stripped frame was professionally powdercoated by Kris at Henderson's in Piershill. While this was being done I sourced the necessary components including a brand new Sturmey Archer 48/18 drivetrain and a new set of Tektro levers/callipers for increased stopping power.
The new drivetrain plus detail of the brand new wheels and Schwalbe Durano tyres
The bike was then fully assembled and given a test ride to ensure it was running as smoothly as it looked.
“Just wanted to let you know I’m really happy with it, it’s running super smooth and looks great”