Classic & Vintage - Raleigh Record Sprint. Anybody with experience of??

Just got a 1985ish example,
and after looking for an affordable basic light-weight Raleigh for ages,
this is it, as found, but with cobwebs removed and spiders evicted:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/RSSProfile.jpg

Clean and tidy, but hardly lightweight it seems to me.
Reynolds 501 is entry level stuff, isn't it?


Not too disappointed, but my Viscounts are a lot lighter.
This has a Huret front mech, and Shimano mystery rear:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/RRSRearMech.jpg

The angle of the cable leaving the braze on looks terrible to me!!
Needs a shorter outer there by the look of it.

The usual Weinmann brakes and levers, but with a gaudy gold coloured finish.
The Sugino chain-wheel also:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/RRSChainwheel.jpg

Still, I got it for around twice the price of the new Schwalbe Marathons, so it looks OK for the money.
So, who knows anything about RRS?
RRA is next...

the rear mech is a Shimano 600 Golden Aero.

no more mystery

Thanks! That's why I was asking the questions.
I know I'll always get an answer here!
In minutes!!!
The best bike site.

Ok

the rear mech is a Shimano 600 Golden Aero.

no more mystery

That's 105 Golden Arrow. Should be model RD-A105 on the back. I've always liked that group but I've yet to find something to put mine on.

Dead right.
Didn't think of looking on the back!
Says RD-A105 on the back, preceded by J1.
Thanks:)

I've got both front and rear on my Raleigh Gran Sport - it's a nice group. I've also wanted an RRS since I was 12. I've missed a couple of examples on eBay, but eventually I'll get one. I know it's relatively heavy, and not special (which is why when I was 12, I got a Coventry Eagle Kermesse instead), but it looks sooo cool with all that black and gold.

Yeah! I sounded a bit off-hand about it when I wrote the text, but it's quite a nice machine in it's way.
Bit gaudy for me to be honest, but it is clean and tidy for the money (£56 on ebay, plus £10 for delivery).
Going out on it today anyway, while the sun still shines.
Bit of a wind but...

A good pal of mine rode one when he was a teen and still lusts after one, so I might make a Christmas pressie of it yet.

A good pal of mine rode one when he was a teen and still lusts after one, so I might make a Christmas pressie of it yet.

Looks like my size :D

Actually, looks like a nice bike to me. Not gaudy or garrish looking at all, but thats just my opinion.

If it fits you, I would'nt get rid of it. As far as it being entry level I think not. Reynolds 501 is
entry level of the good stuff the way I understand it.

Reynolds 501 is
entry level of the good stuff the way I understand it.

Exactly, but addicts always want more/better etc...

I've also wanted an RRS since I was 12. I've missed a couple of examples on eBay, but eventually I'll get one.

I've watched a couple of these on ebay recently and both went way beyond my limits
(£106, one of them) but I just put in a speculative bid on this one,
and soon realised there were no other real competitors,
so I increased my original bid by a few pounds close to the end and watched it fall into my lap,
so to say.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330181656286

Ebay is a strange place sometimes.

If only U.S.-market Records looked like THAT...

-Kurt

If only U.S.-market Records looked like THAT...

-Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Not sure what you mean here.

I've never totally understood the differences overall.
OK, with the Roadsters minus chain-cases, it makes some sort of sense.
I actually prefer the lighter look of the US spec Superbes, etc.
But how do the Records differ?

I've never been able to afford a top spec Raleigh lightweight, even second-hand, and I'm not over impressed with this one now I've had my hands on it, and ridden it.
It doesn't feel as good as my Viscounts for example.
But maybe that's not a fair comparison.
It is in good condition for 20 years or so old, but that's not got anything to do with the way it rides.

U.S. Market Raleigh Records were all 20-30 tube, untill the early 80's when they became Taiwan crap.

Interesting.
They (Raleigh) were definitely going downhill around 1980 because I have a Superbe from that time and the mudguards/fenders, chain-case and chrome were definitely poor in comparison with earlier models.
Perforated mudguards around the spotwelding and thin paint.
Never buy another late one.

Interesting.
They (Raleigh) were definitely going downhill around 1980 because I have a Superbe from that time and the mudguards/fenders, chain-case and chrome were definitely poor in comparison with earlier models.
Perforated mudguards around the spotwelding and thin paint.
Never buy another late one.

I'm curious about how old your Superbe is, because I've got this Gran Prix (formerly the TT Bike for the Homeless, only I decided that TT bars sucked big time and went back to the stock road bars and absolutely love the bike) that's post 1980, from what I could make out from the serial number I'm guessing 1982, and the quality is still what I remember from ten years earlier. I absolutely adore the silver/blue paintjob, and the build quality is still what I remembered from when I worked at AR Adams.

At the moment it's a 12-speed with sewups, and is probably going to go full tricked out fixie for the spring - as much blue trim as I can do to offset the silver main color.

