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'50's Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix

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'50's Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix

Old 03-21-07, 07:53 PM
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'50's Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix

I picked up this bike a few years ago and thought it was time to put up some pics. Rydjor's collection has the same bike listed as a '55. I'm no expert, but I'm thinking theirs and mine are both more like late '50's.
https://collection.rydjor.com/bikecollection/1955ral.htm
Anyone have any input on this?

For some reason BF made me shrink these pics more than usual.
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Old 03-21-07, 08:13 PM
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I don't know anything about your bike other than it looks great and I especially like the Cyclo-Benelux FD. How is shifting with that?
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Old 03-21-07, 08:39 PM
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Louis,

WOW! Great find and thanks for sharing. It looks nearly mint. Kurt, aka cudak888, should be drolling along at any moment. What type of components does it have?
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Old 03-21-07, 08:59 PM
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iab: Thanks. Shifting is kind of klunky compared to stuff from the 70's and up. But it does the job. Kind of sounds like farm machinery.

Bob: Thanks. It's got the Cyclo Benelux derailleurs, 4 speed Cyclo freewheel, Williams chainset 48/46 (if memory serves), Dunlop 27inch steel rims, Normandy hubs, galvanized spokes, Brooks B-15 saddle, Weinman Type 730 brakes, new Velox cloth tape. I had to put cheezy tires on it but they look period correct if you don't see the label. The old tires were so rotted they were unidentifyable(sp?).

I was really dissapointed to have to shrink those pics so small, they showed way better detail at normal size.
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Old 03-21-07, 09:06 PM
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You're just the guy I've been looking for! I've been trying to create a set of reproduction decals for this model, but I've been stymied by a lack of reference pictures. Do you suppose I could persuade you to take a few pics for me?

BTW, I think '55 is correct for your bike. The later models' decals had a tricolor banner behind the lettering.
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Old 03-21-07, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by mswantak
You're just the guy I've been looking for! I've been trying to create a set of reproduction decals for this model, but I've been stymied by a lack of reference pictures. Do you suppose I could persuade you to take a few pics for me?

BTW, I think '55 is correct for your bike. The later models' decals had a tricolor banner behind the lettering.
Sure, be happy to. I'm not great with the camera but let me know which ones you need.
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Old 03-21-07, 10:11 PM
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According to Peter Kohler's article on the Lenton Grand Prix on the RetroRaleigh's site, they were in production from 1958 to 1961 or 62. Yours has the rod-operated front derailleur, which would place it 1958-60. I have a '61, which has a cable operated derailleur and GB brakes/levers.

Peter Kohler's article: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroral...on-kohler.html
My LGP: https://tinyurl.com/oxqer

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Old 03-22-07, 02:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Louis
Sure, be happy to. I'm not great with the camera but let me know which ones you need.
I'm sending you a PM. Thanks.
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Old 03-22-07, 03:10 AM
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Are these the same "Normandy" hubs?
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Old 03-22-07, 04:22 AM
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Sweet bike!
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Old 03-22-07, 06:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Stacey
Sweet bike!
Sweet new RAT avatar. The last one was challenging to look at.
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Old 03-22-07, 06:22 AM
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Raleigh Lenton

Ya Mike, thats exactly what my bike looks like, but with the paint and decals intact!! Get some good pics of those, and we should be golden.
On a more general note, this bike appears identical to mine in some other ways. First, the Normandy Hubs with the round holes, same as mine. The spec sheets for these bikes call for Racelite hubs, so there seems to be some differentiation between the same model, maybe a year thing?? Also, I also have the Weinmann Type 730 brakes on mine, although some others I have seen have GB calipers. Cyclo Benelux derailler setup and Brooks type 15 saddle all the same. I am jealous of the nice paint remaining on this one! But I am sure that at some point, with mswantaks help, I will have mine back close to original!

QUOTE=mswantak]You're just the guy I've been looking for! I've been trying to create a set of reproduction decals for this model, but I've been stymied by a lack of reference pictures. Do you suppose I could persuade you to take a few pics for me?

BTW, I think '55 is correct for your bike. The later models' decals had a tricolor banner behind the lettering.[/QUOTE]
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Old 03-22-07, 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
Sweet new RAT avatar. The last one was challenging to look at.
Thank you. Why do you say that? He was cute.
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Old 03-22-07, 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Louis
iab: Thanks. Shifting is kind of klunky compared to stuff from the 70's and up. But it does the job. Kind of sounds like farm machinery.

Bob: Thanks. It's got the Cyclo Benelux derailleurs, 4 speed Cyclo freewheel, Williams chainset 48/46 (if memory serves), Dunlop 27inch steel rims, Normandy hubs, galvanized spokes, Brooks B-15 saddle, Weinman Type 730 brakes, new Velox cloth tape. I had to put cheezy tires on it but they look period correct if you don't see the label. The old tires were so rotted they were unidentifyable(sp?).

