Rudge-Wentworth Rapide
04-30-08, 06:05 AM
#1
multimodal commuter
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Rudge-Wentworth Rapide
This is on Ebay now:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Rudge-Wentworth-...QQcmdZViewItem
My question is: is this a 531 frame?
The ad reads:
Thanks For looking at this beautiful vintage Rudge Bicycle. This bike rides and works great and is mechanically sound. It has been completely gone through by a Bicycle Shack associate. The bike has been carefully cleaned and regreased in both hubs ,crank and headset. There are still some things to be completed like finding a pair of brake hoods in better condition and some classic bar wrap. We did not have any that would do this bike justice so we decided to leave the items on as they were when we acquired it. The rear fender is broken and was reinforced with some duct tape on the inside and clear tape on the outside. (See picture) The tires are new. The old ones were in bad shape and were replacements anyway. All else seems to be original and in incredible shape.
There is a symbol on the hubs and crank that is the symbol (man on a bike) and R.I. for Raleigh Incorporated.
Here is what was found about this bike so far. If anybody has any further info please advise
Rudge-Wentworth Rapide S/N 489
Size 56cm Seat Tube ctc
Size 57cm Top Tube ctc
Components
GB (Gerry Burgess) Couneur 66 Center Pull Brake Calipers (new type in 1961)
GB Superhood Rapide Brake Levers
Huret Front Derailleur
Huret Alivit Rear Derailleur
Huret Downtube shifters
Brooks B15 Saddle (date code C64)
Dunlop 27x1 ¼ rims
It appears that Rudge was part of Raleigh bicycles by the time (mid 60’s) that this bike was built. By the seat code, likely a 1964 or 1965 model.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Rudge-Wentworth-...QQcmdZViewItem
My question is: is this a 531 frame?
The ad reads:
Thanks For looking at this beautiful vintage Rudge Bicycle. This bike rides and works great and is mechanically sound. It has been completely gone through by a Bicycle Shack associate. The bike has been carefully cleaned and regreased in both hubs ,crank and headset. There are still some things to be completed like finding a pair of brake hoods in better condition and some classic bar wrap. We did not have any that would do this bike justice so we decided to leave the items on as they were when we acquired it. The rear fender is broken and was reinforced with some duct tape on the inside and clear tape on the outside. (See picture) The tires are new. The old ones were in bad shape and were replacements anyway. All else seems to be original and in incredible shape.
There is a symbol on the hubs and crank that is the symbol (man on a bike) and R.I. for Raleigh Incorporated.
Here is what was found about this bike so far. If anybody has any further info please advise
Rudge-Wentworth Rapide S/N 489
Size 56cm Seat Tube ctc
Size 57cm Top Tube ctc
Components
GB (Gerry Burgess) Couneur 66 Center Pull Brake Calipers (new type in 1961)
GB Superhood Rapide Brake Levers
Huret Front Derailleur
Huret Alivit Rear Derailleur
Huret Downtube shifters
Brooks B15 Saddle (date code C64)
Dunlop 27x1 ¼ rims
It appears that Rudge was part of Raleigh bicycles by the time (mid 60’s) that this bike was built. By the seat code, likely a 1964 or 1965 model.
04-30-08, 10:37 AM
#2
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Frame is not made with 531 tubing. This bike would have been a low level Raleigh made bike at the time. A clue about the bike's quality level is the derailer hanger. If the derailer is attached to the stamped steel rear dropout by a seperate plate like in the picture of this one it's a lower level of quality bike. The better quality bikes use a forged steel dropout with the derailer hanger as an integral part of the dropout.
04-30-08, 11:22 AM
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Frame is not made with 531 tubing. This bike would have been a low level Raleigh made bike at the time. A clue about the bike's quality level is the derailer hanger. If the derailer is attached to the stamped steel rear dropout by a seperate plate like in the picture of this one it's a lower level of quality bike. The better quality bikes use a forged steel dropout with the derailer hanger as an integral part of the dropout.
This frame does look a lot like the Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix of the early 60s, but those Huret Alvit components also put it as something pretty low end.
Neal
04-30-08, 01:47 PM
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Wraparound stays a-la GP. Probably the Rudge equivalent, as Neal mentions.
Still utterly stunning though. I wish it was 531.
-Kurt
Still utterly stunning though. I wish it was 531.
-Kurt
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04-30-08, 02:56 PM
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04-30-08, 03:03 PM
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Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-30-08, 04:23 PM
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05-01-08, 02:49 AM
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The frame does look very similar the the Grand Prix frame, no doubt it is. It is still a very interesting bike though and I have not seen a similar Rudge, be a nice one for the collection.