I'm curious about how old your Superbe is....

It's a 1980 I think, and the paint quality on the mudguards/fenders is definitely poorer than the earlier models.
I took off the fenders and replaced them with modernish black plastics and I reckon it looks much better.

Couple of pictures here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=351525

Paintwork on the frame is fine, it's just the bolt ons that are poor, so I reckon Raleigh was buying them in at that point and let standards slip.

Here is an example of a lightweight I would love in my own size:


http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/NDean1.jpg

A classy machine in my opinion, but nowhere near my size.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/NDean3rd.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/NIGELDean5th.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/NDean6th.jpg

Came a across it by chance, but now passed on to an appreciative lady in Scotland.

Just got the RRS reasonably roadworthy,
and here's a pic:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/duktig/RRsProfileGurdsRack.jpg

Setting it up as a light tourer/town bike, I've put on these (unobtrusive?) black plastic guards, rack and rat traps.
Guards/fenders keep the rain off in dirty weather,
and I can bring my groceries home on the rack.

In other words I'll use it!
Went out for a 6 mile ride yesterday and it flies along nicely!


Excellent taut, agile, machine.
Got 'city'/commuter tyres, not smoothies, but great on the streets/pathways.

Only thing I will do is change the saddle for a leather

Ah, the Raleigh Record Sprint. In 1985, not a cheap bike. I think it was about £182. I have the 1985 Raleigh Catalogue from that year scanned in alreay and will upload the relevent pages but for now, here is the '84 catalogue:

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh84/ral84_06.jpg

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh84/ral84_09.jpg

I had a Raleigh Record Ace frame donated to me once as you say not light with the 501 tubing but very comfortable I rode it for a couple of years until the chainstays cracked just behind the bottom bracket.

Ah, the Raleigh Record Sprint. In 1985, not a cheap bike. I think it was about £182. I have the 1985 Raleigh Catalogue from that year scanned in alreay and will upload the relevent pages but for now, here is the '84 catalogue:


Thanks for that!
Very interesting.
I've been looking for UK catalogues on the net, but no luck.

Spec for 84 seems to be the same except for the chain-set.
And they are right about clearance only for narrow guards.
I had no idea about prices, but £180 then was certainly not cheap!

I've been out on it a couple of times now and getting to like it.
The steering is a little bit twitchy to me, being used to more relaxed angles.

Considering my all 531 Coventry Eagle was £250, it was about par for the market at £180. The one with the gold anno chainrings is what I'd like more than anything. On the subject of Nigel Dean, here is my Dean fixie. Don't worry, I got it as a frame and fork only, and no, I haven't cut anything off.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P1260005.jpg

Considering my all 531 Coventry Eagle was £250, it was about par for the market at £180. The one with the gold anno chainrings is what I'd like more than anything. On the subject of Nigel Dean, here is my Dean fixie. Don't worry, I got it as a frame and fork only, and no, I haven't cut anything off.

Nice machine!
Nigel Dean are little known and much under-appreciated in my opinion.
The blue one above was given to me before I knew anything about them.
Know better now though.

But still can't afford one in my size.
But if I get a good price for the RRS, who knows!

That one's not really my size either (I have the seat up a LOT further), but I love it. I believe, in fact, that Nigel Dean worked for Ernie Clements at some stage.

I'm too old for seats that high, and bars so low!
But, when I was 18 or something, different story.

Think I should stick to tourers now.
I've been looking for ages, but keep getting distracted by RRS and suchlike.

Decided it is too twitchy for me, with the steepish angles and so on.
So it's on ebay since Thursday & looking good right now.
No good for you guys over the water 'cos of shipping, but if you want to look/watch:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120190659180&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=002

One chap tells me it is 87/88 (instead of 85 as I was told by the seller) with all the gold anodising and so on.
Started at 99p! There's confidence for you.
Now got 4 bids, 11 watchers and 112 views.
I paid £64 delivered, so we will see!!
I reckon I'll make a reasonable 50% profit.
Any bets?
Better than watching TV anyway.

Well, it's in my watch list. This isn't a good time to sell for great prices, but it doesn't get really bad til the week before Christmas (when I'll be hoping to score some sweet stuff!). I certainly won't be bidding if it goes to what you hope, not because it's not worth it, but just because I'm cheap.

Well, me hoping it's the right time.

But to be honest (if no ebay bidders are watching) I don't care cos I got my eyes set on different things.

Bought it on a whim, so to say, and it didn't really suit me when I rode it.
My experience is that ebay stuff doesn't sell well with poor photos, or off hand descriptions.
This one isn't handicapped by such, (barring my mistakes on the listing) plenty of good pics should make up for that.
I hope!
So it'll go for what people think.

I'm interested in the process myself!!
You learn from every experience...
Hopefully;)

.