Raleigh Pursuit Project (FIRST RESOTRATION EVER :)

[Thewiggy]

Hi All.

First post and my first restoration project.


Im a mountain biker at heart (trail and downhill) however I wanted a CHEAP road bike to get some miles under my belt for training. So I bought the cheapest and nearest to me which happened to be a Raleigh Pursuit - £20!

I know nothing about road bikes - modern or vintage so it wasnt the name that attracted me. However, subsequent research seems to indicate a good buy!

It rode well (the one time I did) but Ive been lazy and its just been sat there.

However I have decided to strip it, clean it, new paint job and generally restore it.

ANY TIPS OR ADVICE WELCOME

Its now stripped and parts are soaking in white vinegar and bicarb solution and others are in COKE! :shock: (but the results have been rather pleasing...what does this stuff do to your insides?!)

So here are the Pics so far.

Raleigh (4) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (5) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (6) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (7) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh ( by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (10) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
20151113_182419 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
20151113_193218 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
20151113_194535 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (16) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (17) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (1 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
Raleigh (27) by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
20151113_231653 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr
20151113_231704 by Curtis Wignall, on Flickr

 

[kingbling]

It does at times seem hard to get any response on this forum to build threads, looks like you have it well in hand i would suggest that if the paint is not to bad try and preserve it t cut it and wax it good luck an keep the pictures coming

 

[Nob]

I take it you don't have a wife based on that room or is it a man cave...........

 

[k-rod]

looks like you're off to a great start!

 

[Bats]

I've always liked the pursuit paintjob, not so sure on the parts they came with though. Steel rimmed wheels want binning I know that much.

 

[ibbz]

Looking good
I second the suggestion to leave the original paint- cut wax and make it gleam.
As someone here said: it's only original once!

 

[Meejoir]

Re:

Looks like you're well on the way already. I rescued from the tip a Raleigh Rapide (similar age to yours) and stripped the tatty decals off it using only a hair dryer and a bit of white spirits to get the worst bits of the remaining glue off. A bit of T Cut and it came up lovely, bar a few scratches from its former life.

 

[Bats]

Re: Re:

Looks like you're well on the way already. I rescued from the tip a Raleigh Rapide (similar age to yours) and stripped the tatty decals off it using only a hair dryer and a bit of white spirits to get the worst bits of the remaining glue off. A bit of T Cut and it came up lovely, bar a few scratches from its former life.

That poor bike

 

[Midlife]

Are you soaking some stuff in oxalic acid in one of your pics?

Shaun

 

[Maca]

Re:

I really like seeing these sorts of bikes restored. Did a friends cadet a while back. Fresh decals, new cables and tyres and the rest cleaned and polished. Looked fantastic when done. Be careful cutting these old raleighs as most of them had the decals on top ofvthe clear so go to hard and you will rub them off. However the old raleigh paint responds really really well to a good t-cut.
If you want new decals, peal old ones off and send to del at delcalsigns and he will be able to re-produce. He does all of mine.

Look forward to more pics of progress