Raleigh Fixed Gear Project - RogueSphere Cyclery

[xalexisxmrcsx]

How did you remove the welded parts? I want to remove the brakes on mine and those cable holders look gross on the frame

[POPPASHANGO]

@xalexisxmrcsx I cut them off with a Dremel with a cutting disk attachment. They zipped off clean in an instant. Thanks!

[adamign]

amazing fixie! What size of tyres did you put on?

[POPPASHANGO]

@adamign Hey Thanks adamign. They were Specialized Mondo Sport Tyres 700C!

[POPPASHANGO]

@4Cheezmo4 without going back to my project records, I would say off the top of my head I spent $250 on the parts through ebay, Kijiji and Bike Shop sources.

[tramway5051]

Boy that bottom bracket was really beat to hell huh?

[POPPASHANGO]

@tramway5051 Yeah, that white stuff, which looks like it could be grease was more like rubber?!? I actually feel as if it was dielectric grease!

[78hiwatts]

26" wheels?????? I have the identical bike, same size same colour even, comes stock with 27" wheels not 26". great job on the bike it looks great.

[pogglywogly]

I have a 1970 Raleigh Grand Prix that was bought new by my dad. Everything was still original and all. I ended up pumping $650 bucks into the bike to really get it rolling like it was new again. It was almost like restoring an old car and it is a really neat feeling having that to go around with and it does get attention.

[POPPASHANGO]

@pogglywogly Hey that's awesome pw! I got my fathers Royce Union that he and I restored, rode it for a few years and then it was stolen. About 5 years after that I sold an old timer riding it down the road pulling a trailer full of cans. My mother, who was driving, asked if I wanted to turn around and get it back. I figured one of his grandkids must have snaked it from my garage. But he must have needed it to collect his cans...so I let it go.

At any rate, you keep that Grand Prix locked up!

[3L89nino]

I dont understand why Raleigh made that frame to only fit 26'' wheels. I have a Raleigh Pioneer classic that looks the same build and if 28'' wheels fit your frame, with gears you'd leave any racer behind...

[EECIEI]

it looked way better before : ( some bike frames just don't look good as a fixed gear bikes. i think those wheels are too small for that frame. sorry for sounding like a jerk

[POPPASHANGO]

@EECIEI Hey np. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. That particular bike was a very large frame. The gentleman that bought it was over 6 foot and it fit him perfect. That may explain why the wheels may look disproportionate to the frame. However, if memory serves, the wheel diameter is very close to the originals.

Thanks for watching at any rate..lol

[ignitethosebeats]

hi, i also have a raleigh, what kind of bottom bracket did you use?

thanks.

[POPPASHANGO]

@ignitethosebeats I don't remember the exact model number...but it was a Shimano...I can't even think of what it may have been.

[TheStu1812]

take the kickstand off

[POPPASHANGO]

@TheStu1812 LOL...I know I know.... I put it on so I could stand it up for photos and it would not be up against the wall in the house.... had one fall over and jack my expensive wood floor...but I am sure the new owner dumped the kick when he got it home.

[brapboys503]

That was a nice bike to begin with. Did you keep the gear set to swap back for winter?

[POPPASHANGO]

@brapboys503 Hey brapboy..I sold this bike to one of my fans that watched the project from the website. When it was completed, he stopped by and bought the bike. I never even rode it! ..lol

[66420192]

Absolutely amazing, and like one of your posters said, it's way more exciting and fun to build your own bike.

[polisloco]

really good job man!!

[POPPASHANGO]

@polisloco Thanks! I appreciate the props!

[parfull33]

how did you remove the fulcrums? thanks

[POPPASHANGO]

@parfull33 Hey parfull33! I used a Dremel with a cutting blade. It zips right through the weld and if you hit it just right, you can't tell the fulcrum was even there. Thanks for posting.

[parfull33]

how did you remove the fulcrums? thanks

[WhiteGravey]

well atleast you didnt go out and pay 1000 dollars for a mainstream fixed gear like all the other tools.

[blp0]

Really enjoyed watching your project develop! Was wondering how the paint has been fairing so far? I've been told that I probably shouldn't try to paint it myself, so my only other option is to get it powder coated. Really digging your bullhorns too, was thinking about Nitto RB - 021's

[POPPASHANGO]

@blp0 I painted the Bandit Lowrider bike with the same paint, DuPont Hot Hues Satin Black. It's one of my sons bikes, and the finish is just like the day I it was completed. This paint is automotive paint so I believe it will hold up under general conditions. I think you should go for it and paint your own bike. The worse that could happen is taken it back down and having it done anyway, right? It just rocks to do it on your own.lol So give it a shot! Thanks for the props!

