Classic & Vintage - Raleigh Sportif

Anyone know the vintage/specs on a Raleigh Sportif, Raleigh of America 410 tubing. Fender and rack eyelets, no derailer hanger, cable guides but no downtube shifter braze-ons. Lugged frame. Wondering how it was originally set up. Must have had 27" wheels (I will have to make drop bolts to mount a caliper with 700c's).

It's a better-than-gaspipe cheap frame that I am using for a fixed gear winter project (guess I'm starting early for a winter project..hmm...)

Question is the threading on the bottom bracket. I have a cottered crankset on the way, but would like to go with a descent lighter crank eventually. anyone know if this is a 26tpi or something standard? Anyone know what bottom bracket, cups, etc. I need to move to a cotterless crank?

If it's "Raleigh America", I doubt it's old enough to have a cottered crank.

If it is cottered, most likely it uses whitworth standard threading. Sheldon Brown might have something, but it ain't gonna be cheap. If it's not whitworth, it's nearly certainly a non-standard size for today, which, once again, ain't gonna be cheap.

If it's "Raleigh America", I doubt it's old enough to have a cottered crank.


It has the Raleigh America head badge, as well as the original cottered bottom bracket. BB may not be original, but I would assume that it is since it is obviously an upgrade from nothing.

I have a cottered crankset on the way, but would like to go with a descent lighter crank eventually. anyone know if this is a 26tpi or something standard? Anyone know what bottom bracket, cups, etc. I need to move to a cotterless crank?

I also bought a 80's Raleigh Sportif as a fix up project for winter riding ($9!). I haven't been able to find much information about it online. Take a look at the picture I have on my website, maybe we have the same model --

http://www.metatoy.com/metatoy/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album17

This weekend replaced the bottom bracket and crankset this weekend. Here's what I used: Shimmano BB 68x113 & Dimension Crank Arm Set 170mm 110 BCD CycloCros. The BB is actually 70mm but the smaller size works. Maybe that info helps. If you find any more info on the Sportifs let me know.

I also bought a 80's Raleigh Sportif as a fix up project for winter riding ($9!). I haven't been able to find much information about it online. Take a look at the picture I have on my website, maybe we have the same model --

http://www.metatoy.com/metatoy/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album17

This weekend replaced the bottom bracket and crankset this weekend. Here's what I used: Shimmano BB 68x113 & Dimension Crank Arm Set 170mm 110 BCD CycloCros. The BB is actually 70mm but the smaller size works. Maybe that info helps. If you find any more info on the Sportifs let me know.

Yup, same frame I've got. Same color scheme too. (At least before I stripped it). 27" or 700c? The only spare brake that I have is WAY too short with 700C's so I have been assuming that it was originally 27", but I see that you have quite a bit of clearance as well.

I just got a set of cottered cranks for it which should work for now. Was dissapointed to find out that the pedal threading is strange though. I was hoping to recycle a set that I had removed from my road bike when I switched to clipless but that appears to be a no-go.

I couldn't find anything on the bike online either. Here's the responses I got on another site:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had a Sportif - I recently gave it to my brother. Mine had the same frame material. It's ChroMo ....but I don't know what the 410 means. I just assumed it was probably strait gage ChroMo.
Mine also had the original bottom bracket...and cranks, etc.....all original....but it appears most of the common cranksets from the 70's, 80's and into the 90's will fit.
------
The 410, is the steel alloy designation. I have a Raleigh Capri of the same tubing. I did some Google research a while back, it appears to be a low grade stainless... unfortunatly it will rust. Nothing special, but not gas pipe either.
------
As a follow up: I found this page; http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=970
It provides composition and other relevant details.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------