Odd bit on a frame - maybe odd person asking about it

[TGR]

I could hide it in the dirt - here is an idea how bad it is -



And I have wiped the chainstay!!!

More dirt -



I have a new BB ready for it and i have taken a lot of the parts off. The frame is 501 and really light, lighter than my 531 Rapide - not sure why though.

Richard

 

[The History Man]

It's because half the welds are missing.

 

[TGR]

LOL

maybe the dirt is holding it together!!! And i removed it - bad move!

Richard

 

[mattr]

How do you know the frame is lighter?
Doesn't look like anything on that bike has seen a spanner since before Tullio threw his leg over a saddle.

It's probably just the build that's lighter.

 

[TGR]

Well, I am comparing it with the weight of my 531 frame. I could be mistaken as the frame is pretty much stripped but it does feel very light. If i remember I will weight it when the bars are off - for interest's s ake.

The bike was well oiled and the dirt is all oily - which is much better that normal dirt although harder to get off the frame is very clean below the filth.

Richard

 

[TGR]

frame weight with bars, brakes levers, gear levers - 4.4kg.

Is that light?

Richard

 

[mattr]

No idea, don't know what the bars, brake levers and year levers weigh........

 

[Ian Raleigh]

My Raleigh RX100 has the same! There are thousands like this.

I've seen Raleigh production pictures and the 'mudguard holder' is already welded onto the stay
before the frame is put together, aids in faster production, Years ago when Raleigh was at its best
people used to ask ''How many work in that factory'' and the reply was ''About half of them''

 

[loveoldbikes]

My son had a Raleigh with 501 tubing and full mudguard bridge. He acquired it second-hand. Someone had spread the stays to take more gears than the original spec and the chain stay cracked right where the bridge was joined. Maybe Raleigh used this dodge to make it easier for them to fit more gears (if the customer could do so, that would have been a bonus).