And another Raleigh Rapide re-build

My story starts in the early eighties when I started work and found myself with a bit of money and decided to build my own bike having owned a Raleigh Arena GT. In autumn 84 I picked up my 25” Barry Bond (local Leicester lad) built racing frame and began building my new bike. In January 1985 I passed my driving test (say no more!). A few years later, in the early 90’s I built up a bike for my wife (now ex wife) using components from my original bike having bought some better, second hand components for mine. I never really rebuilt my own bike and when I attempted, accidentally cross threaded the bottom bracket. TBH the frame always felt too big for my 6’2” height and now owning a Raleigh Max Chromo mountain bike, the racer and components were put into storage.

At the time I owned my Arena GT I’d always admired the Raleigh team replica and anything 531.

Roll on 30 years – new wife, kids, new house etc I’m getting back into biking – still got the max chromo MTB and the Bond racer in bits with the addition of a Specialized hard rock. I’ve always held back on building up my racer as it needs repairing and is ultimately too big for me but have loads of bits – 2nd hand campag hubs with new mavic 700c rims and stainless double butted spokes, 2nd hand campag super record front and rear mech (titanium bolts), campag frame fitting levers, cinelli bars and stem, weinmann 405 brake set, Turbo saddle, SR chainset, ofmega bottom bracket, 2nd hand campag pedals with new Christophe toe clips , shimano 600 alloy headset and shimano 600 5 speed block being the highlights. All unused for over 20 years.

So, couple of weeks ago spotted a Raleigh Rapide on ebay, fairly local and from the same era as my Arena GT but with the 531 frame I always wanted so I started bidding. It did go over my pre set limit of £95 but at £127 I won it with the obligatory raised eyebrows from the wife!!. My original thinking was to use the bits I already have to make up a nice spec usable bike, however, I now want to make it as original as possible.

So, to the Rapide. In general the frame is in really good condition for a 30 year old bike. Front and rear mech original, levers, chainset, bottom bracket, front wheel, seat pin, stem and headset too. Now the non-original stuff:-
- Back wheel (non descript??)
- Block (v close ratio)
- Pedals
- Handle bars – triathlon type
- Brakes and levers (shimano 105 incl levers)
- Saddle (not too bothered by this)

Also, the Tange headset is quite corroded and I think the SR custom chainset has a partially damaged pedal thread on the chain ring side.


So, what is the plan? Ideally I now want to get the Rapide back to near original as possible. Pedals I’ll use my campag ones and will fit my as new SR chainset (non –custom) for now along with the headset too. I will change the handle bars for drop ones and basically get it usable. Possibly fit the 405 brakes. Everything else I’ll bide my time looking on this forum and ebay for the right bits to come along. The project should be fairly cost neutral if I sell off the stuff I’ve accumulated and don’t need plus anything of value I take off the Rapide.

No re-sprays or pimping here!

Pictures below as collected from ebay seller

Hi,

The third Rapide!!!

All the info you need should be here -

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=227064

or here -

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=228672

I changed my BB and headset to make my Rapide more useable and, although subject to some debate, i think that changing bits to increase useablility does not detract from a build. I have not found my original seat yet and i may leave a Concor on it - other than this and the chain - i think it is all original. The original freewheel was changed 28 years ago, and when i put the original wheels back on, the freewheel was defective and i had one to replace it. Oddly over the years i am not sure whether the defective one was the original one or not.

Good luck with the build,

Richard

Richard,

Thanks - spent a lot of time already looking at those articles and have been really useful to get reference numbers etc.

Set of handle bars already sourced and ordered!!

Cheers

Ian

nipped into the local bike shop yesterday and they are happy to have a go at re-threading the cross threaded BB on my Bond frame. The owner was a bike mechanic apprentice with Barry Bond - small world!

So now two projects on the go - Rapide retro rebuild and fixie using my old Bond frame. Probably use the latter exclusively on my turbo trainer.


Ian

Good stuff, there is another option - a Mavic BB which does not require threads but they are getting expensive.

Get back to your Autosol!!!

Richard

I have a mop on the electric drill for polishing stainless exhausts (caterham 7) which will make light work of the ally! I'll have to do the wheels by hand!

Ian

Hand is best - it will give you a better feeling of accomplishment at the end OR you will be suicidal!!

Richard

TGR":90g3qa4r said:

I have not found my original seat yet and i may leave a Concor on it -

Click to expand...

Hi TGR,
I think the original saddle was a Black suede Isca Aralda. Depending on how much you want one, Hilary Stone has a NOS one for £65
http://hilarystone.com/saddles2.html

Hi Rusty,

Thanks for that but i am sure it was a black suede one but it did not have any logos on the side or back. The one you mention seems a little expensive for the type of bike, but thanks for taking the time to look.

Richard