Frame sizing  I recently purchased an old Raleigh Record 10-speed steel bike for $15. It's white with orange in the head and seat tube panels. The frame is in very good condition. The bike feels heavy, but once the steel wheels were removed, the weight was reduced by half.

In trying to figure out which wheels will fit the frame, I needed to measure the current frame dropout spacing, and the width of the axle with locknuts (Over Locknut Distance or OLD). As usual, Sheldon Brown has compiled rather detailed information about frame spacing on older bikes.

I haven't decided whether to rebuild new wheels with alloy rims using the old hubs, to get new wheels, or to just use the old wheels. Don't know what I'll eventually do with the bike, but it's been fun working on it. The bottom bracket and headset grease was so old that it had almost solidified. Once cleaned, the bearings and cups were like new. The bike has probably sat for many years unused. Maybe I'll just mount it on the wall to admire.
posted by Bruce Wright at 1:11 PM #