Raleigh Team Banana 18-23 singlespeed beater

[Dead Rats]

This late '80s Raleigh Team Banana has been in the family since new! My cousin donated it to me a couple of years ago and this is it's latest incarnation. Seems most useful in my fleet as a "parts bin build singlespeed hack" for zero luggage commuting on nice days. One day it might get a respray, but for now it's having to make do with a homemade top tube livery made of electrical tape... it's cheap, fast, fun and brakes very sharply (and er... needs a shorter BB!)

Frame & fork:
18-23 Raleigh, fork drilled to accept recessed brake bolt

Headset: stock 1" threaded YST chrome
Stem: 1" quill which I stuck in a recent powdercoating job lot with a frame and some bars
Handlebar: Tranz-X risers from Charlieboy via my old Marin
Grips: Lizard Skins Moab from my old Enduro

Brake Levers: Lee Chi copies of Dia-Compe (from a 1990 Raleigh Pioneer) with new stainless steel bolts fitted
Brake Caliper Front: Shimano 105 dual pivot (front) cheapy from CRC
Brake Caliper Rear: Tektro dual pivot (front) from the forum
Brake Pads: came with the calipers!
Brake Cables: parts bin (new inners)

Freewheel: 16T BMX sprocket with spacers to move it out towards the dropout (Mr K gave me this)
Chain: KMC red 1/8" from my old Marin
Cranks: Shimano MT60 from my old Marin
Chainring: Sugino 42T from the parts bin
Chainring Bolts: Stronglight from my old Marin
Bottom Bracket: FSA RPM from the parts bin
Pedals: VP (V8 copies) came with my Enduro

Rims: Weinmann alloy 700C
Hubs: Maillard 1986
Hub Skewers: Sachs front QR / converted the rear to a solid axle
Tyres: Vredstein Ricorso from LGF

Saddle: Charge Spoon Wiggle - so comfy!
Seatpost: fluted Kalloy 25.4mm
Seatpost Binder: Campy copy

Bottle Cage: yes
Extras: bell

 

[chris86]

i love tatty single speed bikes,my dawes was half set on fire so the paint is very worn but i do love it,only thing id swap on yours would be a nice alloy drop stem.

 

[Dead Rats]

i love tatty single speed bikes,my dawes was half set on fire so the paint is very worn but i do love it,only thing id swap on yours would be a nice alloy drop stem.

It's not that tatty! well, ok the frame is I have the original stem here (a black c.90mm SR) but I prefer the steering now it's got the riser on it (and my arms are silly long too!).

First run out yesterday, whizzed me up to the cinema / gym for the afternoon. A hard ride but the saddle's great. Considering re-dishing the rear wheel but, as the chainline is only about 1.5mm out with another shorter BB still to try out, I don't really see the point... obv. an undished wheel is stronger but will I actually be able to make it run perfectly true

 

[daccordimark]

I thought the chain was rusty until I read the spec list

I like the Dead Rats top tube sticker.

 

[Dead Rats]

I thought the chain was rusty until I read the spec list

I like the Dead Rats top tube sticker.

cheers, logo by Jonathon Fisher and printed by RB's very own decal guru Gil M

 

[Dead Rats]

bit of an update... original stem refitted, moved the bell and fitted a huge 52T x 165mm Sugino track crankset... just needs 20T freewheel (have an ACS on order)