ribertgropius

I have an early 70's competition that I purchased used in 1976. It was purchased upon recommendation of a friend and bike-enthusiast, and indeed it was a wonderful bike to ride. As life took me to other parts of the country, the bike was put up for storage with the thought I would pull it out again as some point. That was 30 years ago.

Since that time, I have moved a number of times, started a family, and not had a chance to even consider pulling it out until now. I have recently relocated to the Washington DC area, ahead of my family who is still in Michigan, and now have time, interest, and lots of available trails to consider riding both for pleasure and for commuting. I was looking at used road bikes on craigslist (tried a Bridgestone 400 this weekend, and have been considering some treks) and couldn't help but wonder if perhaps I should consider ressurecting my competition instead of buying a "new" used bike.

Here are my concerns:
1. The bike was always just a tad small for me (I am 6', 34" inseam).
2. The seat might have been fine when I was in my teens and less than 150 lbs, but my suspicion is that I need to consider something more forgiving for the 30 years and 50 lbs that have been added!
3. The rims are for glue-on sew-ups. After sitting for these years, it would not surprise me that I need to replace the tires.
4. Since I will be using it on occasion for commuting or even bringing some groceries home, I would need to fit it with a rack (I don't have a car in DC, so I am looking at this bike as having a utilitarian purpose as well as recreation).

So the question is, do I upgrade the bike, or invest instead in a newer used machine with new components? The ten speeds seem adequate for me. Should I consider replacing wheels, or at least rims, to take newer clincher tires?

The other option is to list it on ebay if I am not going to use it, and invest in a newer bike that is a frame size larger with newer components. Any opinions?

Robert

USAZorro

I suggest you fix it up, try things out and see how you like it. If it won't work for you - because of size, or whatever, you'll be able to quickly find a good home for it, and use the proceeds to get something you like better.

Count on needing new sew-ups.

The seat? Try it out and if you can't abide it, replace it.

No offense, but I wouldn't use a racing bike as a grocery getter. It isn't made for it, and I wouldn't be keen on leaving it locked outside while I was in the store - and I live where the crime rate is nearly non-existent. Perhaps you can locate a separate bike for those errands.

Creakyknees

Post photos! I had a Raleigh Comp as a junior racer, won my first race on it so there's a sweet spot for them.

In its day it was a high-end, for-real racing bike. These days it'd likely be stripped down and spray painted and turned into some dumbass hipster's fixie project. Please don't let that happen...

dbakl

The original seat was a Brooks, properly setup they are the best in my opinion. The sewups might be a problem for commuting, you could get them rebuilt into clinchers or just find another set of wheels. The Huret Jubillee deraillers were a very light and a little fragile, but with care should serve you well. Otherwise, they were nice bikes for the price and should serve you well today. I doubt the geometry is incredibly race compared to todays bikes. A little bit of futsing and not much money you'll have a cool dependable bike!

I just rode my last new bike from 1984 yesterday, and it rode like a dream.

If you ebay it, keep it together for someone to appreciate the originality.

Rocksteady

I have an early '69 competition and it's a wonderful bike, far better and beautiful than the most of the stuff you find on CL or Ebay!!

What size is yours? Mine is a 58cm and fits very well (Im 6' w/ 34 inseam also)

My advice to you (if you are interested in keeping it- if not, send me a PM and let me know how much you want for it!!) would be to keep it and replace the tires and get it tuned up and keep it for recreational, paved trail/ road use. Then get a used touring bike for a commuter- something like a 80s Univega or Trek frame with bosses for racks and fenders and fatter tires.

lastly- you must post pics!!

RS

nlerner

The early 70s Competitions had much more touring-like geometry than the racier later 70s models. I had a 1971 Competition that I outfitted as a 3-speed commuter with upright bars and front basket, but it's now in the hands of another BF member as more of a club racer-type bike.

I'd suggest going with a clincher wheelset, a new saddle, and a rear rack for panniers, and you'll have a like-new classic bike with much less investment than what something new would cost.

Neal

ribertgropius

so....LOL...after reading all the advice, I decided on a couple of things:

1. I bought a used Raleigh CX Dash on Craigs list, with wider clinchers, a rear rack and an 18 speed set-up with Shimano derailleur, Sakae crank, Gelite seat and straight bars. I decided that the advice about the Competition being really a road bike as opposed to a get-the-groceries bike felt right to me. I don't know the age of the bike I purchased, and it appears that someone put a fair number of new parts on it, but it rides nicely, is suitable for carrying stuff with the rack, and fit me nicely.

2. I went back to Detroit last weekend and took a look at the Competition hanging up in the garage. Yes, it's a brooks seat; yes it has the huret derailleurs; and yes it is very light. I am thinking that I may bring it out at some point just to ride around when I am not worrying about errands. Can someone tell me how you measure the size of the frame so I can identify its size?

3. Encouraged by the enthusiasm voiced on the forum, I decided to call my friend from high school, the one who talked me into buying it 30 years ago, and sure enough, he still has his competition! I remember his bike in particular because he changed wheels to sealed bearings (phil wood?) and I remember how smooth his was to ride compared to mine even after we took apart mine and cleaned and re-greased everything. It was fun to catch up with him and talk about the bike, and I think I rekindled both of our interests in riding around on them again.

The sew-ups on mine didn't look too bad, but of course, sitting there for all this time I gotta think the rubber has started to rot. And the old Silca pump has developed sort of a golden patina...can you still get parts for to rebuild those pumps?

Anyways, thanks to all for their advice and enthusiasm. I look forward to a healthy summer of biking and renewing old friendships.

Robert

Bill Clark

way cool pic of the cruiser Competition...I too have a Competition, and am wondering what to do with it. Same thing, need commuter and thinnk it would be better to get something more appropriate. Also fram is small fo rsomeone with a 32" inseam at about 6'

roseskunk

damn, great stories, great bikes!!