maintaining older 5 speed bike

[deckertim]

My son is looking for a touring bike and has come across a bargain in his LBS. It is probably 80s (a Raleigh Pursuit). This has a 5 speed derailler and a double at the front. How easy are spare parts to come by. I presume that brand new parts won't be available.
He is only looking to pay about £50, so doesn't want to get saddled with a load of extra expense if it needs work.

Thanks, Tim

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Spare parts are plentiful. SJS Cycles stock virtually everything you are likely to need. E-Bay is also a good source of older parts. New and used.

 

[Zoiders]

The Pursuit came at different price points and specs and the very very basic one was so cheap and nasty it was a BSO.

If it's got steel rims and the "carbon steel" frame I would avoid it.

 

[gbb]

The Pursuit came at different price points and specs and the very very basic one was so cheap and nasty it was a BSO.

If it's got steel rims and the "carbon steel" frame I would avoid it.

As you say, best avoid the steel, especially chrome rims.

But TBF DT, if he wants to tour, probably not the best bike, but if he just wants a runaround, these old Raleighs just go on and on. Ive just rebuilt an old Raleigh ladies racer for the wife, 18-23 steel frame, probably as base as they get, but the components (Huret derailleur) and steel cranks can last for what seems like forever. She is quite happy when you consider the cost. £50 ? it will probably still be running long long after cheap modern bikes. It wont be a stunner, it wont be fast, but on a budget, you can do much worse.

 

[subaqua]

As you say, best avoid the steel, especially chrome rims.

But TBF DT, if he wants to tour, probably not the best bike, but if he just wants a runaround, these old Raleighs just go on and on. Ive just rebuilt an old Raleigh ladies racer for the wife, 18-23 steel frame, probably as base as they get, but the components (Huret derailleur) and steel cranks can last for what seems like forever. She is quite happy when you consider the cost. £50 ? it will probably still be running long long after cheap modern bikes. It wont be a stunner, it wont be fast, but on a budget, you can do much worse.

the old raleighs do indeed go on for ever, if looked after a little.

I found my brothers raleigh Milk race in my dads shed last october. it had been there for 20 years . i pumped the tyres up gave it a squirt of WD40 on the front and rear mech and it rode quite well. all Huret derailleurs and an SR crankset. sadly on closer inspection there was a rather large crack around the bottom bracket and when giving it some welly later that day the BB fell off.

my old phantom still rides well despite living outside and only getting a annual lube and wipedown with GT85/WD40.

 

[swee'pea99]

Spare parts are cheap as chips and there's a plentiful supply on ebay. What's more, an old Raleigh, even a not particularly good one, probably won't go wrong much, so long as you give it a very basic level of TLC. Oil moving parts occasionally, eg. What can cost is having to pay someone else to work on it. So long as he knows one end of a spanner from another and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty, he'll be ok.

 

[ralary]

just buy a handsome bike for the first time,then he can learn to build their own bikes

 

[Hilldodger]

If it's got Raleigh threads it will be an arse to upgrade and decent 5 speed blocks are almost impossible to get. And 6's are difficult, too.