Road Cycling Essentials

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the only way to take out scratches in my experience is to go progressively finer

if you've gone too far, it'll be off to the rechromers for you.
 
Saytan said:
the only way to take out scratches in my experience is to go progressively finer

if you've gone too far, it'll be off to the rechromers for you.
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I've looked up the price of rechroming and it's a bit prohibitive!! Thanks though!! :) They are very fine scratches from using the medium wire wool so hopefully I'll be able to mask them using a very very fine wire wool and decent metal polish. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information on chrome restoration on the web!!
 
Hamster said:
I've looked up the price of rechroming and it's a bit prohibitive!! Thanks though!! :) They are very fine scratches from using the medium wire wool so hopefully I'll be able to mask them using a very very fine wire wool and decent metal polish. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information on chrome restoration on the web!!
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If you've completely ruined it, you could try chrome spray paint. Its not as good as proper chrome tho, so should be a last resort if you cant fix the scratches.
 
touch said:
If you've completely ruined it, you could try chrome spray paint. Its not as good as proper chrome tho, so should be a last resort if you cant fix the scratches.
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Thanks. I've just nipped over to Tesco and bought some Peek metal polish and will get some fine wire wool tomorrow and test it on a little bit of the scratched chrome. It's not really bad, just very light scratches that show up when the light is shining at the wrong angle! I was thinking about using T-Cut metal polish if the Peek and wire wool doesn't work but don't know if that's a great idea as I don't really want to remove the chrome completely!!

I forgot to take loads of pictures when I first started but this is the state of the chrome:

kbdr9i.jpg


And this is the front mudguard and brake which was in a similar state that I cleaned up:

30ucuhl.jpg
 
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Hamster said:
Quick non-road cycling related one for our resident restoration expert Jonny69 or others in the know.
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Hahaha :p

Hamster said:
I'm restoring a MK2 chopper at the moment.

Do you know a good place to get the odd Raleigh nut and other little bits I may need?

Also what have you found works best on pitted rusty chrome? At the moment I'm using medium grade wire wool with brasso but I'm sure there's better stuff that I could be using.

Not sure whether to go ahead with a frame respray yet; going to make a call on that once the bike is a bit shinier.
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If you mean the nuts with the red Raleigh R on them, they can be quite difficult to find. eBay is probably your best bet. In the meantime I'd just borrow some bits off another bike because all the threads are the same.

Looking at your pics, it looks like the chrome on the rack is too far gone to polish back up. Wire wool shouldn't scratch chrome, because chrome is a lot harder. I use Autosol or Unipol to polish stuff, but when it's in the sort of condition as yours I normally polish it the once and give it a regular wipe with an oily rag to maintain the patina rather than let it get any worse. Same for the paintwork. Clean engine oil and a bit of grease works a treat or both my Bob Jackson and my old RSW.
 
Jonny69 said:
If you mean the nuts with the red Raleigh R on them, they can be quite difficult to find. eBay is probably your best bet. In the meantime I'd just borrow some bits off another bike because all the threads are the same.
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Yes, I was thinking about some of the red R nuts and also need an old imperial cotter pin for one of the cranks. Someone donated an old Shopper this morning and I may take them off that and use them. I've had a look at ebay. Looks like people are trying to make quite a lot of cash from their old Raleigh bits!

Jonny69 said:
Looking at your pics, it looks like the chrome on the rack is too far gone to polish back up. Wire wool shouldn't scratch chrome, because chrome is a lot harder. I use Autosol or Unipol to polish stuff, but when it's in the sort of condition as yours I normally polish it the once and give it a regular wipe with an oily rag to maintain the patina rather than let it get any worse. Same for the paintwork. Clean engine oil and a bit of grease works a treat or both my Bob Jackson and my old RSW.
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I had another proper look at the parts that I cleaned up the other day and the scratches aren't nearly as bad as I thought they were. I think I imagined them worse somehow! I've got the Peek stuff from Tesco which is supposed to be similar to Autosol but you're right, I don't think I should expect miracles from what I have to work with. Will just do the best I can.

Thanks for your advice :)
 
On another note, first time I rode with my RSP Astrum tonight and I've got back home and I'm left with just the bracket. Damn thing must have fallen off on my way home. I did wedge some paper underneath the light as it wasn't too secure (as a lot of you have mentioned the Astrum is with yours) but it doesn't seem to have worked. Do you reckon it would be cheeky of me to complain to Raleigh and ask for a replacement?!!
 
Lead_Head said:
Hi mate, in case you think I'm being rude and not saying thanks the bracket hasn't arrived as of yet. Will let you know once it has...
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Crap, forgot to send it, really sorry! :( Off to the Post Office tomorrow so will try and find it.

Hamster said:
On another note, first time I rode with my RSP Astrum tonight and I've got back home and I'm left with just the bracket. Damn thing must have fallen off on my way home. I did wedge some paper underneath the light as it wasn't too secure (as a lot of you have mentioned the Astrum is with yours) but it doesn't seem to have worked. Do you reckon it would be cheeky of me to complain to Raleigh and ask for a replacement?!!
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Same happened to me, let me know how you get on.
 
One More Solo said:
Same happened to me, let me know how you get on.
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I will do. It's the first light that's ever fallen off my bike and after looking at posts on different forums, loads of people have lost theirs similarly. I used to live within walking distance of the Raleigh factory growing up in Nottingham, had many relatives work for them and always had Raleigh bikes when I was a kid so I hope they don't ruin my nostalgia!
 
[DOD]Asprilla;21489936 said:
Unfortunately it's a common occurance with those lights. Poor design.
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Shame really as it's got a really nice output. I'm sure Raleigh are aware of the issue. How difficult is it to design it with a firm solid connection with the bracket like most other lights have had for decades? Will give them a call on Monday to see what they have to say. Back to the trusty Cateye for now.
 
My raleigh light set was pretty poor, the rep sold us them aswell the nob.

Back one just fell straight off it's backing cover thing, front just stopped working.

I also broke my ebay light charger! Would be aswell get an xposure light tbh, the rear is really bright.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;21490228 said:
I've got Exposure lights all round now. Expensive, but worth it.
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I was looking at the Redeye and the Flare and was surprised at the price for the quality. I honestly hought Exposure lights were far more expensive. If I don't get any joy getting the Raleigh replaced, I'll consider one of them. Not got my saddlebag yet but I'm not sure if it can be fitted nicely to the seatpost as I don't have many inches exposed (ooer!)

JonnyM, do you know which supplier does Exposure?
 
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Picked up new to me road bike today.

Giant Defy Alliance 1 2010.

Also got a Giro helmet in matching colours, fitted with Alex Rims on Novatec hubs including tyres and cassette, came with original Shimano wheels/cassette/tyres too. Maxxis rubber fitted too.

October was the last time I swung a leg over a bike, so this was a bit of a shocker. Hottest day in quite a while, the temperature isn't so bad, but out in the sun its scorching. Silly me thought just a spin round town after lunch would be fine, ended up dying of thirst and feeling sick from having eaten too recently.

IMAG0051.jpg


Going to order a Jersey, Shorts, couple of bottles to go with and try and get some fitness back.

My stuff from the UK should arrive end of May/June so I'll have my MTB then for some winter trail action :D
 
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