TomvanHalen's tourer - Raleigh 853 (sick flames ITT)

I've come to that point in every cyclist's life where I want to buy a leather saddle and some panniers and do some touring, starting with a jaunt around Wales in May.

I was going to half-arse it on my Pompetamine or try and convert my Kuwahara beater but inspired by the many rad/hip/on-trend builds on here (see: Spotter's CdF, Paradroid's Donohue 559, Hulsroy's shenanigans, Ed's everything) and all the fashionable wank á la the Radavist and UltraRomance, the goal is a middleweight all-road tourer. I need to buy stuff to offset all the tax I'd be paying on my couriering income anyway. So, list:

• Frame that isn't expensive/heavy/a Surly
  
• Big floaty rubber
  
• Front loading
  
• 1x9 gearing
  
• Mudguards
  
• Dirt drops
  
• Beard
  
  

I decided if I found something suitable I'd sell the Pomp to fund this, so I did what any sensible person would do and bought a NOS 1999 Raleigh 853 MTB frame. This will 100% work

I'm not actually nuts though. The geometry for this frame takes a funny turn in the largest size - the 73 ST/71 HT becomes 72/71.5. I did the calculations, and based on the period Marzocchi/SID a-c of 420-430mm, a reduction of 30mm puts the angles and bottom bracket drop at perfectly suitable angles using a normal 390-400mm touring fork.

So that in mind, I think this is actually a good candidate for a 650B conversion. Maybe not the easiest, but for £140 it's rare, handbuilt 853 with massive clearances, toughness to spare and a ridiculous paint job. Should be fun. Frame arrives Tuesday.

Also: Help

This thread might offer you a lot of inspiration. Adding disc brake mount on the rear and a Surly or steel custom fork would be rad. Wouldn't MTB wheels (26") keep things easier/cheaper?

Nice project, shall follow.

What's the general concencus on adding disk mounts to old frames? That its ok for the frame but a new fork is needed?

^^ I remember seeing that thread a while back! So many great bikes.

26" would be easier, certainly that's how I'll be mocking it up to test the fit, but it's the combination of fantastic lightweight 38-42mm tyres and similar circumference to 700x23 that makes 650B desirable. I've got 700x38 on the Pompetamine at the moment, and really it's starting to get too unwieldy. Difficult to fit 'guards too.

^ Pretty much, yeah. The stays benefit from bracing as well I think

The current plan is cantis - Tektro CR720s are supposed to have enough adjustment to cope. Maybe eventually a full disc conversation and more braze-ons but I want to avoid any major modification for the moment, and discs means faff fitting mudguards and racks

I'm so glad you bought that, I found it on ebay and put it on the ebay finds thread. Was very tempted. It's awesome :)

subbed - saw @winnifred1849 post that in the ebay thread and was tempted... looking to do something similar (with an 853 rock lobster) once I get through my backlog of current projects.
I am thinking 26" will be easier, and may run a front disc brake (since I am changing it over to a rigid fork anyways), but I'd be happy to hear from your experiences of an 853 MTB conversion...

It came up as a suggested item underneath a Kalkhoff Columbus Max OR trekking frame I was considering, and I couldn't resist!

To provide me with some inspiration, I treated myself to a bunch of bargainous Gilles Berthoud mudguards and some nice panniers from Planet X.

First job however is finding some forks, getting them installed and working out the fit. What are my options besides Soma and Surly?

Thorn, from sjs.

Seems a decent amount of choice, but a marked lack of a-c measurements on some of them is a pain. Danke!

It arrived! With absolutely zero padding, which was extraordinarily trusting in Yodel, but nothing seems dented thank fuck. It's a stunner though, the yellow is slightly pearlescent.

So, other things I need to source:

• Midge bars
  
• Dura-Ace bar end
  
• Middleburn cranks, or something else tasty
  
• Brooks Team Pro, maybe
  
• Surly Nice Rack/similar
  
  

Also, recommend me some good 650B rims?

+1 for middleburn! frame looks amazing

Midge bars

Alpkit has a similarly priced alternative . Hard to tell from the photos how similar the shape is, different finish at least.

Interesting project, will follow.

If you download the Thorn mega catalogue there's full (and more accurate) a2c measurements for all the forks they do.

^^ Seems a good shout, though if the measurements are to be believed they're a little longer and deeper than the midges. Possibly it's the same bar and they're rounding up though.

^ Much more handy, thanks!

Subbed. Hovered over the BIN button on eBay myself, true story. Looking forward to this.

by amazing coincidence this is also exactly what i want to build for some round the world adventure touring. been keeping my eye on some of the retro mtb's on ebay too...

Dunno if he had anything to do with the bars but I believe Brant who designed the midges and lots of on-one/P-X bikes designed the Alpkit bikes.

p.s. love the project: had stashed an old Apine Stars hybrid in work, waiting for an opportunity and the funds to get some bits machined, for a similar project and someone skipped it on me. Must start keeping an eye out for something to else.

Subbed - dead interested in this!

Skipping an Alpinestars? Sad times. Sounds like I'm lucky no-one nabbed this before I did - hooray for early-morning impulse geometry calculating/buying.

Now, the hardest decision. Finishing kit - silver or black? Or silver AND black?

This is the BikeCAD I mocked up anyway.

1 Attachment

Sad times indeed and I didn't realise until after it was long gone. You would have thought someone might have asked as I'm te only one around here with even a passing interest in bikes. It would have been a total ball ache of a project due to random proprietary sizing on stem/steerer and seat tube but worth it for what would have been an awesome beast when it was done. Alas no more.

All the black things to let those flames pop!

Shinies!

The general bundle of stuff I have purchased also includes another set of RS7 cranks, ISIS splined, with an Uno 34t ring that will go on this. The triple will go on my girlfriend's bike. Considering mine will take more of a beating, what's going to be best, ISIS or square taper?

Other things that are on the way:

Surly LHT forks
Midge bars
Skully-chopped Brooks Team Pro
Tektro CR720 cantis and Kool-Stop dual compound pads

Much excite

Also, I've never had to actually buy a 1 1/8" threadless headset before. What the hell do I get?

Cane Creek 10? 40? Ritchey Logic Comp? WCS? One of the million fucking FSA Orbits? Should it be gold anodised?

Genuine question, the Orbit MX headsets in gold and red are only £21 from Triton rather than £50.

I'm not getting a Chris King.

Orbit MX for £20 in black at planet x if you prefer to keep it subtle. I have had one for 2 years on my commuter and it's been perfect so far
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/HSFSOMX/fsa-orbit-mx-headset

Ah, handy. I'm still slightly put off by the fact that it has FSA written on it though.