This arrived today, my first roadie since I was 13 and I had a 5 speed Puch. I used to look at the Raleigh lightweight brochure wanting the MTB's but also wanted one of the 531 Roadie's, nothing too flash just something with a nice frame and a 105 group, so the Delta and Quadra stood out. The Quadra had the nicer paint and some nicer parts too so it was that I wanted. So when one in a non-gate sized 21" appeared on ebay with delivery a snipe was locked and loaded. £102 + delivery later it landed today.
Nicely boxed.
and well packed and protected.
So the verdict.
Well it needed a decent clean and t-cut, most of the rust staining has come off and it needs a bit of retouching, but for what I think is a 1988 (the reynolds decals are pre-1989) bike it isn't bad and I think i'll keep it as is. The look pedals, 105 rear mech and the Suntour front mech are for sale and will be replaced with a set of SPD's (I have the shoes and cleats) and period correct 105 Grey mechs. The hideous tanks of a chainset which is actually a late 80's Exage country thing with steel rings will be dumped in favour of a 6400 Tri-colour number.
What else? Well the BB is toast but it's our and the threads are good so a cartridge replacement has been ordered and I need to find some replacement shifters as one of the boss covers is missing and the shifter can't function without it. Wheel wise it is unmatched which makes my OCD twitch , but the rear is an RSX hub with Mavic rim and the front a C-record hub with Mavic Rim so as they are both Grey ano, with a near perfect match and above all straight they will stay for now until I find a chance upon a matched pair of something period in 7's. It has a rather nice 3T stem and Sakae custom bars which are nice and will stay. The saddle is a yellow Turbo on an SR seatpin so they are both definitely staying. Not 100% sold on the tyres but they are decent and new so will see how we get on.
It's now in bits waiting for the BB, Chainset and mechs to arrive hopefully I'll start the rebuild early next week as it's first outing is next weekend :shock: . If I can source replacement shifters.
Carl.
Nicely boxed.
and well packed and protected.
So the verdict.
Well it needed a decent clean and t-cut, most of the rust staining has come off and it needs a bit of retouching, but for what I think is a 1988 (the reynolds decals are pre-1989) bike it isn't bad and I think i'll keep it as is. The look pedals, 105 rear mech and the Suntour front mech are for sale and will be replaced with a set of SPD's (I have the shoes and cleats) and period correct 105 Grey mechs. The hideous tanks of a chainset which is actually a late 80's Exage country thing with steel rings will be dumped in favour of a 6400 Tri-colour number.
What else? Well the BB is toast but it's our and the threads are good so a cartridge replacement has been ordered and I need to find some replacement shifters as one of the boss covers is missing and the shifter can't function without it. Wheel wise it is unmatched which makes my OCD twitch , but the rear is an RSX hub with Mavic rim and the front a C-record hub with Mavic Rim so as they are both Grey ano, with a near perfect match and above all straight they will stay for now until I find a chance upon a matched pair of something period in 7's. It has a rather nice 3T stem and Sakae custom bars which are nice and will stay. The saddle is a yellow Turbo on an SR seatpin so they are both definitely staying. Not 100% sold on the tyres but they are decent and new so will see how we get on.
It's now in bits waiting for the BB, Chainset and mechs to arrive hopefully I'll start the rebuild early next week as it's first outing is next weekend :shock: . If I can source replacement shifters.
Carl.