sirupate

I'm new to the Forum and began the cleanup yesterday of the bike I bought new from Campus Bike Shop in 1974, a Raleigh Competition Mk II. Serial # is G9157 as best I can determine and located on the BB. I've hauled this bike to at least nine different living locations over the years. It was ridden very little, but has some paint dings from all the moving around.

The bike needs a cleanup and new tubulars. I will probably keep it original and ride it as a "classic'. All of the component parts are correct as per the pdf catalogs I have looked at from 73 and 74. The Competition decal on one side of the top tube is a bit faded. Should I use small amounts of touch-up paint on the few scratches it has??

Hopefully the bike will be a conversation starter on group rides. Looking forward to getting back in bike riding shape this winter and getting the bike sorted out for spring riding.

Hello to all here. I'm sure I can learn quite a bit from you.

Jeff

Michael Angelo 

Hello, and welcome to bike forums.

jeirvine 

We will gladly help with scads and scads of advice on your bike. All we ask in return is some pictures, preferably of the drive side.

JetWave

Welcome to the forum. I have recently picked up the same bike that you have. But mine has been converted to fixie and very rusted under the paint. Would love to see pictures of your bike too. I need some inspirations to rebuild mine into something respectable.

rootboy 

The good news is, black is usually pretty easy to touch up. The bad news is, doing touch up so it looks really good isn't easy.
You sure it really needs it? Take some good, well lighted outdoor pics of it, with lots of close ups, upload them to a free hosting site, and post them here, and then we can all tell you not to paint it. . Those are neat bikes. I bought one brand new too, in that time frame. Had the Jubilee derailleurs. Does yours?

sirupate

Pictures, yes, I need to learn to do that. As to how it is equipped, it has the Huret Jubilee derailleurs, Specialties TA crankset, GB stem, Brooks saddle, AVA rims, Normandy Luxe Competition hubs, Huret fork drop outs, Atom freewheel and quick releases, and Weinmann centerpulls. Nothing interesting on the seatpost or bars...just alloy.

I have "misplaced" the Zefal frame pump that was with the bike when I bought it. I also added a ******** rear carrier for touring purposes.

Need to lookup picture hosting sites. Going to work on the rims this weekend. Don't know how they got that cruddy.

degan

If this is a bike you are going to be riding often, I'd consider getting a spare wheelset with rims that are meant for clencher tires and save the tubulars for certain nice days. As I'm sure you know, getting a flat on tubulars can be a real PITA.

sirupate

Yes, I've thought about that. I don't have good experience with tubulars and flats. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I'll need "vintage" hubs or wheelsets to make this work due to changes in frame width between vintage frames and modern frames?? Yes? Is this a haunt eBay type of deal looking for old stuff, or does someone make new wheelsets sized to vintage frames?

Jeff

Ex Pres 

1. I can change a flat tubular quicker than changing a tube in a clincher
2. When you get that tubular flat, your bike will often handle better than with a flat clincher.

Now I will grant you that once it's flat, repairing is more difficult and/or expensive; and
if you flat twice - you're often the only person in any group riding tubulars, so this can be a problem

Bandera

4 ways to go:

1) If the hubs are in good shape have them re-built w/ 700C clincher rims & rubber
2) Source used clincher wheels
3) Modern wheelsets are readily available for your frameset
4) Ride your tubulars

2 & 3 will bring up freewheel vs. cassette considerations, the 1st of many in living w/ C&V kit.

-Bandera

rootboy 

You might be able to find a good deal on a used set of 27 inch wheels if they'll fit in your frame and your Weinmann brakes have the adjustability, which I suspect they would. 27's will be cheaper than a used set of 700c clinchers, and your local LBS might even have a set around. They'll be 4 mm taller than your current set of wheels though so make sure you have the room.

Peugeotlover

For a time, when I used my Peugeot as a commuter, I went to clinchers- I just bought a pair of inexpensive built wheels from the local shop.
But, now, I have gone back to the original tubular wheels- Normandy competition hubs with Mavic rims.

I have a pair of tire savers mounted from both brake calipers bolt/nut. That keeps the sharp stuff from penetrating the tire and causing a puncture.
The tire savers work really well and are highly recommended.

I really like the feel of the tubular ride, a lot better than the clincher ride.
If I were to get a flat, I would pull off the flatted tubular, then fit on a spare tubular, fill it with air from the air pump, and ride home easily until I could glue on the new tubular properly- a piece of cake job after you have done it once.

Then I would probably put the flatted tubular in the garbage.
Because, I am using the Yellow Jersey's 3 for $50. Servizio Corsa tubulars.
Which work well for me.
Though many feel that SC's are too cheap for their dignity, they do work for me and many others.

Pars 

If you go clinchers, I'll disagree with rootboy in that I would stick with 700c. If you keep the tubulars, swapping them will require minimal to no adjustment.

These would probably make a pretty good set of wheels and would allow a 6 (or possibly 7) speed freewheel. IIRC, yours is a 5 speed freewheel (the Professionals and the '73 RRA were 6 in these years with 126mm spacing vs. the 120mm spacing of the rest).

https://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=1570

Or as mentioned, you could rebuild your wheelset, or build another however you want.

Grand Bois

I suggest ImageShack. You get 5 gigs for free. I've been using it since Webshots folded. It's easy to use. Even I can do it.