Classic & Vintage - New acquistion Raleigh Super Course

Just picked up a 70's Raleigh SC from a yard sale this morning. I actually bought it for the vintage Brooks
saddle that were original in those days. The saddle is not in bad condition and the frame looks in very good shape. After doing some searching on Google and on here, I think I am going to restore it by upgrading most components liked FD, RD, sprocket, crank set, BB, shifters, wheels and tires. Does anyone here have restored a Super Course and if so, please direct me to other sites that you found useful in the restoration. Many thanks.

I don't have one, but I think this might help.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/

Try this specific table:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/supercourse.html

And this discussion: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=265033

Neal

1977 was a huge watershed year for that model. The chrome, wider wheels and Huret derailleurs disappeared, and Sun Tour was everywhere - dropouts, bar con shifters and derailleurs. Both before and after the model had it's good points, but if you're looking to do a faithful restoration, there's a world of difference between componentry.

Just picked up a 70's Raleigh SC from a yard sale this morning. I actually bought it for the vintage Brooks
saddle that were original in those days. The saddle is not in bad condition and the frame looks in very good shape. After doing some searching on Google and on here, I think I am going to restore it by upgrading most components liked FD, RD, sprocket, crank set, BB, shifters, wheels and tires. Does anyone here have restored a Super Course and if so, please direct me to other sites that you found useful in the restoration. Many thanks.

Sounds like what you're thinking of isn't really "restoring" the bike, but turning it into a reliable, functional daily rider, which is what I did with my early 70s Super Course.

It's a great bike for that purpose. The frame geometry is super comfortable, at least for me. I can ride it all day, 60 to 80 mile rides are no problem. Even a century is manageable for my creaky middle-aged body. I can't imagine finding a better new bike without spending ao fortune.

I changed a few things around. Put a modern triple crank on the bike, which necessitated swapping the front derailleur for a modern derailleur (a Shimano Sora worked fine for me) and putting in a modern Shimano sealed bearing bottom bracket. I replaced the pedals and put in wider handlebars. As to upgrading the sprockets, you'll be limited by the rear dropout spacing. You won't be putting a 10-cog cassette in there. My wheels had already been replaced when I acquired my bike -- Shimano hubs with Araya rims. They work great.

Useful sites? I got some stuff from Nashbar (the bottom bracket), some stuff from Harris Cyclery (the new Nitto Technomic stem), some stuff from Velo Orange, which is a really great web store for retro and classic bike stuff. I got the crank, pedals and handlebars from there.

Here's one I went a little overboard on:

http://velospace.org/files/P4150002.JPG

http://velospace.org/files/P4150003.JPG

http://velospace.org/files/P4150004.JPG

Thanks for all the input people. This would be a project for me this fall or through the winter. Noah Scape, that is a fine bike you have. The color of the SC I got is mint green with silver/chrome 6 or 7 inches at the dropouts. I believe most of the components are original but could use an upgrade such as the wheel set transformed into a 700C. I may have to put the original Brooks saddle back. The first thing I did was removed the Brooks and install it on my Trek when I got home. I tried it and the saddle was like a brick on my rear. I know it need breaking but with the condition of the leather, it feels very dry and stiff.

I've only had mine a couple of weeks, though I drooled over it for a year.

'80, last year the U.S. .(as far as I know) got the full on Worksop Super Course.

Suntour everything, someday I'll have to find an earlier version to play with too.


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c263/cubtime100/DSCN1830.jpg

Seeing Mr. Scape's nicely outfitted Super Course prompts me to look through the variations of the model I've bought and sold over the last few years. Most of these were 1971 framesets set up as single speeds or fixed gear, but also in the mix was a 1973 model sold with original parts, a 1971 that I repainted with matching fenders and sold as a 3-speed, and a 1997 that I owned for about 15 years. In the current stable are two 1971 models, a bronze green set up as a 4-speed commuter and a coffee brown currently set up as a single speed with wooden fenders (not pictured below) but soon to be set up as a 3-speed and sold off.

Neal

Seeing Mr. Scape's nicely outfitted Super Course prompts me to look through the variations of the model I've bought and sold over the last few years.
Neal

Geez, where did you get all of those frames from? I really like this one, very courier-ish!

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=55790&d=1191205027

Geez, where did you get all of those frames from? I really like this one, very courier-ish!

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=55790&d=1191205027

That one and three other frames I bought last summer in a lot of four from an eBay seller in Oregon. With shipping, they ended up to be about $40 per frame. Most of the others were from eBay, too, though the latest 1971 complete bike I got in trade for building a set of wheels for a local bike buddy.

