Classic & Vintage - Couldn't wait, I finally got a Competition!

And it's a nice older one:D. Pics tomorrow if all goes well, and I can't pick it up until mid August. At least I have something to look forward to until then.:innocent::twitchy: I saw it on CL late last night around 9 pm, and figured it had to be gone already. I just had that feeling, yah know? I talked my buddy into calling about it, and he was the first to show up out of about 10-12 calls. He took one look and dropped the cash. I don't know the year model, but it has Jubilee derailleurs, Weinmann centerpulls, slope crown 531 frame/fork, pinstriped Nervex lugs, TA cranks, Carlton decal and the whole shebang. My buddy claims it will clean up nice. I don't know whether to jump up and down, laugh, or cry:lol:. I've been looking for one since about 2003-4. I would see them at the LBS from time to time when someone found them, and of course never for sale.,,,,BD

CONGRATULATIONS BD ! Well deserved ! And it's about time !

Can't wait to see the pix !

Thanks. Who says $125 can't buy you a nice bike anymore?;). Some of the other prospective buyers had the gall to try and talk him down sight unseen.,,,,BD

OMG ! :twitchy:

Jubilee + Carlton ~ 1974?

I bet it's black in color.

Jubilee + Carlton ~ 1974?

I bet it's black in color.

Black and Gold, just like the JPS Lotus Formula 1 cars from the 70's. Styling.

Black stays = pre-'74. Chromed stays = '75-on.

Got to get you a bit excited here:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_21.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_30.jpg

-Kurt

Sweet score, can't wait to see the pictures!

To quote Khat, TTIUWP.

Black stays = pre-'74. Chromed stays = '75-on.

Got to get you a bit excited here:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_21.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_30.jpg

-Kurt

Kurt, amazing as always. Bikedued, may you be totally stoked on this bike forever.

Yeah, I do believe it has chrome forks, and black rear stays. I will check the ad and see if it is still up. I should have grabbed the pic, but it was a single 2 inch wide CL upload. Oh I am stoked. Fine old Raleighs seemed to have been avoiding me, ever since I got into road bikes. Super Courses were as high as I could ever find. Nothing wrong with my copper 80 SC, but this is an entirely different animal:D.

My buddy was trying to convince me the wheels were original, Shimano hubs and Araya clinchers? I was like nuh uh, lol. These had tubulars, correct? What hubs and rims did they have. Butted or straight spokes? 27" or 700?,,,,BD

The big rivet Pro came off of the 510 last night in anticipation. This would probably would have had small rivets, am I right? I don't think anyone will jump on me too badly though? The ad was already gone and I don't blame him. I bet people were calling him day and night;)

Congratulations BD!

My '73 is one of my most elegant bicycles:

Bicycle Fashion: A 1973 Raleigh "Competition". An otherwise conservative British gentleman dressed in Italian finery by the Armani of bicycle style, Tullio Campagnolo. A whimsical hint of color in the red bar wrap. Saddle bag and saddle by Brooks of London.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/Head_High_and_Glassy/1973%20Raleigh%20Competition/DSC02361.jpg

Scott

Power wrap? Hehehe;) Thanks for the pics, can't wait to get pics of the one I am actually getting. Oh forgot my friend saying it has Huret drops. Does that narrow it down a little more?,,,,BD

Oh, don't I know that feeling of anticipation! Getting any sleep?

I slept about 6.5 hours last night. <--My average over the last few years. On rare occasions I will sleep 9 hours.

btw: I have my own version of that piece in your avatar. A dried beyond repair small rivet Pro, with randonneur bars:).,,,,BD

Black stays = pre-'74. Chromed stays = '75-on.


-Kurt

1974?

1974?

1973:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/1973raleighcat_06_lg.jpg

1974 (apparently the same image; for the record, my '74 already adopted the Pro's sloping crown used on the '75s):
http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh74/07CompetitionMkII.jpg

1975:
http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh75/07-Competition.jpg

1976 (ditto to 1975):
http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh76/Smaller/07_Competition.jpg

-Kurt

Kurt, amazing as always. Bikedued, may you be totally stoked on this bike forever.