[osvaldo2k5]

Is the front brake the only why to brake?

[POPPASHANGO]

@osvaldo2k5 The front brake is the only brake on the bike. Most people who ride fixed gear learn a braking method called a skid stop. You just simply stop pedaling and hold the pedals in place until the bike comes to a stop. Setting up the proper chain ring along with the rear sprocket you get a certain number of skid patches which prolongs the life of the tire. More skid patches = less wear. This bike has 19 skid patches. I installed the brake because it is a requirement in some areas.

[boomkingg]

what bars are those???

[POPPASHANGO]

@boomkingg That was a Mavic Bullhorn Handlebar I installed.

[cmccague]

hey thats a great looking bike, im in the beginning process of my own project.

how does your ride?

rock on

[POPPASHANGO]

@cmccague The funny thing is ...I never rode it! I posted the progress photos on my website and by the time it was done.. I had a buyer. He rode it when he came to see it, and when he came from riding it around the block his reply was... "My wife is going to kill me.." LOL

[POPPASHANGO]

@cmccague Oh and BTW.... awesome that you are starting a project bike. Shoot some photos along the way, and send me a link if you can!

[andrewc2768]

nice job. artistry in motion

[ideasoner]

nice buld dude, working on my second retro fixie at the moment :)

[RoyalFilm]

Very, very beautiful. That bike looks amazing.

[POPPASHANGO]

@RoyalFilm Thanks for the comment!

[MrCzahn]

wow i just did this same thing. same bike same hub. reused more of the original parts. the only thing really different is i took an angle grinder to the chainring and then bolted the small ring back on :] brings back a lotta memories tho

[DpM134]

This is my all time favorite fixie.

[POPPASHANGO]

@DpM134 Hey thank you! 

[DpM134]

That turned out beautifully

[CeeEmmz]

hey just wondering did u have any problems with the sprockets? cuss im having a big ass problem with removing my sprockets for it doesnt come out single pieces like the other 12 speed bikes so do you have any tips? by changing them and reusing the original hub

[PeterQ9406]

did you wet sand it?

[UKxGREENY]

these bikes are a very nice ride even in a bad condition i found one in a skip but it got robbed :-(

[POPPASHANGO]

That sucks to have a bike stolen. I am going to make another sometime this year, but I have to generate to revenue first so I think my next couple of projects will be lowrider bikes. But I do want another fixed gear for my own.

[UKxGREENY]

it dose im going to buy my self a new mountin bike this sat treating my self as its my b day on the sunday :-) raleigh venture

[isledalfino]

how did you remove the cabe guides?

[POPPASHANGO]

Hi isledalfino. It was very easy. I used a Dremel with cut-off disk attachment. it took no more than a few seconds and was very precise. After I removed all the paint from the bike, I filled in any imperfections with body finishing filler and sanded the area smooth. I did this several times to cover any evidence that the fulcrums were there.

[kriegmeister3000]

I have a grand prix from the 70s. It is whiteand black with the cromed fork. This bike was a dumpster dive and now she shines and rides like the wind.

[meth062]

I had the white and black one too but i fixe dit up its a 76 i thnk, from england, turned it into a fixie, looks better than this i think...

[TheWavePainter]

How much did the dude buy the fixie from?

[TheWavePainter]

Looks great.....but loose the kick stand!

[kriegmeister3000]

I hate when people lay their bikes on the ground. It scratches them. Keep The Kickstand

[MASIFURI]

nice build man...there is no better way to ride...just lose the stand...haha keep up the good work check out my vids

[POPPASHANGO]

LOL... I think the guy that bought it took it off right away. I had to do it because I had 14 bikes in the garage and no place to put this one. So it was in the living room and the wife didn't want it leaning against the wall..lol.

[likeappletrees123]

what type of paint did you use again?

[POPPASHANGO]

I used Dupont Hot Hues Hot Rod Black HHM-6400. It is a satin black finish so not quite flat, but not too reflective.

[420witchdoctor]

Yeah, that wheel fit was cutting it pretty close, but all worked out and all the bugs are gone.

[420witchdoctor]

I think your bike complete weighs about the same as mine. It's a 1985 Trek 660.

[fordieform]

i SO dont convert frames anymore

get purpose built frames

but not at all to say your work was not amazing

great job

did i see a brake lever?

-hero

[POPPASHANGO]

Thanks for the comment. I did put a Salsa inline brake lever because in some places it is illegal to have a bike without some sort of brake. Since I had put it up for sale, I put the brake on. But you are right about the frame... purpose built frames are much easier to deal with! Thanks again.