Neal

[QUOTE=Noah Scape;5364217]Here's one I went a little overboard on:

Did you keep the 27 wheels or did you switch to the 700? Seems like the wheels that came with the SC still looks fine to me but curious on yours.

... and a 1997 that I owned for about 15 years.

Neal

1997 does seem like a long time ago, doesn't it? ;):D

1997 does seem like a long time ago, doesn't it? ;):D

Hey, you gotta look to the future, McDave!

Neal

[QUOTE=Noah Scape;5364217]Here's one I went a little overboard on:

Did you keep the 27 wheels or did you switch to the 700? Seems like the wheels that came with the SC still looks fine to me but curious on yours.

I stuck with 27s.

I concur that the Super Course is a great frame for touring, commuting, recreation, and even club rides. The ISO diameters and thread pitches are a big plus for those wishing to update, upgrade, or otherwise swap components.

Does anyone else remember those super-long Huret downtube shift levers which graced early 1970s Super Courses?

Does anyone else remember those super-long Huret downtube shift levers which graced early 1970s Super Courses?

Yes, I do; I think I still have a set. I liked the way they shifted!

[QUOTE=wrafl;5374416]

I stuck with 27s.

I am going to do the same to keep the bike's original appearance. Everthing that came with the bike is original even the tires and it still look good to me. Front wheel was low on air and I tried to inflate it but the valve would not take it so maybe I need a new tube altogether. Thanks for the info.

Hey Saintly,

Do you happen to know the dimensions or model number of the bottom bracket you replaced? I just purchased a 73 supercourse and want to replace the cranks and BB. I am having a hard time finding info on a correct size replacement. Thanks

Do you happen to know the dimensions or model number of the bottom bracket you replaced? I just purchased a 73 supercourse and want to replace the cranks and BB. I am having a hard time finding info on a correct size replacement. Thanks

I used a 122mm shimano sealed BB on my '78 Supercourse with a double crank and got the correct chainline. I think the rear hub spacing is 126.

I built this one for my wife. I thought it was pretty, but she hated the color. She didn't like riding a single speed, either. I stripped it, sold the frame and used the parts to build my Carlton.

colintdesign-

It had a T.A. Professional 3 pin double and a 115mm spindle when I got it.

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/5018/2217736880068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2217736880068014369VNpklt)

Thanks for the info! I'll post some pics when it is done. I have new wheels, bars, seat & tires arriving Friday. I think I will ride it for a while before I replace the cranks. This will be a daily driver for me, from Brooklyn into Soho.

Has anyone ordered from this site: niagaracycle.com ?? They have great prices. It was the only place I could find the odd sized seatpost for my old columbia cruiser.

[QUOTE=redneckwes;5364828]I've only had mine a couple of weeks, though I drooled over it for a year.

'80, last year the U.S. .(as far as I know) got the full on Worksop Super Course.

Suntour everything, someday I'll have to find an earlier version to play with too.


Could you provide a rundown of the parts on it? I'm especially curious about the brakes on the bike. Do you think the components are original or at least nearly of that era?

I seldom see Super Courses in a plain, solid colour and your bike's frame has such a pure simplicity to it. For some reason, most of the Super Courses I've met are in green with white panels (like Dirtdrop's), but my foggy memory archive has an index card that says "chromed head lugs". I might be totally wrong though.

Does anyone else remember those super-long Huret downtube shift levers which graced early 1970s Super Courses?

Yep. I've always thought that they would look smashing on an all-red '77-82 edition SC, with matching Jubilee component group, TA 3-pin Professional crankset, Brooks Pro, red cotton bar tape, and matching red Bluemels fenders.

Talk about the English way to make a bike look French...

-Kurt

Originally Posted by John E http://www.bikeforums.net/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5381769#post5381769) Does anyone else remember those super-long Huret downtube shift levers which graced early 1970s Super Courses?

I see them stem-mounted on a yellow, step-through framed Sprite 27 in the garage, linked via sinuously routed cables to a Huret Alvit RD. I think it's an Alvit, it's a bit dark in the garage. The blocky form of the Alvit don't quite complement those shift levers though, but they are far away enough. Those stem-mounted levers look somehow celebratory to me!

"...Does anyone else remember those super-long Huret downtube shift levers which graced early 1970s Super Courses?"

Yes indeed John. I believe these were what you were thinking of: 1973 Huret Catalog page. (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/1481992889_2b799628bf_o.jpg) They worked very nicely for such simple looking devices, and had a nice chrome finish.

-Bob

My L.B.S. (Been there forever) Has a box with about 40 of those Huret levers in it. I think a lot of people swapped them for the shorter version. I have a set from the Raleigh Record my Dad rides now, can't bring myself to put the goofy things on anything though.