Classic & Vintage - 1970 Raleigh Professional - Shadowfax is back home!

Pictures will follow tomorrow. (I know, I know - but there's too much to do now with the church Christmas party starting in about an hour). The teasers that Dr. Deltron posted really don't do the work justice. Hopefully I'll come a little closer.

I can honestly say that unwrapping the frame was a spiritual experience. Everything is meticulously finished, and I'm happy to receive the bike on Dr. Deltron's birthday. Happy Birthday!!!! :bday: :bday:

I rushed the bike over to the LBS to get the headset put on. One of the other customers had a bunch of questions, and quite a bit of admiration - as did the shop guys. The owner of the store asked me where I got all these things. Just told him I had connections. :p

Sorry for being a tease, but I'm very excited, and I promise, good pictures are only a day away.

John, I suppose you are the one in the wilderness proclaiming, "prepare the way!" East Hill and Dirtdrop and I will have to patiently wait.

John, I suppose you are the one in the wilderness proclaiming, "prepare the way!" East Hill and Dirtdrop and I will have to patiently wait.

I have faith that your day will be soon at hand. :) For one greater than mine shall cometh, and it's bottle cage I am not worthy to fasteneth. :D

Excitement galore! I am hoping that Dr. D will have my mixte ready for the NAHBS in February, so that all the folks who are going to be there can see it for themselves :D .

Don't keep us waiting too long for those photos!

East Hill

Isn't it a '69? First Mink fastback was a '70.

Isn't it a '69? First Mink fastback was a '70.

It is what is shown in the 1969 catalog, but the serial number indicates 1970. I believe they offered both models for portions of 1970.

did you go to Cole's

did you go to Cole's

I've been there before, but that isn't where I got this one. It was a sad frame I found on eBay a couple years back. I had to remove a very stuck stem portion first, then I sanded it down, then attempted to paint it myself (it came out quite miserably). I then worked a deal with Dr. Deltron and now it's back and better than new.

Here are some before pictures.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2345/2096306677_a259eb408f.jpg?v=1197172745

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2096306691_ac27b93ab7.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2096306695_c28db96b6a.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/2096306697_2d07eb5f9d.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2096306701_ede638b464.jpg?v=1197172697

Wow, nice transformation!

Wow, nice transformation!

:lol:

I have it about 70% built up. Hopefully I'll have time to finish Sunday.

:lol:

I have it about 70% built up. Hopefully I'll have time to finish Sunday.

A Sabbath day build? ;)

FedEx showed up at my house last night about 7:00. The driver took forever to emerge from the truck. I stood in snow shivering, silently praying; "Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D! Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D! Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D!" :o

Aren't I just pathetic?

A Sabbath day build? ;)

FedEx showed up at my house last night about 7:00. The driver took forever to emerge from the truck. I stood in snow shivering, silently praying; "Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D! Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D! Oh, please let it be a bike box from Dr.D!" :o

Aren't I just pathetic?

You're right. I will leave it until Monday.

So. Was it a bike box from Dr. D?

So instead of getting a nice new bicycle, you had to settle for some 40-year-old wreck? :) Some folks in other bike forums will never understand us. Good luck with it!

So instead of getting a nice new bicycle, you had to settle for some 40-year-old wreck? :) Some folks in other bike forums will never understand us. Good luck with it!

Ill take that "40 year old wreck" over a new bike any day! and Ill gladly stand in the snow for hours waiting for it too! ;) :)

Aren't I just pathetic?


Yes, but no different from the rest of us! :)

You're right. I will leave it until Monday.

So. Was it a bike box from Dr. D?

I was just teasing about the Sabbath. I can't think of a better way to relax.

The box was from LLBean.

I keep coming back and looking for those pictures.....

I've been offline for about a week (just moved) and it sounds like there are some pictures somewhere on the forum, but where? I'm waiting too. I haven't taken delivery of corky yet because of the move and going away for christmas soon, so decided to wait till the new year. I'm jealous you already have yours.

I keep coming back and looking for those pictures.....

It's very gray and rainy and an all-around miserable day to attempt to take pictures out doors. Even if I did have it built up all the way.

it;s suposed to be like this for the next several days

But there would have been no harsh shadows to contend with. :)

Can't wait to see the pics!!

I'm sure the bike will be nice when it's finished, but I was hoping to see pictures of the frame before you built it up. It's the paintjob I'm interested in. There aren't a whole lot of examples of Dr. Deltron's work available to look at online.

Before you create this sort of post again, why don't you have the pics already prepared. This is a waste of time and space on BF.

I'm sure the bike will be nice when it's finished, but I was hoping to see pictures of the frame before you built it up. It's the paintjob I'm interested in. There aren't a whole lot of examples of Dr. Deltron's work available to look at online.

Don't worry. My camera has a pretty good macro function, and I know how to use it.