[floaushamburg]

what kind of base (white do you use)

[POPPASHANGO]

I used a DuPont automotive primer and DuPonts' Hot Hues Hot Rod Black for the final coat. It's a little pricey abouot $80 a quart. But I can shoot about 8 to 10 bikes with it. It takes about a half hour to get full coverage waiting about 15 minutes for a tack coat. More work than just rattle canning it, but the results are outstanding on bicycle. Check out the Sears Hi Riser on my other RogueSphere video. I also used an automotive paint and it looks great! Thanks for the question!

[RICExCRISPY]

intense music hell yeah!

[78hiwatts]

nicely done. what size frame is that? I'm looking at buying an identical Gran Prix.

[POPPASHANGO]

Hey Thanks, here are the finished details.

1980 Raleigh Grand Prix

Bike Weight 22.4 lbs

59cm (23.25) frame

Finished ground clearance 10.5

Ground to top of seat tube Approx. 85cm (33)

[BEAVV50]

good vid !! stupid music haha

[POPPASHANGO]

I know! The music has been YouTubed!

[BEAVV50]

clean vid tho bro!

[zeppelingroupie13]

Beautiful :)

[POPPASHANGO]

Thank you for the compliment!

[kidneyscraper]

Thats a sick build. If i had the skills i would do the same sort of thing to my 1970 something Raleigh Record Ace

[POPPASHANGO]

You have to start somewhere scraper! Find something you can fiddle with. Try out some different looks. That's how I started....just goofing around with some old bikes. In my other vid, I have an old CCM bike that I refurbished into a board tracker style bike. I also converted it from a 10 speed to a single speed bike. That bike was a fun project that came out great. That project happened because I was bored, waiting for another projects paint to dry..lol.

[craig1974]

I seen the before photos, and the rear rim that was on it did not look like the original.

[POPPASHANGO]

Hey Craig! I was looking at the sales catalog for Raleigh in that time period and it does look like the same rear wheel.... however, where I acquired this bike was the co-op. It's like a "Pick-A-Part" for bicycles. Someone could have been trying to piece together this bike and then decided not to keep it. We will never know...lol.

[craig1974]

Come to think of it i think that rim might be original because i just picked up a Raleigh Super Record at the thrift for 8 dollars that has that exact freewheel, and spoke guard.

[JuggleAddict]

: ( as much as it's a shame to see everything on the bike get thrown out, it's a beautiful bike.

[POPPASHANGO]

Hi JuggleAddict.....no worries.....I keep everything and use it on other projects...or donate to the local bicycle co op. I am all about keeping them on the road and out of the dump. Thanks for the compliment!

[fuzzfiles]

Your paint job is uneven and you covered the headbadge...

[POPPASHANGO]

The headbadge was thrashed the photos doesn't show it, but the lettering on the badge was so worn down you could hardly read it. Still trying to see what you are seeing in regards to the paint. Perhaps you think is should shine, but it's a satin black. It's between flat and gloss. It's easy to shoot on a car. But shooting a bike is very difficult because there are no flat surfaces. Also with satin colors you can't color sand or even wax the color or you will remove the flattening effect. Thanks

[fuzzfiles]

It's probably the video quality, but it looked light in spots. I bet it's sweet to ride though, I love my Raleigh.

[POPPASHANGO]

You are right ...I see them too. It's dust that was kicking up that day. We had some wind gusting and it was in the back alley. But thanks for the props. Raleighs are great. I just picked up a Sprint, which I don't know what I am going to yet. And I have a Raleigh Sports and I believe a Superbe that will be restoration projects that are coming soon. Toss up a vid of yours, I'd like to see it!

[JJO5656]

is this a vertical drop out? how did you deal with that? did you just guess the ratio for the components?

[POPPASHANGO]

The older Raleigh's all have horizontal dropouts so it was as easy as finding the right chain length.

[POPPASHANGO]

Since this was the first fixed gear I have made I had to do some research. I am not keeping it (I'm going to sell her) I wanted to make it what the general opinion was for an all around road bike. Keeping the 52T chainring, I installed a 19T Surly track cog. The result gave me a 2.7 gear ratio at 71.9 gear inches. The offshoot was I also obtained 19 skid patches which would prolong the tyre life.

[battledmg]

Nice work, but I think I preferred it with gears more..

[POPPASHANGO]

Thank you! It was going to be a single speed coaster brake originally, but I could not find a coaster brake hub that fit the dimensions of the bike. So I went with a fixed gear after I had sold another single speed conversion and the buyer asked if I had any fixed gears.