Classic & Vintage - Raleigh beyond my knowledge (pictures)

OK, you may want to check out my confusing post first: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=207633. But if not interested reading my mumblings then just go to this site http://cc.joensuu.fi/~ansaasta/ and watch if you can tell me something about the bike in hand. There is quite a lot of pictures there (for those not having fast connection it may be a problem), but be patient. And by the way, the serial number of the bike is NA1422735, it isn't mentioned in my earlier post.

And here's is a little sample of what the site has to offer...

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but what you have is a very neat looking Raleigh Record painted with the Team colors. I can state this with certainty because the sticker on the seat tube is one for the 20-30 tubing that was used on the Raleigh Record - as opposed to 531 or 753 tubing that would have been on the Team Professional. Also, the serial number on it would still be visibile on the bottom bracket, and would either start with a W (for Worksop, where Professionals would have been built), or SB (for Ilkeston, where Team bike frames were built).

The other clue is the componentry, which would have been Campagnolo on any of the bicycles built from 531 tubing.

Even though this isn't one of the top of the line models, it is quite cool, and possibly rather rare (although I'm guessing about it being rare). Joop was an amazing rider, and he sure did Raleigh proud by winning the TDF in 1980.

Well, John pretty much covered it there. Not a high-end frame.

I've always toyed with the idea of building one up with some general Campy-knockoff lookalike components, but I'd probably end up halfway towards the cost of the real thing once I finish it...

-Kurt

But it is set up way better than a normal Record. But those cranks are the same I have on my record frame I have in the garage.

Well, I'm just glad to get some information. The lack of Campy parts caught my eye also. Can you then say, are those derailleurs some Raleigh bulk components or something else. So, based on your post I would make a wild guess that this is a kinda replica made for the common man from Joop's winning bike. But anyway, thanks for the info. Have to say though that high-end or not its quite nice ride still.

PS. Which place the 'N' refers... Nottingham? And were the pictures good?

20-30 tubing is about as good as it gets on low end frames. I've "re-inherited" a Grand Prix with it, and I will be putting it to use.

Frame was made in Nottingham in January, 1981. Here's a link that could be helpful in determining dates on some Raleighs. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/RaleighSerialNumbers.jpg

Oh - and pictures were good.