I really didn't mean to be a tease, but I've been really stuck by a problem I had at work that set the whole week back.

Before you create this sort of post again, why don't you have the pics already prepared. This is a waste of time and space on BF.

Chill and go with the mystery.

Use the search funtion in C&V and type "Shadowfax" to find the pictures Dr.D took.

Chill and go with the mystery.

Use the search funtion in C&V and type "Shadowfax" to find the pictures Dr.D took.

Great response Rev!!!! Way to go, can't wait to see the finished bike. Congrats.

KRhea

hey wait, sabbath goes from sundown Friday to sundown saturday.
Sunday is bike building day, no?

Zorro, Did you see Rich P's thread at CR list of his white 69 professional?

marty

hey wait, sabbath goes from sundown Friday to sundown saturday.
Sunday is bike building day, no?

Zorro, Did you see Rich P's thread at CR list of his white 69 professional?

marty

ha ha.

Unfortunately, I've been having hard drive problems with my work PC, and am waaaaay behind the curve.

I did see Rich's thread. His is nice. Mine is nicer. :D

John,

Any pictures of the build yet? Dr.Deltron fans want to see!

John, Any pictures of the build yet?

It's December for Christs sake! :mad:

(no pun intended)

:p

:rolleyes:

Anyway, not to deraileur, but the Holidays are upon us and who wants to be wrenching when the house is a balmy 72 degrees and the shop is a tad above freezing?!?!??? :eek:
And there's a million thing to do to "get ready" for "the Day".
Plus, when assembling a "new" frame with an unobtaniumly priced paintjob on it, you want to take your time.

But thanks PB, for keeping the thread alive.

Now I'm going to go sand all the red on your frame & add stripes.
So I can add decals & get it done. :rolleyes:

...and to all, a good night. :)

:o ;)

But Zorro promised he was almost done! :(

i found photos!
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=364369

It looks amazing! I can't wait to get corky to not be able to do anything because I have no money to buy the polishing kit to polish the ratty parts that won't do the paint justice in their current state, not to mention finding the time. Unfortunately the long road of Corky feels like an epic journey where the build may take nearly as long as the paint/decals. But when it is done it will looks like a 1968-1971 racebike as it would have if it were sporting it's original equipment and the owner went all out with full campy and cinelli everywhere, and fiamme red labels to complete the package. At some point I may have to have a high flange/low flange vote thread. Though I'm pretty sure it'll be high despite their poor condition. Pass the polish. End derail.

Sorry everyone. Here's the deal. Last Tuesday, when I was out of town on business, my laptop's hard drive got flaky with me (I ended up having to replace it). I didn't get home until Thursday night, and have spent waaaaay to much time trying to get my work done and also trying to get the new hard drive and set everything back up so that I don't have to run all the way into the office to work.

I've been making progress with the build, but I need to find a proper headset wrench, I need to run the rear brake cable (which is a bit problematic because the opening of the cable stop is so narrow that not even modern derailleur cable housing sits in it properly), the derailleur cabling (which won't take too long), put the chain on and adjust the derailleurs.

The other factor that's been kicking my butt is the weather forecast. I don't have a good place in the house to take pictures (the lighting is critical to appreciate how nice the pearl coloring came out), and there's no way I'm taking Shadowfax out in the crap that's supposed to be coming our way over the next few days.

I have definitely not abandoned the effort, and it certainly was never my intention to leave things hanging for so long. I promise I'll not do this to you guys (and ladies) ever again.

It's ok, the build up is essential to our proper appreciation! [and sorry to hear about all the bad stuff :( ]

East Hill

... I need to run the rear brake cable (which is a bit problematic because the opening of the cable stop is so narrow that not even modern derailleur cable housing sits in it properly),...


They (meaning all the typical Raleigh brake bridge cable stops) were bored and tapped for a now uncommon piece something around a threaded 4 mm. cable adjuster - or I should say the British equivalent of that size. I actually found an old 1950s Cyclo derailleur shifter which used a compatible adjuster. But, you might also simply use a "stepped" ferrule or cable end, too.

Your LBS should have some of these kicking around in their shop area. All of these shown below fit a standard 5 mm. cable housing. The outer diameters of these examples range from 6.5 mm to 7.5 mm and graduate down to 3.80 to 3.95 mm. - the two on the left are chrome plated steel, and the two on the right are alloy... and the smaller of the latter two is from a Mafac center-pull front brake cable hanger. Either alloy piece would be handy to use because you could easily sand down the smaller portion to seat it into the cable hanger without risking damage to any paint which may have further reduced the opening. ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2111536333_232c96074e_o.jpg


... I have definitely not abandoned the effort, and it certainly was never my intention to leave things hanging for so long. I promise I'll not do this to you guys (and ladies) ever again.

