Blue Streak(s) Beater Build

Named not after the missile – rather – the paint residue on the top tube that leaves linear blue imprints on one's pelvic girdle.

Loitered abroad, now I’m back home. So, I need a cheap and cheerful pub/commuter/beater/pubemuter/compubeater/copubter bike.

Picked this up for very little from a lovely chap on gumtree (Francesc, you here?)

Immediately, I needs to make it ridable:

1. Replace bars with Nitto B260AA from @𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐙𝐄 / may also get a new quill.
   
2. Attach new Dia Comp “vintage style” brake levers from @jackfm to ~match the original one on the bike.
   
3. I’ll throw a pair of silver Shimano Tiagra BR-4400's on to replace the flabby Weinmann.
   
   

What else:

1. RW wobbles about .5cm side to side (1cm total), and the brake surfaces are almost gone. Need new wheels.
   
2. I have enough clearance for 700x28, so new(ish) tyres?
   
3. Short silver seat post to replace the ridiculous long one in the ST.
   
4. Chainset/BB – can’t decide whether to keep the original raleigh chainring or to replace BB and chainset for something more modern. I have spare cranks and rings, but need to measure size & threading of BB first.
   
5. Apply rust sealant / rustoleum to parts of the frame.
   
6. Remove the bike pump bosses under the top tube. Any advice – @mariofuckinghantous didn’t you do this with my ex-BSA?
   
   

Accoutrements:

1. Eventually find a silver front rack. I like the look of the Surly 24 pack and the Velo Orange Porteur.
   
2. Silver bottle cages.
   
3. Silver dingbell.
   
4. Silver silver silver.
   
   

Total budget for the whole project is ~£100, so anybody with anything matching the above willing to let it go for cheap/free/beer, please PM. I’ll also be posting a Wanted advert soon.

Also if anyone has radder ideas let me know. Apologies for the dull pics for now.

2 Attachments

Haha! Love it. The purple wheels are mad.

Please sort the brakes before you even ride that thing; no front and Weinmanns. I think they're affectionately referred to as "Widowmakers".

A hacksaw would sort those pump mounts but then I've got a bit of a reputation on here for cutting tools and frames.

used a hacksaw, then sanded/filed them down nicely. good luck with the build!

I rode it, once, cautiously to get it home. Widowmakers they are. Turns out my front shimano brake bolt is too short, so I need to find a solution / a different pair of brakes.

I’ll take a hacksaw to the bosses over the weekend.