I was really dissapointed to have to shrink those pics so small, they showed way better detail at normal size.
I really like half-step gearing, and something like 49-46 / 14-16-18-20-23-26 provides a great progression of ratios. I have never had a suicide front shifter, but I did suffer for several months with a Cyclo Benelux bandspring rear derailleur like yours, before upgrading to an old brass Campag. Gran Sport, which worked ALOT better and was still period-correct for a 1950s frameset.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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Old 03-22-07, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by John E
I really like half-step gearing, and something like 49-46 / 14-16-18-20-23-26 provides a great progression of ratios. I have never had a suicide front shifter, but I did suffer for several months with a Cyclo Benelux bandspring rear derailleur like yours, before upgrading to an old brass Campag. Gran Sport, which worked ALOT better and was still period-correct for a 1950s frameset.
Is there a tooth difference range that still keeps a crankset a "half step?" For instance if there was a 5 tooth difference, would that be a half step? At what range is a "whole step?"
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Old 03-22-07, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
Is there a tooth difference range that still keeps a crankset a "half step?" For instance if there was a 5 tooth difference, would that be a half step? At what range is a "whole step?"
That depends on the progression in back. Ideally, the percentage change in front should be half, or perhaps just over half, the average change in back. Since we are dealing with (relatively) small-integer arithmetic, the whole process is pretty ragged, but one can do pretty well with a little care.

My favorite combinations:

3-tooth drop in front with 2-tooth drop in back, such as 50-47 / 14-16-18-20-23.

4-tooth drop in front with 3-tooth drop in back, such as 52-48 / 14-16-19-22-26 or 49-45 / 14-16-19-23-26.

5-tooth drop in front with 3.5-tooth drop in back, such as 52-47 / 14-17-20-24-28.

6-tooth drop in front with 5-tooth drop in back, such as circa 1972 Nishikis' 54-48 / 14-18-22-28-34.

The slick trick with half-step is to convert it temporarily to 1.5-step when riding in mountains, simply by changing the inner chainring, e.g. 50-47 becomes 50-42 and 52-47 becomes the classic 52-40.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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Old 03-22-07, 10:02 PM
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Thanks for the comments everyone.

The information regarding the year my bike was made is conflicting. The serial # is 96029 RA. I was not able to find any info using this serial #.

Pastor Bob: Yes, those hubs you pictured are exactly the same as mine, but mine don't have the gnarly wing nuts.
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Old 03-23-07, 03:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Louis
Pastor Bob: Yes, those hubs you pictured are exactly the same as mine, but mine don't have the gnarly wing nuts.
Originally just the front hub had the wing nuts. But when I cleaned off the 45 years of grime they looked so nice I searched for a rear pair on ebay. Picked up the ones you see on the rear for $7. The flanges don't match but we'll see how they work once I lace them to new rims.
Originally Posted by John E
5-tooth drop in front with 3.5-tooth drop in back, such as 52-47 / 14-17-20-24-28.
I'm working on a 5 tooth drop up front, 47-42 (big hills any where I ride around here) and was thinking about a rear at 14-17-19-21-25. But it sounds as if I should try your combination instead. Do you know if a Nuovo Record RD can handle a 28 tooth cog? BTW, I have a new Suntour 5 speed freewheel that can be built with nearly any combination from 13-36.
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Old 03-23-07, 07:22 AM
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Nice machine.

Originally Posted by Louis
I was really dissapointed to have to shrink those pics so small, they showed way better detail at normal size.
If you still have the originals, you might try saving them as GIFs instead of as Jpegs, and attaching to another post.
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Old 03-23-07, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Louis
Thanks for the comments everyone.

The information regarding the year my bike was made is conflicting. The serial # is 96029 RA. I was not able to find any info using this serial #.
I think the Rydjor website was wrong with its 1955 date. I'm going with Peter Kohler's timeline, particularly given that the Lenton Grand Prix is not in the 1958 catalog online at RetroRaleighs, nor is it in the 1957 catalog at Mark Bulgier's site.

Fwiw, the serial # on my 1961 is 37935RA.

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Old 03-23-07, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
Originally just the front hub had the wing nuts. But when I cleaned off the 45 years of grime they looked so nice I searched for a rear pair on ebay. Picked up the ones you see on the rear for $7. The flanges don't match but we'll see how they work once I lace them to new rims.

I'm working on a 5 tooth drop up front, 47-42 (big hills any where I ride around here) and was thinking about a rear at 14-17-19-21-25. But it sounds as if I should try your combination instead. Do you know if a Nuovo Record RD can handle a 28 tooth cog? BTW, I have a new Suntour 5 speed freewheel that can be built with nearly any combination from 13-36.
The small drop in front will enhance you chances of making the NR work with a 28T. I think 46-42 / 13-15-18-22-26 would be pretty slick (run that through MS Excel).
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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Old 03-24-07, 05:36 AM
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Originally Posted by John E
The small drop in front will enhance you chances of making the NR work with a 28T. I think 46-42 / 13-15-18-22-26 would be pretty slick (run that through MS Excel).
I'll give it a try but I'm not certain I can find a 46 tooth 144 bcd chainring. Currently I have a 42, 44 and 47, 52, & 53. My weak legs, overweight body, and large hills to climb in NH, rule out the bigger rings. I could go with the 42 & 44. How does that plug into your spread sheet (they didn't teach us about spreadsheets in seminary)? Thanks.
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Old 09-21-07, 10:23 PM
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As far as I know, the move to 27 inch wheels happened in 1957.
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