Two more to get his heart rate up:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_20.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_22.jpg

-Kurt

Couldn't wait? You've been waiting since 2003 and now you have to wait until mid-August! Not that it won't be worth it.

Well, I meant for the proof pics, hehe. Thanks for the pics!:) So, I don't see any nervex lugs? Is this one a fluke, like my Prugnat lugged SC? My buddy said the lugs are "Like my Paramount". Speaking of the chrome P15 I sold him a year or so ago. Could he be mistaken, and actually seeing the ones on the 73 ad?,,,,BD

1974 (apparently the same image; for the record, my '74 already adopted the Pro's sloping crown used on the '75s):
http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh74/07CompetitionMkII.jpg



-Kurt

All '74s had Capella lugs and only 1974? Mine is identical to yours, including the sloping crown fork. For some reason, I thought it was a '73.

I slept about 6.5 hours last night. <--My average over the last few years. On rare occasions I will sleep 9 hours.

That's more than I was able to sleep last night. I am finally picking up a '74 International tonight. I sure hope the bike is living up to the anticipation.

I would love to see pictures. I will post some of mine over the weekend as well.

All '74s had Capella lugs and only 1974? Mine is identical to yours, including the sloping crown fork. For some reason, I thought it was a '73.

I wouldn't trust Raleigh on anything they show in the catalogs, with exception to paint scheme. '73s show Capellas, for the same photo was used. There's no way to be absolutely sure about it, really.

-Kurt

Kurt, how much do those bikes weigh?

Kurt, how much do those bikes weigh?

Haven't weighed mine, but I'd guess the 22-23 pound range.

-Kurt

Well, I meant for the proof pics, hehe.

Now I get it. Never mind.

The Competition is really the bike I wanted in the early '70s when I could barely scrape together enough money to buy a Gran Sport, the "entry level" 531 frame and fork Carlton bike. So I guess I've been waiting longer than you. Not that I haven't loved the Gran Sport; I still ride it frequently, but it certainly doesn't have the panache of a Competition. Enjoy.

Haven't weighed mine, but I'd guess the 22-23 pound range.

-Kurt
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/#catalogues
Specs are at the end of the catalogs. For 1974 it indicates 23 lbs.

Nice score there BD, I'm sure it will look great.
There was on on Ebay recently, it was in Northern Florida, I passed on it as it looked very rusty.

Mike

I have a Grand Sports frame, which will be going to my friend when I pick up the Competition. If it rides anywhere near as nice as the Super Course, I will be more than happy with it:D. I still have frames and components and even several complete bikes in Houston. I am going to try over the next year or so to narrow my collection down to around 7-8 really nice bikes, and let go of the rest. It will be hard, but I had FAR too many bikes for FAR too long. So far my list of keepers will be....

1980 Raleigh Super Course
1979 Trek 510
1984 Club Fuji
1994 Burley Bossa Nova tandem (for long rides together<3)
1974(?) Motobecane Grand Record
1974(3?) Raleigh Competition
One or two others which haven't been decided on....

I wouldn't trust Raleigh on anything they show in the catalogs, with exception to paint scheme. '73s show Capellas, for the same photo was used. There's no way to be absolutely sure about it, really.

-Kurt

If the catalog shows Capella lugs for '73, why do you believe yours is a '74?

Might any of you '73 or '74 Competition owners report a serial #?

Neal

fwiw - my '72 (G serial number and really over the top head lugs) has a fork with a sloping crown.

I love sloping crowns of that style!

If the catalog shows Capella lugs for '73, why do you believe yours is a '74?

Catalog shows ditto for '74 (though it's not much to go on).


Might any of you '73 or '74 Competition owners report a serial #?

A4392. If those misleading Carlton serial numbers have the slightest legitimacy, it suggest a '74.

If anyone has seen a confirmed '74 with Bocamas, let's hear of it.

