In this episode I’m building an awesome resto mid winter road bike, and a tribute to my big brothers bike of the 1980s!

The plan is to take a quality Reynolds 531 frame and make a resto mod Raleigh equipe replica that will handle winter riding.

Now I know I’m still using some carbon rims here – a bit Gucci for a winter trainer, but I was given them by Pickerings bikes, so I thought – why not!!

So grab a brew and settle in for a big build video, There’s paint, snapped bolts and all kinds of challenges on this one!

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14 Comments

  1. Lovely work, though I do have a twinge for the now hidden Galaxy! Had a Raleigh Competition 501 when I raced and later as a winter bike back in the late 80s. Great tough bike. Real survivor.

  2. looks amazing I have a 74 super course as my winter bike that I also built up as a resto mod. I just love the classic raleigh decals.

  3. The dawes is great. I did basically the same on a Horizon. Different Reynolds steel tubing but same geometry as the Galaxy. Both seat tube and top tube 72,5 angle. Pretty modern angles. And i love the fact that my large 64cm frame has a relatively short top tube. I ride mine with 36 mm tires. Makes for a great ride, love it. Yours is more beautiful i must say. Well done mate!

  4. I know, I know, you said it's your bike so you can do what you like with it! However , the fact that a Galaxy lurks beneath is niggling away at my brain despite a smart end-result. The important thing is that it's being kept on the road rather than gathering dust somewhere (or worse!), so I'll console myself with that thought as I tuck myself into bed tonight 😁.

    Looking forward to your next one, sir 👍 !

  5. A great looking bike. I did something similar as my winter bike using a British Eagle Touristique frameset (531ST similar to Galaxy). There is no beating full length properly fixed mudguards.A belated Happy New Year!

  6. I love such winter builds with full size mudguards. I have a similar one – a peugeot ferrara. A sturdy rig out of Columbus tubes which I've been trashing in all terrain only during winters for the last 10 years. the frame still holds on although last year I had to do some bodged paint touchups here and there as the rust started to chew it in. Storing it in a moist basement does not help too. I suppose it looks terrible on the inside but as long as it does not rust through I'll keep trashing it. I am also using cantilevers (xlc). They are all ok, but in no comparison to discs, all the more hydraulic ones. The only issue I have with them is the front fork falling into nasty back and forth vibrations under strong braking, but I was told this is typical for canti brakes as when applied they effectively bow the fork when the cable is pulled upwards and this is why v-brakes were invented.

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