SBDU Ilkeston 531 Randonneur 1985 SB7660
- Thread starter originalshinkicker
- Start date
originalshinkicker
rBotM Winner
Found some time to start to get this bike back together. Very little of it needed to be replaced. All the bearing surfaces, cones and BB are in brilliant shape but the brake lever hoods have definitely seen better days. Everything else just needed the thick grime cleaned off.
The Record headset was in perfect condition and as all the faces were well cut already, everything just went back together.
The bike came with tatty red bike ribbon on the bars but I've decided to go back to cloth bar tape - gonna give red cloth tape a go and see how it looks and feels. One of the drop out adjusters was bent and had to be snapped to remove it so I've replaced them to with Campagnolo replacements. Some of the TA fastenings were also past their best so a new set of them have been bought.
The Stronglight BB just needed new 1/4" loose balls and grease. Even with the best equipped Campagnolo toolkit, of all the tools required to fit this, only the fixed cup spanner is a regular size - the lock ring, adjustable cup, crank remover and crank bolts are all different. Just make sure you have a Stronglight crank puller if you have these cranks, 23.3 mm instead of the standard 22 mm. I have a really nice JA Stein puller that fits perfectly. The crank bolts were also 16 mm meaning that even the trusty Campagnolo spanner would not fit.
Next was a new pop rivet for the bottom bracket cable guide.
I got some Dia Compe replacement brake levers - tracking down good replacement hoods for the Weinmann levers that were in any kind of reasonable condition was impossible. I test fitted the levers to get the position correct and then removed the lever body, leaving the clamp in place on the handlebar. Fitting cloth tape can be a pain and I didn't want to leave any gaps in the tape around the lever hoods so taking the levers off the bars and taping around the clamp helps to make a better finish and look.
So it is coming along well and it should be finished very soon!
The Record headset was in perfect condition and as all the faces were well cut already, everything just went back together.
The bike came with tatty red bike ribbon on the bars but I've decided to go back to cloth bar tape - gonna give red cloth tape a go and see how it looks and feels. One of the drop out adjusters was bent and had to be snapped to remove it so I've replaced them to with Campagnolo replacements. Some of the TA fastenings were also past their best so a new set of them have been bought.
The Stronglight BB just needed new 1/4" loose balls and grease. Even with the best equipped Campagnolo toolkit, of all the tools required to fit this, only the fixed cup spanner is a regular size - the lock ring, adjustable cup, crank remover and crank bolts are all different. Just make sure you have a Stronglight crank puller if you have these cranks, 23.3 mm instead of the standard 22 mm. I have a really nice JA Stein puller that fits perfectly. The crank bolts were also 16 mm meaning that even the trusty Campagnolo spanner would not fit.
Next was a new pop rivet for the bottom bracket cable guide.
I got some Dia Compe replacement brake levers - tracking down good replacement hoods for the Weinmann levers that were in any kind of reasonable condition was impossible. I test fitted the levers to get the position correct and then removed the lever body, leaving the clamp in place on the handlebar. Fitting cloth tape can be a pain and I didn't want to leave any gaps in the tape around the lever hoods so taking the levers off the bars and taping around the clamp helps to make a better finish and look.
So it is coming along well and it should be finished very soon!
Attachments
-
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 New Fittings.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Stronglight Bottom Bracket Fitted.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Cable Guide Rivet Fitted.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Bar Tape and Levers Fitted.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Campagnolo Headset Fitting.webp
dirttorpedo
Senior Retro Guru
That is one beautiful bike!
originalshinkicker
rBotM Winner
Finished this bike today. I didn't want to get this bike back to showroom condition, I didn't want to do a full clean and polish of everything. But just changing some bearings and cables, it rides beautifully. The Suntour gears work great.
New cloth bar tape.
New Dia-Compe brake levers and black outer cables (I don't like either red or white cables - so it had to be black)
All other parts cleaned up really well.
New SKS mudguards with stainless fittings fit close to the 28 mm tyres but still allows for 500 mm drop brake calipers.
New cloth bar tape.
New Dia-Compe brake levers and black outer cables (I don't like either red or white cables - so it had to be black)
All other parts cleaned up really well.
New SKS mudguards with stainless fittings fit close to the 28 mm tyres but still allows for 500 mm drop brake calipers.
