Raleigh - not such a winner, help needed!

Hi all... I recently purchased a 1980s Raleigh road bike know as 'The winner' from ebay, be nice! Was a mission getting it shipped and I was very excited when it eventually arrived, but...

The listing wasnt very clear so didnt know the model etc, or what I was getting but thought I'd take a punt...turns out it's not that great..

I still think it looks alright and would like to salvage something out of it so thought I'd turn to the people of fgss to help me get it up and running. I want to try and keep things cheap as guessing it's never going to be worth anything, but would be nice to give it some life on the cheap

I have taken to it with the wire wool and it is now rust free, but still have some major problems

First things first the rear wheel is fairly buckled...still turns, but pretty horrible to ride. Do people recommend I try and fix this, or see if I can blag a replacement wheel on here? Took it to a local bike shop, they said it might be fixable as the spokes are pretty loose, but after 5mins in there I realised no way I could trust these guys with my bike (wanted £18 and if they couldnt fix it were going to force me to buy a new wheel!!)... Any advice very welcome

Secondly what would bring about the best improvement as I think even once the rear wheel is sorted it will still feel like riding through treacle, or into a gale...

OK will leave it there...thanks for reading!!

(have uploaded a photo for the curious amongst you!)

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Most people on here can true wheels fairly quickly - myself included. You could turn up to one of the drinks and ask someone to bring a spoke key. Or PM me if you want to come over to my house.

Alternatively, go to one of the LCC workshops in your borough. I help to run the Tower Hamlets one.

Judging from the photo this bike is perfectly repairable and has many miles left in it.

more photos would help, specially some shots from the back of the bike to try and get an idea of the wheel truing situation.

Firstly, might I suggest you try one of these:

Firstly, might I suggest you try one of these:

Well thats just, like... your opinion, man.

sorry. I love that film.

I just re-read your and my post. Well, maybe it isn't quite as easy as I assumed. Just come to one of the drinks and let someone have a look at it.

That would certainly be great if someone on here can fix in exchange for a beer!!

I had another look this morning....certainly isnt that bad that you would be able to see the buckle visably in pics pajamas...

More worringly is that there is a lot of play on the rear wheel, ie you can move it side to side about a cm...

As I said before I am concerned that the bike is still not going to be very smooth...do I need to be thinking about new hubs/new wheels?

Thanks!

More worringly is that there is a lot of play on the rear wheel, ie you can move it side to side about a cm...

It could be that your cones that aren't tight. It's a 5-minute job to repair that. I think you should try that before you buy a new wheel.

I had one a little like this for a while. Worked absolutely fine once I'd got rid of a lot of excess weight and I had many fun times on it. I'd recommend new wheels though, the ones on it aren't very good and a nicer pair will make it much nicer to ride...

It does sound like it might be the cones... do you think this is something I should attempt myself? Or do I really need these cone spanners?

But I think you might be right stonster...what do you think I need to be spending to replace wheels? Any suggestions?

£18 for wheel truing is pretty standard for a bike shop.

Are you intending to convert to fixed wheel? If you are, might as well try to pick up a 2nd hand one on here; should cost around £40, depending on quality and condition.

ahhh i had a raleigh winner when i was 11. rode it up a kerb and buckled the front wheel the first day i had it. my mum went mental at me. loved that bike.

sorry.

carry on.

Might be standard but it pretty expensive when they wont guarentee they can fix it and they insist that if they can't you buy a new wheel for £40 that really wont fit they style of the bike etc. I think you get the idea...

My long term plan is to convert it to fixed but....and some people might think this is ridiculous...I am doing a 40km road race (a part of a triathlon for charity) in June and I think it'd be great to do it on a vintage bike...yeah I'm an idiot! Besides it's looking pretty unrealistic at the moment

Well, as I said, just get yourself to one of drinks and ask in the relevant thread for someone to bring the tools (spoke key, cone spanner). Or go to your local LCC workshop, which is also free.

Just get going.

You should buy some tools. £30 will get you a cheap tool kit with most commonly need items. Fixing a bike is not hard you just have to get on with it.

Might be standard but it pretty expensive when they wont guarentee they can fix it

Not really, as you're paying for their time to work on the wheel.

I have a pair of wheels that are probably the same age/quality/condition, though both straight - have them if you want. They are heading for the bin other wise...

PM sent

Legend!!

My long term plan is to convert it to fixed but....and some people might think this is ridiculous...I am doing a 40km road race (a part of a triathlon for charity) in June and I think it'd be great to do it on a vintage bike...yeah I'm an idiot! Besides it's looking pretty unrealistic at the moment

I don't really think this is old enough to count as vintage yet... it's just old. Like a scruffy car. Maybe it's now worth 2K if you trade up?

I recently bought a 'Rayleigh Flyer' from ebay for £30 for my first build.
I'm a big newb when it comes to fixed gear.
I would be creating a new post but i can't because of the rules!
After watching countless youtube videos on how to convert a road bike to fixed gear and reading Sheldon Brown's pages on converting to fixed gear over and over i think i no have the confidence to start!
I'm on a very very tight budget and looking to get maybe a rear wheel with white deep v's?
is that too much to ask on a small budget, of about £60 for the rear wheel?
I want to get this up and running asap!

I recently bought a 'Rayleigh Flyer' from ebay for £30 for my first build.
I'm a big newb when it comes to fixed gear.
I would be creating a new post but i can't because of the rules!
After watching countless youtube videos on how to convert a road bike to fixed gear and reading Sheldon Brown's pages on converting to fixed gear over and over i think i no have the confidence to start!
I'm on a very very tight budget and looking to get maybe a rear wheel with white deep v's?
is that too much to ask on a small budget, of about £60 for the rear wheel?
I want to get this up and running asap!

could be the foto, but the forks look very bent...

I thought that too, i should be receiving it in the next couple of days so i shall know then.
hopefully it's just the photo.

might be why it cost £30, if they're not seems like a bairgan

maybe, it didn't say anything about bent forks on the ebay listings.
but some people like to see what they can get away with!

actually another two posts and i'll post my own thread....