Is it Time to Put a Bullet in the Old Horse

I am very sad today as I think I have to put my bicycle out of its misery.  Its a 28 year old Raleigh Aleyseka.   It has shown great service.  I purchased it new and had many years of great riding.   Last night, I hit a pot hole.   Then it suddenly felt "loose".  I thought I had hurt a wheel.   I looked back and saw when I pushed on the peddle, the wheel wobbled.  Okay.  A Wheel.  So I got off and looked at the wheel.  It looked fine.  Then I saw the problem.   The right chainstay right at the drop out had broken.  

I assume, at this point, that the bicycle is "dead" as all of my research says this is not easily fixable (and certainly not worth fixing on a 28 year old Reynolds Steel Frame with old components).

So, what do I do.   Should I take it to working bikes?    Should I strip off some components and take it to working bikes (likely very little is usable....   the derailleurs are old, the brakes are cantilever, the handlebars are an "out-of-date" road shape. )  Should I strip off some of the components and put it in the alley?  Should I find a way to keep it?    Should I fix it?

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Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on June 19, 2014 at 6:09am

Having the chainstay replaced on a lugged frame is pretty simple and cheap.  It's cheaper than replacing the bike, I guess it depends on how you feel about all that.

Marc

Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on June 19, 2014 at 6:14am

Thanks for all the advice.  Divvy's not a good option as it hasn't gotten to where I go.    What I am going to do is to take a Trek Frame that I have (1980's) and finish my conversion of it to 700 cc.  I have just been slow in getting this done. As I see it, all I really need to make the conversion are two 700 cc wheels (one with a cluster on the back) and two new long reach brakes.  Right now it has only one working brake and it isn't long enough to reach a 700 cc wheel and the other brake is dead.  I guess I could just get another long reach brake, install it.  Take the wheels from the Raleigh (and one of them is actually from the Trek.... the conversion is the result of running out of old working 27 inch wheels, the desire to run different tires in the bad weather, and the front brake failure) and put them on the Trek for now. 

And I am going to at least get a quote from a frame builder for the chainstay on the other.  My desire has always been to have two working bicycles with different tire sets for different conditions.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 19, 2014 at 10:03am

Stop by Working Bikes and dig through their piles of parts.  They've got a ton of used components, including wheels, for very reasonable prices.

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 19, 2014 at 1:14pm
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 19, 2014 at 1:31pm

"An allen wrench is tucked under the seat"

lolz

Matt M. 18.5KM said:

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 19, 2014 at 2:04pm

Portage.  >>sniff :-|

http://www.ebay.com/itm/raleigh-portage-touring-bike-shimano-xt-dee...

$1050 Portage. >>tears

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Raleigh-Portage-touring-bike-/181438246634?...

James BlackHeron said:

"An allen wrench is tucked under the seat"

lolz

Matt M. 18.5KM said:

Permalink Reply by mark stetson on June 20, 2014 at 11:39am

I love bikes like this.  The majority of my mileage in the last two years has been split between a Columbus tubed Nishiki with Veloce 10, a Trek 400 (Levi's) with SRAM 10, and a 1985 Cannondale T400 with Shimano 7 and bar end shifters.  The Nishiki has no rack mounts, the Trek rear only, the 'Dale front and rear.  They all ride and handle nicely and will fit wide tires.

If I'd owned the Raleigh for 28 years I'd have a hard time abandoning it.   I don't know what it would cost to replace the stay (probably should do both while it's apart), but I would consider it. 

 

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 20, 2014 at 4:14pm
Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on June 23, 2014 at 4:46am

Apparently I like good older frames.  I took my early Trek multispeed and put it back into service.    Uh....   it turns out that it has a lugged frame and is made of Tange tubing.  I also saw that my third old frame (a Lotus Challenger) which needs a new headset and fork is also a lugged frame made from Tange 900/1000 tubing....   

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 28, 2014 at 7:34am
Anybody tried linear pull brakes in a 27" to 700c conversion?
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 28, 2014 at 8:56am
http://www.paulcomp.com/motolite.html



Matt M. 18.5KM said:
Anybody tried linear pull brakes in a 27" to 700c conversion?
Permalink Reply by slatfats on June 28, 2014 at 10:27am

I own this bike in the 21" (measured as 21 1/2"). Mine was made in 84-86, I believe. I've done a lot of research in attempts to slowly upgrade and refurbish the bike. 

So, per the 700c conversion, I discovered this: http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/416822-raleigh-alyeska-ow...

I also to confirm before upgrading to some nice Velocity 700s I went ahead and threw a 700c wheel in the rear dropout and it seemed to fit fine with the stock brakes. But those stock brake spring holes are reversed so most modern brakes won't actually work. I've been told by my local mechanic that there are some BMX/V brake options, but it's good to know if you're trying to upgrade/update stuff. That said, the stock brakes have worked fine for me. 





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