Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Sweet Vintage Raleigh Track

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290278505594&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

Pimping your auction, but I don't mind. Interested to see how it comes out--I've got the 53 cm version. Did I ever see you out to Marymoor in the early 90s?

There were a bunch of these in the PNW. I understood that a Seattle shop bought a bunch of them (12? 20?) when the velodrome was built and there were still a good number of them racing 20+ years later. Mine and Gerry M's were the only regular performers still in the original paint.

Wasn't me back in the '90's. I was in LA at grad school. I did road race a little '88-90 in Idaho in Eastern Oregon. This bike could be from the same batch as it came from the Eugene area back in the late '80s.

This one went to a guy in NC, so it'll be an East Coast bike soon enough. Hated to sell it, but it just doesn't get used.

Have you ever seen one of the '72 tracks, in blue and white? I've only ever seen one in a catalogue. Must have been a slow year.

S

^ Eugene of what state?

I would be nice to know how many of those bikes are still in the same condition as the one from ebay. So far personally i have seen only one. In Chile. The other 3 i know of have been sold at ebay, have to add the blue carlton was sold last year also. Same factory than the Raleigh.

Anybody else knows of another one around the world? In my opinion this was one of the most beautiful track bikes ever made.

Thanks.

I would be nice to know how many of those bikes are still in the same condition as the one from ebay. So far personally i have seen only one. In Chile. The other 3 i know of have been sold at ebay, have to add the blue carlton was sold last year also. Same factory than the Raleigh.

Anybody else knows of another one around the world? In my opinion this was one of the most beautiful track bikes ever made.

Thanks.

Well you can add mine--maybe a little better than the recent sale, as it still has the steel NR pedals, period unicanitor seat, and TTT bars (which were what the bikes were shipped with IIRC). I think they were sold with AVA rims, and I don't have those--wheels are gold Nisis with decals that say "Only for Professional Bicycle" which I understand was a reaction to potential CPSC standards. Partial pic:

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk18/melvillelgz868/quill.jpg

And as I said, Gerry M in Seattle still had one (56 cm or so) in the original paint when I last saw him in the late 90s.

I'll give you a hint, the home of the Ducks.

I'll give you a hint, the home of the Ducks.

That's what I thought. What was a batch of Raleigh Professionals doing out there in the late 80's? A bunch of avid guys would drive up to Alpenrose, 130 miles away to race, or what?

That's what I thought. What was a batch of Raleigh Professionals doing out there in the late 80's? A bunch of avid guys would drive up to Alpenrose, 130 miles away to race, or what?

The batch was in Seattle in the mid-70s. I think it was either Pine Street or Northwest Cycle 'seeding' the market in anticipation of the forthcoming Marymoor Velodrome. People also traveled from Seattle to a track (China Creek?) in Vancouver BC in the 70s before Marymoor was built, like your Eugene/Alpenrose situation. The bikes are gradually scattering around the world, as physical objects may, following their owners. Mine is now in Cali not too far from the OR border. 300+ miles to the nearest track.

...and so it continues. Interesting thread and happy to know I can keep something going. I'm reporting from the NC coast with the aforementioned subject, which turns out to be an amazing '72 Raleigh Professional Track (http://i-vol.com/bikes/raleigh_professional/73_track/), based on the serial number (G6684).

I have a nice '74 Raleigh Professional (http://i-vol.com/bikes/raleigh_professional.htm) that I've been wanting to match with a 74 Professional Track, but just could not find one in my size. Indeed, the 73-74 paint scheme Pro Tracks are hard enough to locate without a size constraint. It was like searching for hen's teeth while wearing a backwards ski mask.

When this bike finally appeared, I had to forget the 74 match as it was close enough to my size to be The One; indeed, the only one I'd seen in too long to remember. Thanks to xprmntl for an excellent packing job of a bike that I will cherish, whether on road, track, or wall.