Well, I for one will forgive you - just this once, since it was I who started this thread in the first place... and I'm still anxious to see the final result. [Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink] :)

They (meaning all the typical Raleigh brake bridge cable stops) were bored and tapped for a now uncommon piece something around a threaded 4 mm. cable adjuster - or I should say the British equivalent of that size. I actually found an old 1950s Cyclo derailleur shifter which used a compatible adjuster. But, you might also simply use a "stepped" ferrule or cable end, too.:)

First I don't recall the hole being tapped, but I'm not 100% on that.

Let me know Zorro, as I have a number of old threaded bareel adjusters and I may have that weird British size.
Next best bet would probably be the stepped ferrule in the lower left, of the 4 in the picture.
Theoretically the little nub would fit in the hole in middle of the brake housing bridge

Also the other cable stops may need a ferrule that has an almost indescernable step to it.
I dug some of those up for Corky, which uses a stamped cup type cable stop, similar to the rear top tube brake cable stop on Shadowfax.
Otherwise, the housing has a tendency to waggle around more.

And good luck with your computer woes Z! :o

My favorite saying...

To err is human, to really foul things up, requires a computer. :p

Anyway, not to deraileur, but the Holidays are upon us and who wants to be wrenching when the house is a balmy 72 degrees and the shop is a tad above freezing?!?!??? :eek:

Me??. We're supposed to get some nasty rainy/cold weather tomorrow, and I will be out under the carport putting my rattle canned Shogun back together.:D,,,,,BD

Anyway, not to deraileur, but the Holidays are upon us and who wants to be wrenching when the house is a balmy 72 degrees and the shop is a tad above freezing?!?!???

Mark, you crack me up! :roflmao:

The temp's a tad over 5F this a.m., I spent 3 hours clearing snow yesterday, which included raking 12-14 inches off the roof in preparation for Sunday's Nor'easter and another 12-18 inches. :cry: I hope to get in a ride on the Snow Cycle today (how come there's not a 'Freezing' Smilie?). Put on some wool socks and take the children out to the shop to generate that needed extra heat! ;)

Here we are - retrieved from page 4... Not 100% finished, but built enough for pictures, and a decent day for photos...

Shadowfax, the pearl white Raleigh, had some very shiny clothes...

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276104-2/Professional+-+After+002.jpg

and if you ever saw it... you could even say it glows...

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276108-2/Professional+-+After+003.jpg

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276112-2/Professional+-+After+004.jpg

See how close they match? Tactical error on my part not getting the pedals repainted too. No worries though. I'm still a happy boy. Also note the superb lug lining Dr. Deltron did.

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276120-2/Professional+-+After+006.jpg

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276128-2/Professional+-+After+008.jpg

Kind of shaky. Will have to re-do...

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/276116-2/Professional+-+After+018.jpg

Here's (http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/USAZorro/1970+Raleigh+Professional/) a link to more pictures with comments about the process, and credits to the many who helped out with this project.

I hope this absolves me of my earlier transgression. :o :D

Fantastic!

Worth the wait!

Absolutely stunningly beautiful. I love pearl white-I used to have a Thunderbird in that color. Always thought it would look great on a bike, now I know it does.

Beautiful!

you didn't keep the headbadge???

Beautiful!

you didn't keep the headbadge???

I have the headbadge. I've been too busy to get what I need to do a proper job of re-mounting it. I thought it too important to do a hasty job of it.

VERY nice! That paint looks good enough to eat, lol.,,,,BD

Beautiful bike, USAZ! Well done, Dr. D.!

Neal

Okay fellows, NOW I'm very happy!

And, Dr D., I really love the pearl white. Pooh Pooh to any Purists who prefer the boring simple white. With a name like Shadowfax it deserves that ethereal glow. And, Zorro if you need a head badge, I recently saw a correct one for that bike sell on eBay, NOS for a shockingly modest amount from a British seller, so they are indeed out there in mint condition still.

I believe there is one available now, and in your area in fact, for $24 buy-it-now.

[I only wish that I could find the inverted triangle badge for my Peugeot so easily.]

WOW! See what I miss when I don't stay up late! Spectacular build, John! :D

BTW, I was out throwing another 10 inches of snow off the driveway last night, :p when FedEx slowed down and stopped right in front of me. :eek: Oh how my heart jumped! Had Santa Deltron arrived early? :love: No. :o The driver just needed a place to turn around. :cry: (Smilies for Dr.D! :lol:)
;););)

WOW! See what I miss when I don't stay up late! Spectacular build, John! :D

BTW, I was out throwing another 10 inches of snow off the driveway last night, :p when FedEx slowed down and stopped right in front of me. :eek: Oh how my heart jumped! Had Santa Deltron arrived early? :love: No. :o The driver just needed a place to turn around. :cry: (Smilies for Dr.D! :lol:)
;););)


I would've thrown the shovel at him, lol!!,,,,BD

Wow