Raleigh 531 Team Banana replica

8valve

Raleigh 531 Race frameset, refinished in the Banana team livery, with decals from H Lloyds in the UK.


As-found pic included for transparency.



This frame is 531, not 531C, as the original Bananas were, which left the Nottingham factory.


23.5 inch frame.


Mixed generation Shimano 600 groupset, all in perfect working order, including hand polished aero seatpost and 600AX handlebar stem (cap alone for stem cost me 20 feckin quid, as I'm a stickler for little details!!) and NOS 600-tricolour aero brake levers.


New tyres, tubes, chain, cables, housings.


Ready to ride and be enjoyed.


€450.

8valve

shiny details...

endacl

Nice. Too short for me, but niiiiiiice.

fat bloke

You're doing God's work!!

I know I've asked a million times, and I will again, what's the conversion from the old X-inch frame sizes to the current system, or perhaps it's not that straight forward? - 54/56/58

That one above looks tall to my eye - like 58 or 60, but then the stem looks short ish.

fat bloke

https://www.cyclebasket.com/info/sizing-and-positioning-guide.php

Would you concur with the above? According to that 23-24 is 5 11 to 6 1.

magicbastarder

fat bloke wrote: »

You're doing God's work!!

I know I've asked a million times, and I will again, what's the conversion from the old X-inch frame sizes to the current system

i don't think there's a current system, which is the issue; it's more that there are multiple systems, often unique to specific manufacturers. the old system was more predictable. the old rule of thumb i can remember was two thirds your inside leg measurement. which (thankfully, in a sense) rules out all of 8valve's bikes for me...

8valve

fat bloke wrote: »

https://www.cyclebasket.com/info/sizing-and-positioning-guide.php

Would you concur with the above? According to that 23-24 is 5 11 to 6 1.

The golden rule of measurement that we were taught in the 80s, when I raced as a teenager, was your inside leg minus 12.5 inches gave you your frame size.


Frame sizes have been generally sized down over the last couple of decades, with modern sloping top tube frame geometries (as opposed to traditional top tubes parallel with the ground), so everyone gets hung up on a bike being 5mm to big or small!



I was tall and lanky, with a 34 inch leg, so 34 minus 12.5 gives you 23.5 inches, which is the frame size I was always told to ride by my elders and betters.



Realistically, this bike could be comfortably ridden by anyone from 5'10'' to 6'2'', with adjustment to the saddle and stem height. It's a vintage steel bike, so it's not going to be used for 200k long-haul spins; it'll be for sunny days with plenty coffee stops and generally spinning around with a big happy nostalgic grin on your face

CoBo55

That's feckin gorgeous!! Unfortunately 23" is too big for my little Irishman's legs...

cyclocross!

Actually I will take this at asking price instead of the Panasonic.

MojoMaker

8valve wrote: »

I was tall and lanky, with a 34 inch leg, so 34 minus 12.5 gives you 23.5 inches, which is the frame size I was always told to ride by my elders and betters.

21.5" is your size you mean? or the 12.5 inch rule is off.

Or your leg length is off :pac:

One of the above.

8valve

MojoMaker wrote: »

21.5" is your size you mean? or the 12.5 inch rule is off.

Or your leg length is off :pac:

One of the above.

excuse my maths, inside leg minus 10.5 inches is the correct piece of string, yardstick formula.:D

fat bloke

Whats the top tube measuring at 8valve?

at1withmyself

Love following your work 8valve, this one in particular as the cheaper banana (non 531) was my first ever road bike about 30 years ago. Great memories but even then the 21" version was too big for me so this is way out of my league size wise. Good luck with the sale.

8valve

Bike is now sold. Thanks all, for your kind comments.

I'm glad ye enjoy the restorations..

CramCycle

8valve wrote: »

Bike is now sold. Thanks all, for your kind comments.

I'm glad ye enjoy the restorations..

Thank **** it was sold by the time I seen it, I couldn't afford it but I wanted it.

cyclocross!

Top quality bike. Thanks 8valve.

8valve

cyclocross! wrote: »

Top quality bike. Thanks 8valve.

I try to restore every bike to a standard that I am happy to own.

Delighted to see it gone to a good home.

Well wear, and thank you!

ARX

Nice bike cyclocross!

MojoMaker

When are we having the big vintage meetup in Dublin?

ARX

MojoMaker wrote: »

When are we having the big vintage meetup in Dublin?

1986 :pac:

cyclocross!

Cant wait to rock up to a coffee spin on it.

cyclocross!

cyclocross! wrote: »

Cant wait to rock up to a coffee spin on it.

Will probably be 2029 by the time that happens!

8valve

Will I be building bikes for all the members of this new retro club?

sy_flembeck

8valve wrote: »

Will I be building bikes for all the members of this new retro club?

Well I won't lie to you, I'd have been all over this one myself but cyclocross was quicker on the draw. Well wear, looks great

eeeee

8valve wrote: »

Will I be building bikes for all the members of this new retro club?

Yes. One size down from this one would be great

8valve

eeeee wrote: »

Yes. One size down from this one would be great

Duly noted!

eeeee

8valve wrote: »

Duly noted!

The equivalent of a 54 ta :pac: