Cycling UK Forum

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301504281551

The wheels look too small for the frame or is the an example of an early UK mountain bike, which had oodles of room for mud clearance when used with mudguards? It has a very wide fork crown and seems quite heavily built, so I'm assuming the latter. What do you think?

Mid-to late-80s MTB

nice, well worth £26 of anyone's money, that is. IIRC that frame has a full 531ATB tubeset.

It looks like about a 1984 or 1985 bike to me; Deore 'deer head' gearset (friction shifting), Deore cantis, later 7s cogset, later version Biopace chainrings (circa 1989).

Things to look out for include that the black wedge washers in the brake block fixings are not cracked; they fail often.

A bike like that can make a very capable load-lugger. If you bought it I think you have done very well. Deserves a good sorting out I reckon.

cheers

I had a Dawes Ranger from the mid 80s, very similar in appearance. I think the Evans in the original post would have been a quality bike in it's day. I think it's a big frame which exaggerates it's appearance.
Here's a picture of a Ranger, note the distance between the seat tube and rear wheel

Here's another - a Falcon K2 from about 1988 converted to drops. Tange 900 double butted tubing. Most comfortable bike i own and the one i would keep if reduced to only 1 bike. The d/t lever braze ons were added later and are very handy.

Here's another 1990 Raleigh Blueridge 531 All Terrain tubeset (not forks) powder coated in December. Built up as winter shopper/haulier. Got the frame for free on http://www.retrobike.co.uk Also got a larger 1987 22½" Raleigh Avanti, full 531AT which is the next project to become a summer shopper/haulier.

Love 'em to bits. They're stiff at the rear end but both enjoy very comfortable shock absorbing forks

BLUERIDGE PHOTOS

AVANTI PHOTOS

Click on pics for larger versions

No, I didn't buy it Brucey, a little too far from me to collect. I did however buy this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111582801682

The LX designation was what I was hoping for, LX groupset throughout. The bike is in a very good condition, but does either need new brake levers or new brakes, as someone has fitted v-brake levers with canti brakes. It is made of Tange double butted tourist tubing.

Some of Mr Shimano's levers suit both cantis and Vs. There may be a little widget inside allowing a choice of cable routing/barrel position.

Thanks for that. The lever/shifter combo are model ST-EF29. A search seems to suggest these are V brake only.

Another search finds a tech doc (zoom in, top left) that suggests they are switchable between cantilever and roller brake settings .

Best take a look at the innards on the set you have.

My apologies, the levers are actually ST-EF29-7. What a difference a 7 makes, here is the tech doc:

http://www.shimano.com/media/techdocs/c ... 609270.pdf