Raleigh Wisp Mixte (updated)

I started a thread here - http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0 but as it's going to progress into a build thread, it's probably better in here.

The bike in question is an early 80's Raleigh Wisp, sporting 5 of Sachs Huret's finest gears and a lot of oily filth. Although it's actually in very good condition.

So I've assembled pretty much all of the parts now, a Stronglight 52/42 chainset, Shimano Exage 300ex rear and front mechs, with a new 6 speed HG freewheel and chain. Indexed levers are going on the downtube. I've a Charge Ladle saddle on a new 25.4mm seatpost. And I've cleaned up the original Weinmann calipers a treat, ready for reuse.

The bars have changed from the original planned VO Belleville, to the narrower Velo Orange Montmartre bars. I was going to use Portland Design Works grips on the bars, but they're too long, so I've got some Fizik Honey bar tape which matches the saddle perfectly.

Anyway, when I picked it up it looked like this.......





I've just got it back from the powdercoaters (ABC Enamelling in Nailsea nr Bristol, who did a superb powdercoat job for a very good price) and have fitted a couple of bits tonight. Apologies for the bad pics - will get some outside on the weekend. The colour is RAL5014 Pigeon Blue.







More to come over the weekend.

Are you hoping the small child will grow into it?

Finally finished - just got to set up the gears / brakes on Thursday night down at the Bristol Bike Project.

Frame: Raleigh Wisp - 18-23 CroMo tubing

Fork: As above

Headset: Raleigh
Stem: Custom (Raleigh)
Handlebar: Velo Orange Montmatre
Bar Tape: Fizik Honey

Brake Levers/Brifters: Dia Compe 135
Brake Calipers: Weinmann 500 (Front) and 730 (Rear)
Brake Pads: Ashima one piece orange stripe
Brake Cables: Clarks Grey

Shifters: Shimano SL-A400 band on levers
Front Derailleur: Shimano Exage 300ex
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Exage 300ex
Derailleur Cables: Clarks Grey
Cassette: Shimano 6sp freewheel
Chain: Shimano HG
Cranks: Stronglight 103 (170mm)
Chainrings: Stronglight 42/52
Bottom Bracket: Tange
Pedals: Raleigh

Rims: 27 x 1 1/4" Raleigh (Steel)
Hubs: Maillard (Alloy)
Hub Skewers: Nutted
Nipples: original
Spokes: original
Tyres: Conti Ultra Sport
Tubes: Halfords

Saddle: Charge Ladle Womens
Seatpost: System Ex 25.4mm
Seatpost Binder: Raleigh

Bottle Cage: n/a
Extras: n/a

Weight: not too bad

Love that colour, very very understated. If I can say Im not sure about the tyres, amber walled would have been better - but thats just me!

I think youre right. When i get round to changing the 27" wheels to 700c alloys i'll go for gumwalls.

You have done a smashing job on that mate! So glad to see that the cracked headtube was not terminal.

fortunately it was the smallest of cracks to the top lug, and dropping a little flux in/over it seems to have sorted it a treat.

thanks for the compliments. the colour is RAL 5014 Pigeon Blue - it looks even better in the flesh.

Absolutely lovely.Do you intend riding it much,or is the pleasure from just restoring it?

to be honest, i think it'll probably get used about 5 or 6 times a year. I really enjoyed doing it, and am already on the lookout for my next project......

Spokesmann":3q1nybqn said:

If I can say Im not sure about the tyres, amber walled would have been better - but thats just me!

Click to expand...

I would guess that the tyres are probably 27 x 1 1/8 and if so the conti's are about all that is available. I really wish that Michelin would do a batch of world tours in that size as the Conti's really don't look right on 80's bikes. I'm having the same problem with my Raleigh Royal. My 27 x 1 1/8 Michelins have finally ended their life and the 1 1/4 I have put in are really too large, I can't actually inflate them as hard as I would like because they rub on the frame. At that time Raleigh did a lot of their bikes with close tolerances for 27 x 1 1/8, I guess all the other makers did too. My Royal originally had Michelin Club Tourist tyres on but since then I have used nothing but World Tours. Sadly, I have just ordered a pair of Contis for it. My wifes Carlton Courette is even tighter tolerance and the 1 1/4 world tours are unuseable unless I take the mudguards off.

If anyone from Michelin reads this PLEASE do a run of 27 X 1 1/8. There must be 1000's of 80's bikes in desperate need of them!

Think the Wisp looks great by the way but if it was mine I would put the mudguards back on.