Raleigh Scorpio Fixed Phase 2
Work has continued on the Scorpio over the last couple of weeks…
I’ve junked the rear brake, stuck on some flat bars with Oury grips (from Max Bikes in Keynsham) and a Dirt Harry brake lever. I also spent a long and frustrating time picking off all the stickers and decals, followed by an equally long and frustrating time with a tin of lighter fluid and paper towels rubbing off the gunk left behind by those stickers and decals. And I’m pretty pleased with my efforts!
There are some things that I’m not sure how to progress with, like the pivot from the rear brake being firmly stuck in the frame and apparently being constructed out of the hardest metal known to mankind. There are also some things I have decided to sort out as matters of urgency, such as new saddle and seatpost.
Generally speaking, though, I’m really pleased with it, and have been having a lot of fun learning to ride it. I feel much more confident on Bristol’s hilly streets now I’ve got a brake-lever that is more easily accessible and works a bit better than the pair of cheap old Weinmann levers that were on it before. Watch this space for further enhancements!
11 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 11, 2008 at 9:28 pm
yozza
Mate, this looks amazing now. Very jealous of what has become a wicked little project to resurrect a classic. The paintjob looks in pretty good nick.
Keep it up
Yoz
December 8, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Gav
Nice project dude, good work!
She’s looking good!
~ Gav.
January 17, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Joe
Nice!
I’ve got a Scorpio that someone has converted to a fixed wheel but its no where as nice as yours. I need to sort the brakes, saddle, bar and seatpost out.
What size wheel is that one?
January 19, 2009 at 12:42 pm
wardamercy
Hi Joe, thanks for your comments! The wheels are 700c – standard size for a road bike. Weirdly, when I found the bike it had a 700c on the back and an old 29 inch on the front!
I’ve sorted a few little bits out since I did this post, it now looks like this.
January 19, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Joe
Thanks for the info. Yours is looking really good now.
I’m thinking of taking the stickers off but its sounds like you had a hard job doing it?
January 19, 2009 at 2:59 pm
wardamercy
It just takes a long time to get all the bits of sticker off, then a long time to get all the glue off. Not difficult, just not my idea of fun!
Have you got pictures of your build?
January 19, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Joe
Sounds tedious. Might give it a go once I’ve done a few other things to it.
No photos – I’ve not done anything since I got it. Someone else had switched it to fixed wheel and its got MTB bars rather than the original drop. Will get some before and after pics though.
Riding fixed is quite scary as I’ve not done it much before. Half tempted to switch it to single speed free unless I get used to it.
January 19, 2009 at 4:18 pm
wardamercy
Keep at it – you’ll get used to fixed soon enough, and it’ll improve your pedaling no end for any other types of cycling you do! If you haven’t got clips and straps on your pedals yet I’d highly recommend it, it’ll help you to brake using the pedals and it will prevent you from breaking your ankle if your foot should slip off the pedals!
Come back and post a link to a pic once you’re done with it!
January 19, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Joe
Yeah, I’ll stick with it and get some better pedals.
I’ll be back when I’m done.
February 16, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Alan
Hey
Got my bike nicked on Saturday and picked up a Scorpio in decent condition on Sunday – must say, this blog has given me plenty of ideas, yours looks amazing! Will be my first project so great to see the same bike progress.
Cheers
Alan
February 17, 2009 at 10:02 am
wardamercy
Thanks Alan! I’ve been really happy with my Scorpio. I know its no vintage track bike, but it has been an excellent first build. It’s got nice lines, the paint on mine was good and it does feel really strong – I’m not worried about breaking it at all!
It looks a bit different now; I ran it with a white saddle for a bit, but recently swapped it for another (more slim-looking) black saddle. I also changed the flat handle-bars for seriously chopped risers with Black Oury grips. I’ll have to do another post!