Raleigh Banana

[Michael B]

Hi all, first time poster here but hoping for a little advice on a bike rebuild. I recently discovered my first ever road bike (Raleigh Banana) in the back of my uncle's shed - long story!

It has sentimental value and I'd quite like to build it back up for my daughter. However, I'm a little concerned about internal corrosion. There's a little rust on outside, nothing that can't be cleaned up, but I obviously don't want to put my daughter on a bike which disintegrates. Any tips on what I should look for?

It's at the cheap end of the Banana scale too, sadly not one of the Reynolds 753 (??) ones or I might have had it for my own use!

 

[widowmaker]

Re:

Shine a torch on the bottom bracket shell, the seatpost and the headset if you can.

 

[Michael B]

Re:

What would you expect to see with a torch if there was corrosion on the bottom bracket? I've tapped it all and seems solid enough...

 

[Maca]

I'd say unless the rust has eaten threw the metal from the outside in it will be ok. Never had one from that era yet that has rotted all the way threw, normally surface rust.

 

[Michael B]

Re:

Thanks maca, looking at it I think it's OK, just surface rust.