Raleigh Olympus

alex crawford · Sep 23, 2014

Hi,

Just joined the forum.

In 1978 my granny bought me a Raleigh Olympus 5 speed for my Xmas. A month or so ago while browsing through Ebay I found someone selling an Olympus and as they were quite local I bought it.

My plan was to strip it down, renovate and rebuild it. The frame had a lot of surface rust but the rest was in good nick. All the metal work just needed a polish with some wire wool. I couldn't do much about the frame so it was stripped and cleaned up ready for a respray.

When I was rubbing down the paint I found a name under a couple of layers of paint, Dan Duffy. Could he have been part of the team at Raleigh who built the bike?

More to follow as I make progress.

Alex

Midlife · Sep 23, 2014

BITD we used to put our names on our bikes just like that

Either small paintbrush and some humbrol enamel or small transfers from the cocal bike ship.

I don't ever remember that colour blue for an olympus though, Is there a number on the frame somewhere ?

Good work by the way.............

Shaun

PurpleFrog · Sep 23, 2014

Well, if you're going to find secret writing on a frame then "Dan Duffy" is much nicer to find anything in Latin with weird astrological symbols - or references to the Necronomicon.

I had one of these as a kid too! Great paintjob - same as mine I think - but my memory is that the bars and controls made them horrors to ride.

alex crawford · Sep 23, 2014

Re:

Thanks. I found a shade of blue at Halfords that's almost a perfect match.
The original blue under the decals is slightly darker. The bike also came in red as well.

Also got some new decals from Ebay. The wheels are not too bad for being 30 odd years old. Would like to get the original tan/black tyres for it as well.

Just been out to the shed. The only number of the frame is the frame/serial number HH0151328

Alex

MrW · Sep 23, 2014

Frame number should start with a N, but may look like an H!

phantom photon · Sep 26, 2014

Re:

Nice little project you've got there. Look forward to seeing it finished

Spokesmann · Sep 27, 2014

Great to this old machine, my first proper bike was an Olympus back in 1976.

alex crawford · May 1, 2015

Re:

After spending the winter months in the shed the bike has finally been finished. Still got some bar tape to add and carry out one or two tweeks.

Nob · May 2, 2015

Looking Good there

alex crawford · May 2, 2015

Thanks. I could only find two of the decals. I'll fit a set of original lights once I get a hold of them, and I still need to tidy up the rear carrier as well.

Raleigh Olympus

alex crawford

Retro Newbie

Midlife

Retro Wizard

PurpleFrog

alex crawford

Retro Newbie

MrW

Senior Retro Guru

phantom photon

Dirt Disciple

Spokesmann

alex crawford

Retro Newbie

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Nob

alex crawford

Retro Newbie

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