Interesting English lightweight, with photos
04-25-06, 11:01 AM
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Interesting English lightweight, with photos
Hello everyone, long time lurker, first time poster...
I have a wonderful 531c lugged bicycle with the brand name "Triumph." I picked it up third- or fourth-hand, so I have no information about it other than what is on the bike and the little I have been able to glean from the internet and bike shop people.
I know that Triumph built three-speeds in the mid-20th century, and were bought out by Raleigh, who continued the brand as a sort of second-tier to their bikes, but I couldn't find any indication that they ever built lightweights... or any mention of them at all in the mid 80's, which is seemingly when this bike was made.
This bike was definitely built by Raleigh, as the seat tube has a sticker proclaiming the fact, and the headbadge says "Nottingham, England." However, there is nothing b-level about this bike. The lugs are beautiful, as the photos show, and it came with 6-speed 105 bits. The wheels were cruddy 27-inchers that I really can't imagine being original equipment, and were promptly replaced with my first handbuilt wheels (yay!) which required the rear triangle to be respaced (scary, but it worked.)
Anyways, I figured this was the ideal forum to show off in, and I am having lots of fun with a bicycle that is seemingly out of the ordinary. Now on to the pictures!!
I have a wonderful 531c lugged bicycle with the brand name "Triumph." I picked it up third- or fourth-hand, so I have no information about it other than what is on the bike and the little I have been able to glean from the internet and bike shop people.
I know that Triumph built three-speeds in the mid-20th century, and were bought out by Raleigh, who continued the brand as a sort of second-tier to their bikes, but I couldn't find any indication that they ever built lightweights... or any mention of them at all in the mid 80's, which is seemingly when this bike was made.
This bike was definitely built by Raleigh, as the seat tube has a sticker proclaiming the fact, and the headbadge says "Nottingham, England." However, there is nothing b-level about this bike. The lugs are beautiful, as the photos show, and it came with 6-speed 105 bits. The wheels were cruddy 27-inchers that I really can't imagine being original equipment, and were promptly replaced with my first handbuilt wheels (yay!) which required the rear triangle to be respaced (scary, but it worked.)
Anyways, I figured this was the ideal forum to show off in, and I am having lots of fun with a bicycle that is seemingly out of the ordinary. Now on to the pictures!!
04-25-06, 05:16 PM
#2
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I had one almost identical to this, EXCEPT it was badged as a Raleigh. I bought it as a frame/fork from the big shop in Ames Iowa that closed out the last UK Raleighs sold in the US after Derby Industries bought the name for No. America. It had the same details, 531C, pierced lugs and fastback seat cluster and sloping fork crown. Mine had a weird fade paint job that was light metallic gray with a dark grey only on the underside of the tubes...almost looked like regular shadow under some light, then it changed when the light hit it from another angle. Really nice bike, I rode the hell out of mine...enjoy it.
04-25-06, 08:25 PM
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Now, that one really floors me!
As you correctly mentioned, the Triumph 3-speed was what we called the "B-line" bike at the Adams shop 35 years ago. It sold for $85.00, as opposed to $100.00 for a genuine Raleigh Sports and $60.00 for a Japanese knockoff.
Now, Triumphs were also 10-speeds, a copy of the Raleigh Record with slightly cheaper brakes, but otherwise about identical. I seem to remember the Record selling for $100.00 back then, the Triumph for about $90.00 - on the rare occasion we got them in. Since we were fighting for every bike we could get during the boom, the boss wasn't about to undercut his Raleigh line with an identical bike that sold for a couple of bucks cheaper.
However, I've never seen a Reynolds-tubed Triumph. Damn, that bike looks nice. I wouldn't be surprised if those wheels are original, as all remember all Triumph-badged bikes skimped on the wheels to keep the costs down. Being a six-speed, I'm guessing mid-70's which is about the time I got out of the business, so my not knowing about the bike isn't all that surprising.
Definitely hang on to it. It may not be a super-valuable classic, but it's certainly unique, and would definitely get some raised eyebrows out of the Brit bike crowd.
Syke
Deranged Few M/C
As you correctly mentioned, the Triumph 3-speed was what we called the "B-line" bike at the Adams shop 35 years ago. It sold for $85.00, as opposed to $100.00 for a genuine Raleigh Sports and $60.00 for a Japanese knockoff.
Now, Triumphs were also 10-speeds, a copy of the Raleigh Record with slightly cheaper brakes, but otherwise about identical. I seem to remember the Record selling for $100.00 back then, the Triumph for about $90.00 - on the rare occasion we got them in. Since we were fighting for every bike we could get during the boom, the boss wasn't about to undercut his Raleigh line with an identical bike that sold for a couple of bucks cheaper.
However, I've never seen a Reynolds-tubed Triumph. Damn, that bike looks nice. I wouldn't be surprised if those wheels are original, as all remember all Triumph-badged bikes skimped on the wheels to keep the costs down. Being a six-speed, I'm guessing mid-70's which is about the time I got out of the business, so my not knowing about the bike isn't all that surprising.
Definitely hang on to it. It may not be a super-valuable classic, but it's certainly unique, and would definitely get some raised eyebrows out of the Brit bike crowd.
Syke
Deranged Few M/C
04-25-06, 08:30 PM
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I like the correctly-worded Reynolds 531 decal. I thought only Schwinn Paramounts had those, and only because Schwinn cared to clarify that the stays and forks are technically not butted, but tapered.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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
04-26-06, 01:01 PM
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Unworthy, mine has the same paint, it just doesn't show up in the pictures very well. The only way you can really see it is by looking at the frontal picture of the seat lug. I also plan to ride the complete and utter hell out of mine, as it is way too nice to deserve anything less.
It should last me some time, as I am not a heavyweight, and there is absolutely zero internal rust.
It is interesting to know that there were Triumph LW's of any quality sold in the states. I was in Chicago this weekend, and Mike from Cycle Smithy told me it might have been a brand sold in Europe only, and mine one that someone brought over. So as long as my wheelbuilding job holds up, I suppose I fixed the only weakness in this one? Sure feels like it.
I noticed the decal too, but I didn't know they only came on Paramounts. Score one more for uniqueness!
As an appendix, the S/N is WE4006571 and the Shimano codes end with 1050, if that helps anyone.
Not that it really matters, but I weighed the bike and with the wheels I built, it comes in a hair below 22#
It should last me some time, as I am not a heavyweight, and there is absolutely zero internal rust.
It is interesting to know that there were Triumph LW's of any quality sold in the states. I was in Chicago this weekend, and Mike from Cycle Smithy told me it might have been a brand sold in Europe only, and mine one that someone brought over. So as long as my wheelbuilding job holds up, I suppose I fixed the only weakness in this one? Sure feels like it.
I noticed the decal too, but I didn't know they only came on Paramounts. Score one more for uniqueness!
As an appendix, the S/N is WE4006571 and the Shimano codes end with 1050, if that helps anyone.
Not that it really matters, but I weighed the bike and with the wheels I built, it comes in a hair below 22#