Attachments
-
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Gearing.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Cloth Tape.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Brake Levers.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Detail.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 SKS Mudguards.webp -
Raleigh SBDU Ilkeston Randonneur 531 1985 SB7660 Complete.webp
Re:
Excellent.
Respect your attention to detail; and stunning colour - flambouyant Claret perhaps?
Also, lovely to see an SBDU touring frame (instead of another team frame), question...the GoD decal, did you put that on ? These, to my knowledge, only appeared on later frames* after Ilkeston closed ?
My 85/86 SBDU never had one, and I've not seen an original frame with one.
Jon.
*the GoD appeared on all manner of Raleigh frames (from 3 maintubes 501/531 and up).
Excellent.
Respect your attention to detail; and stunning colour - flambouyant Claret perhaps?
Also, lovely to see an SBDU touring frame (instead of another team frame), question...the GoD decal, did you put that on ? These, to my knowledge, only appeared on later frames* after Ilkeston closed ?
My 85/86 SBDU never had one, and I've not seen an original frame with one.
Jon.
*the GoD appeared on all manner of Raleigh frames (from 3 maintubes 501/531 and up).
originalshinkicker
rBotM Winner
AndyMart, it will hopefully get a few rides to the local coffee stop! It has been 30 degrees in Newcastle today so if its the same again tomorrow it will get another outing.
Jon, cheers for the comments. Details were hammered into me by my ex bike shop boss so I try to get the detail correct on everything!
The GoD decal was on the frame when I picked it up. As far as I am aware the frame & forks are original paint. None of the Reynolds, Ilkeston Ovals, TI decals, or Heron badge on the seat tube are lacquered over which I believe was the way with Ilkeston - I think a lot of restorers fit every decal then seal everything with a clear coat. The GoD isn't lacquered over but I just have no idea if it is original or not. With most things about the SBDU, there are so many stories about what did and didn't happen and what got and didn't get the GoD decal.
Lots of later non SBDU Raleigh frames got the GoD decal - probably a sales/marketing thing, but I have seen later SBDU Ilkeston '85/'86 frames with GoD decals - I just don't know the significance?
Cheers
Neil
Jon, cheers for the comments. Details were hammered into me by my ex bike shop boss so I try to get the detail correct on everything!
The GoD decal was on the frame when I picked it up. As far as I am aware the frame & forks are original paint. None of the Reynolds, Ilkeston Ovals, TI decals, or Heron badge on the seat tube are lacquered over which I believe was the way with Ilkeston - I think a lot of restorers fit every decal then seal everything with a clear coat. The GoD isn't lacquered over but I just have no idea if it is original or not. With most things about the SBDU, there are so many stories about what did and didn't happen and what got and didn't get the GoD decal.
Lots of later non SBDU Raleigh frames got the GoD decal - probably a sales/marketing thing, but I have seen later SBDU Ilkeston '85/'86 frames with GoD decals - I just don't know the significance?
Cheers
Neil
I have seen the God decal on a few high numbered SBDU frames over on the yahoo SBDU forum, perhaps like most things with the SBDU, it's application was random. Lovely bike, and an awesome collection you have, I'm hoping to find a 753 panasonic in my size one day.
originalshinkicker":dctaiiy8 said:
Thanks Neil,
when I picked my frame up from Ilkeston I was given (I asked) an envelope full of decals, still have
most of the oval foil ones(stickers really). Never saw the GoD one...it seems to appear on restored or later frames.
Never saw it on the Raleigh - Weinmann team frames.
Will remain a conundrum I guess: still a lovely bicycle you have. I am currently building a rather special tourer and you've inspired me to get my finger out!
Jon.
Re:
Really good to see this. I love these fast, practical bikes that Raleigh made. My Raleigh is based on a 531ST frame set that was for sale at the same time, although lightweight division rather than SBDU, viewtopic.php?f=23&t=319398. Interesting to compare I think though. I take it your wheels are 700c.? What's the gearing?
Really good to see this. I love these fast, practical bikes that Raleigh made. My Raleigh is based on a 531ST frame set that was for sale at the same time, although lightweight division rather than SBDU, viewtopic.php?f=23&t=319398. Interesting to compare I think though. I take it your wheels are 700c.? What's the gearing?
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