-Kurt

I love sloping crowns of that style!

:innocent:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_13.jpg

-Kurt

[swoon]

Might any of you '73 or '74 Competition owners report a serial #?

Neal

Mine is A5885. The original owner told me it was a '73 so that's what I've always assumed ..

Scott

:innocent:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_comp_nott_13.jpg

-Kurt

Same lugs and fork as my G serialed one. Your paint and decals put mine to shame though. :o

Great find at a great price! The last complete one I saw seen in the North East was in really nice shape and sold for close to $500!

Hmm, wouldn't a 1974 have a Worksop serial #, e.g., WB4xxxxx? Or at least my '74 Super Tourer, Super Course, and International all do.

Neal

All the Carlton made models have the W s/n's, correct? My mystery Super Course with prugnat lugs had a W number on the BB.,,,,BD

Mine says A704. I guess the last digit didn't take. Capella lugs, sloping crown fork, painted stays and Huret dropouts. It's just like Kurt's above, but the workmanship is much better for some reason. I bought the damaged frameset just because I wanted the fork for my Carlton, then I ended up buying a fork at a swap, repairing the dents in the frame and building the bike with a 5 speed Sturmey Archer hub.

If you look at the online catalogs, you'll see that the '73 was spec'd with Capella lugs and a sloping crown fork, while the '74 was spec'd with Prugnat 62A lugs and a sloping crown fork. Since Kurt's and my frames have Capella lugs, I think it's fairly safe to say that they are '73s, as I originally thought. I started calling mine a '74 just because it's just like Kurt's and he said his is a '74. I'm afraid that this is one of the rare occasions when Kurt is wrong.

The '74 is shown with Capella lugs in the picture in the catalog, but that's because they used the same picture from the '73 catalog.

I have a Carlton Corsair that I think is around 67-70 or so. Here is a photo of the serial. I wondered if Raleigh might have just put Carlton stickers on GP's for this bike.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4808217296_66c5638db7_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4806084074_7e65d14632_b.jpg

I was thinking of the serial numbers on the bottom bracket. On the black Prugnat lugged SC I have, it's a long series of numbers beginning with a WK, if I remember correctly. I am going to see if I have the pic on photobucket, and will post it if I do.,,,,BD

Here's the scheme I was referring to:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/RaleighSerialNumbers.jpg

Neal

If you look at the online catalogs, you'll see that the '73 was spec'd with Capella lugs and a sloping crown fork, while the '74 was spec'd with Prugnat 62A lugs and a sloping crown fork. Since Kurt's and my frames have Capella lugs, I think it's fairly safe to say that they are '73s, as I originally thought. I started calling mine a '74 just because it's just like Kurt's and he said his is a '74. I'm afraid that this is one of the rare occasions when Kurt is wrong.

The '74 is shown with Capella lugs in the picture in the catalog, but that's because they used the same picture from the '73 catalog.

I should have been looking at those spec sheets at the back. Funny thing - I always thought those serials went by the first numeral, left to right. Eh - I ought to go back to the Nottingham stuff.

-Kurt

God only knows what they were letting out of the factory doors in the early to mid 70s. I picked my dad's Comp up new at the bike shop in 74, but I 'm thinking it may be a 73.
It looks like Scottryders (who sez it's a 73) but his has rear brake housing clamps when the 73 and 74 catalogs (.and my bike"s) show braze ons. I need to get off my duff and get the S/N . Enjoyable thread and great pics. THe paint on mine was sloppy on day one. Congrats on your score!

I never noticed the 73 and 74 catalogs show flat fork crowns. I think the competitions may take the prize for the most randomly assembled Raleighs.

Here's the scheme I was referring to:

Not even related to the serial scheme that I have on my Competition. Both the Competition and the International I had recently have these letter + 4-digit serials on the bottom of the BB.

-Kurt

Well, no pics tonight:mad: Sorry guys, I thought he would come through. That's alright though, at least it's in good hands. I don't have to worry about it getting sold, and it's too large for him to modify and ride;).,,,,BD