I have an 83 De Rosa Professional (http://i-vol.com/bikes/de_rosa_professional.htm) in Super Record and Mavic GL 330 along with my Raleigh Professional, and I have to say that I have not ridden either since this 72 Raleigh Pro Track landed on this island. I've had more fun riding this beast then I could have imagined, taking it out every day, working up to 24-35 miles at a time. Sadly, there is no track/velodrome within many a mile. Some day, I'll get her back on the track, but until then, it's been in the country and island roads during slow traffic times.

I'm 6'3 and 180ish which means uber careful with the insanely light Fiamme Ergals, more matched to a max 150lb rider. Looking for a backup set of wheels for regular riding but for now with even spoke tension check, it's been great. These are the best wheels I've ever ridden on bar none, just amazing.

I plan on making a page dedicated to these bikes when I get the time. I've already tracked down photos of five or six. It's been great seeing the history posts here along with the comments/photo. It really really would be something special to get them all in one place online.

Planning on some Campagnolo Track pedals along with perhaps a move to the Brook Team Pro. Right now, I have the clips off my De Rosa on there along with my Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa Confort, a great fit so far. She needs a new chain as it's hard to get quiet with zero binding without some extra slack, although I now prefer more slack than I thought for the smooth/faster/quieter feel. This bike just rolls super nice, a nice compromise with the more vintage angles.

I spent a full day cleaning, wiping, and rubbing etc al. Just a beautiful ride. I've already developed a bond, putting quite a few miles in this short amount of time. Looking forward to many more.


http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/72_1_1024.jpg

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/72_2b_1024.jpg

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/72_4_1024.jpg

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/72_6_1024.jpg



http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/72_8_1024.jpg

The batch was in Seattle in the mid-70s. I think it was either Pine Street or Northwest Cycle 'seeding' the market in anticipation of the forthcoming Marymoor Velodrome. People also traveled from Seattle to a track (China Creek?) in Vancouver BC in the 70s before Marymoor was built, like your Eugene/Alpenrose situation. The bikes are gradually scattering around the world, as physical objects may, following their owners. Mine is now in Cali not too far from the OR border. 300+ miles to the nearest track.

Interesting. I live most of the year in Eugene now (in Portland for track racing season though :D) and can't convince any roadies on my team or otherwise to come to Portland to ride/race Alpenrose... I'm one of the tiny minorities of cyclists in Eugene who even know that a track exists in Portland.

Interesting. I live most of the year in Eugene now (in Portland for track racing season though :D) and can't convince any roadies on my team or otherwise to come to Portland to ride/race Alpenrose... I'm one of the tiny minorities of cyclists in Eugene who even know that a track exists in Portland.

Well that's because they're roadies! I thought Willy H. lived in Eugene (he and I were Juniors forever ago in NH) but that's 15 year old info. In terms of similar distances, we had lotsa Canucks at Marymoor when they didn't have a track of their own, so plenty of people do that sort of thing.

mobile homeless: Good looking bike! Cleaner than mine, which looks like it's been raced a bit--probably 15 seasons or so (because it has).

Good looking bike! Cleaner than mine, which looks like it's been raced a bit--probably 15 seasons or so (because it has).
Well, I would love to hear more of the history of the bikes brought in by Pine Street or Northwest Cycles as I am betting this bike was one of those brought in up there, hoping to be raced on that very same circuit. Since it was found in Eugene, then moved to Idaho, it's almost certainly of that mix. Indeed, most of the Raleigh Professional Tracks that I see online seem to be located there... quite interesting. I'm on the opposite end of the US, but get back to the Seattle/Portland area when I can (Portland is still one of my favorite cities).

I would really love to know more about that era of racing, especially the guys campaigning these Raleigh Professionals, you being one of them. It's the first I've read of this connection.

- kh


EDIT: The only photos I have of a 73 era Raleigh Professional Track on the track is of Bernie Hayden at Marymoor (http://bhayden.sweat365.com/2008/06/07/whats-in-a-name/) testing his Raleigh after seat binder rebuild (http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncancycles/sets/72157605209735116/). Sadly, it's without the stock fork but it's ironic that it's yet another Raleigh Professional Track up in in the US Northwest.

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/hayden_track.jpg