Recent content by Snaffs

For my next project I need a pair of RIGID 26" forks, V-brake mounts, 1 1/8 steerer and at least 200mm on the steerer tube. Unthreaded. Paypal, or beer vouchers available. Must be cheap as I'm at Uni and utterly broke. :-) Ta.

... and the older Deore ones are often on sale at silly prices. They work well too.

Lilac. <WHAT?>

I think a lot of the steel v everything else debate might be valid with road bikes, but on an MTB the tyre pressure/size is going to make more difference to feel. With suspension it must be an even harder call. BUT, I know the 1990 Raleigh I just bought is much more comfortable on the 15...

Ride your dream. Make sure you fit matching pedals.... Don't fit the TEsco Gel saddle cover. :-(

Paraffin (kerosene) +1 White Spirit Diesel WD40 (good for headset and b/b bearings - dunk them in an egg-cup or plastic lid, and soak for 15 minutes) Aviation fuel All are inflammable NOT petrol, ether, or dry cleaning fluid. :-) If you get grease on the beige carpet, Ronsonol...

They look badly worn to me. Look at the middle ring in the bottom pic at 11 o'clock position. The big ring inner also looks a tad chewed too. Chain falling off a ring often means wear on the ramps. The chain ring is then toast. I stopped buying used chainrings, people shove worn out...

Congrats, a great read. I just bought a Mirage too - 1990 in purple. I like it so much I just sold my road bike.

They're a great ride, bought one a fortnight ago, haven't been off it since. Price is about right, too. Good luck with the sale. 1990 model?

Aaargh. The mystery may be solved. I pulled it out of the bike (twice) and measured the dang thing overall, including the thready bits. Ahem . I guess without about a centimetre of thready bit at each end, I'm down to about 120 or so. Will check next week. And thank you all for your...

Add grommets to the rim. Very cheap and simple. A box full of mixed groms from ebay is a fiver, or couple from a bike shop for £6.95.

That is such a nice bike. I've got the 1990 Mirage, I use mine every day - 15 mile commute down an old railtrack, and put V-brakes on. I overtook three lycra roadies on it today, they were so suprised.

Old raleighs used recycled gas pipes that were several inchesvthick You mean Reynolds 501 like mine ? :D I checked the chainstay and crank clearances today. It has to be a 140mm spindle.

Brilliant, guys thanks . I'll pull it apart next week and take pix The Biopace Exage wears out a bit more each time I go out on it. There's a new crankset going on. SJS also have that 134 which might be useful. More as it happens.

I said it was big. No, it's deffo 140mm, and my 1960 verniers aren't digital. Neither is the tape measure. I'm going to have to figure whether a 122mm will fit. I know Raleigh did some weird stuff with their bikes, but this takes the biscuit. :roll: The previous owner had it from...