Classic & Vintage - Finally......a Raleigh Criterium!

As I posted in an earlier thread, I have been searching everywhere for a Raleigh Criterium with full Shimano 600. This is for a reunion ride this summer.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=286514
And I finally found one. Same size as my old bike and full Shimano 600.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01736.jpg
You can see it is very much like my original seen in this pic. Except for the backwards seat post and the huge tractor seat.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/Untitled-8-12.jpg
I can hardly wait to start restoring it. And for $30 I think it was a good deal.

But I also found other bikes for next to nothing.
This Raleigh Grand Prix with Shimano 600 and Suntour.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01738.jpg

And this weird 1978 Raleigh folding bike.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01740.jpg

And these two for $10. I don't know what a Suteki is?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01744.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01742.jpg

And the 1980 Raleigh Super Grand Prix a LBS dug up for me.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01745.jpg

Glad to hear you found one. The ones I suggested were obviously too big for you, but that one looks to be in good shape and will fit you well. Congrats. Can I ask where you found it?

I put a wanted add in the paper and the bike was located in Regina, not far from where I live.
I asked him what he wanted for it and he said make me an offer.
So I offered $30 and he took it.
He also commented on how glad he was to have the bike refurbished and ridden again. He bought it new back in 1982 for $385 + tax.
It is original except for the huge seat. Do you know of a source for these early Raleigh suede seats?
But people are still phoning the add so who knows what else may suface.
I still think the weird folding Raliegh is a neat find though. I may keep it.
The lady I bought it from bought it new in 1978. Its original right down to the tires.
I may have to spend some time on the folding bike forum!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01740.jpg

I still think the weird folding Raliegh is a neat find though. I may keep it.
The lady I bought it from bought it new in 1978. Its original right down to the tires.
I may have to spend some time on the folding bike forum!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01740.jpg

This is a Raleigh Twenty, and like other Raleighs, they were made for quite a number of years. I have one that is absolutely identical to yours, same year and all. The only difference is that mine still has the removable case which sits inside the rear rack. I have a buyer for mine who has been sitting on it for quite a few months - not sure what's up with it all really. The only reason I'm selling mine is that I'm just too tall (193cm/6ft 4 1/2in) to ride it without extensive modification. I made a makeshift longer seatpost and put some ape hanger bars on mine for a while, but it still wasn't to my liking. If you decide to sell it, you will make a nice little earning for yourself. Examples in good condition with the colour coded mudguards can go for $250 USD plus on eBay...

I have a Carlton Criterium from 1982 (last year of Raleigh building bikes under the Carlton name) that looks very similar frame wise to your Raleigh. Same frame I guess ?

I have a Carlton Criterium from 1982 (last year of Raleigh building bikes under the Carlton name) that looks very similar frame wise to your Raleigh. Same frame I guess ?

I have been wondering this myself as I was bidding on a Carlton Criterium frame on ebay a while back.
Maybe the Carlton's got Campy and the lower Criterium was equipped with Shimano 600?
Then again this Raleigh was built at the Canadian Raleigh factory in Quebec so who knows.

I still have my raleigh criterium I bought new in 80 or 81. The only things I've changed on it over the years were the rims due to my idiot friend knocking me off my bike and tacoing the rims. The foam padding on the handle bars slowly fell apart over the years. Everyone must remember those stupid foam padding things we put on the handle bars.
The bike still has the original tires, tubes, seat, pedals, cables and etc. I bought it with the insurance money for close to $450 when my Nishiki was stolen. I was 16 at the time and thought I would grow more, but didn't, so the frame is still too big for me and the bike sits on the shelf in my storage barn. It still graces the original light green paint with some minor flaws.
Wow the memories of riding that bike everywhere and anywhere.

Great find! You can see the joy in that old picture - and we get to relive it whenever we find and ride a prize like yours.

Here is a pic of the "refurbished" Criterium.
And you are very right about reliving a past experience.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01777.jpg

What size frame is that one?

Looks just like my bike without the foam padding.