The Raleigh doesn't match the catalog (so what else is new?)
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,420
Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
129 Posts
The Raleigh doesn't match the catalog (so what else is new?)
A couple of weeks ago I got a call from someone who'd seen the sign in the driveway, who said he had a few bikes and a bunch of parts he'd like to get rid of. Now, this has been a particularly bad summer for what's been showing up at the shop. Way too many cheap first generation Taiwanese knockoffs of Japanese bikes (decent frames, the world's worst chrome). To the point that I've been seriously considering pulling in the sign and just working on my own bikes for awhile. I set up an appointment for the guy to drop by and make a note to be around.
He shows up right on time, and as I look in the back of the pickup I immediately realize I'm not looking at the usual junk that's been plaguing me all summer. First thing I see is a 24" sewup wheel. On the top of the box of parts is a very nice condition Brooks B-17. A set of long-plate TA shoe cleats. A LOT more parts underneath. And the bikes.
There's four of them: a Raleigh Super Course (I guess '73 but it looks heavily upgraded), a Motobecane mixte (2040 tubing, Weinmann alloy rims, SR five pin cotterless crank), a 70's something Trek (still working on the provenance), and a Panasonic DX-3000 (very tall frame). What's getting me excited is that, with the exception of the Panasonic (which was stored badly), somebody actually understood how you put a bike away and then forget about it. We're talking dirt, cobwebs, and light patina. No need for oxalic acid, rotary wire brushes, etc. Try Mother's Wheel Polish, Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, plus soap and water. OK, I'm interested.
The usual hemming and hawing to start the price negotiations, and I've only got $80.00 in the shop's bike buying fund. Then the guy mentions that he's a long time mountain biker (talking to him it was obvious he at least understood what he had sitting there, even if he didn't know the fine details), and he's trying to put some money together to get his first road bike. Light bulb goes off. I suggest to him that he keep the Raleigh, I give him the $80.00 for everything else, and he leaves the Raleigh with me to do my usual restoration and put it back on the road for him. He's in immediate agreement.
Now, my memory of the Raleigh timeline is that 1973 was the last year for the Super Course. Simplex Prestige and cottered crank. In '74 they brought out the Super Course Mark II which lists a Nervar Star crankset and Huret derailleurs. Well, we're looking at the Nervar crankset, but it's got a 42/38 chainring set and they're badly mounted 130 BCD rings. The Star needs 128's. The rear derailleur is Huret Jubilee, the front Huret Allvit. Which, I'm starting to notice is very close to the '74 specifications. I check the serial number which comes out (I'm doing this from memory) WA40001?? which means it was built in the first fortnight of 1974.
OK, here's pics of the bike:
As I wasn't able to come up with proper chainrings for the Nervar, I traded him his crank for a 7400 Dura-Ace near-NOS I've had laying around for years. Otherwise I put it back just the way he brought it in. Yes, the color is Coffee. That's a '73 color, wasn't done in '74. And the top tube says "Super Course" not "Super Course Mk II". Anybody got any ideas on this one? Or am I just trying to give Raleigh too much credit for organization back during the height of the Bike Boom.
By the way, I got the Motobecane finished yesterday. Someone's certainly going to find a home for this one. Only things I don't like about it is the stem shifters and brake extension levers. Both seems too cheesy for a bike that is obviously not the bottom of the line model.
He shows up right on time, and as I look in the back of the pickup I immediately realize I'm not looking at the usual junk that's been plaguing me all summer. First thing I see is a 24" sewup wheel. On the top of the box of parts is a very nice condition Brooks B-17. A set of long-plate TA shoe cleats. A LOT more parts underneath. And the bikes.
There's four of them: a Raleigh Super Course (I guess '73 but it looks heavily upgraded), a Motobecane mixte (2040 tubing, Weinmann alloy rims, SR five pin cotterless crank), a 70's something Trek (still working on the provenance), and a Panasonic DX-3000 (very tall frame). What's getting me excited is that, with the exception of the Panasonic (which was stored badly), somebody actually understood how you put a bike away and then forget about it. We're talking dirt, cobwebs, and light patina. No need for oxalic acid, rotary wire brushes, etc. Try Mother's Wheel Polish, Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, plus soap and water. OK, I'm interested.
The usual hemming and hawing to start the price negotiations, and I've only got $80.00 in the shop's bike buying fund. Then the guy mentions that he's a long time mountain biker (talking to him it was obvious he at least understood what he had sitting there, even if he didn't know the fine details), and he's trying to put some money together to get his first road bike. Light bulb goes off. I suggest to him that he keep the Raleigh, I give him the $80.00 for everything else, and he leaves the Raleigh with me to do my usual restoration and put it back on the road for him. He's in immediate agreement.
Now, my memory of the Raleigh timeline is that 1973 was the last year for the Super Course. Simplex Prestige and cottered crank. In '74 they brought out the Super Course Mark II which lists a Nervar Star crankset and Huret derailleurs. Well, we're looking at the Nervar crankset, but it's got a 42/38 chainring set and they're badly mounted 130 BCD rings. The Star needs 128's. The rear derailleur is Huret Jubilee, the front Huret Allvit. Which, I'm starting to notice is very close to the '74 specifications. I check the serial number which comes out (I'm doing this from memory) WA40001?? which means it was built in the first fortnight of 1974.
OK, here's pics of the bike:
As I wasn't able to come up with proper chainrings for the Nervar, I traded him his crank for a 7400 Dura-Ace near-NOS I've had laying around for years. Otherwise I put it back just the way he brought it in. Yes, the color is Coffee. That's a '73 color, wasn't done in '74. And the top tube says "Super Course" not "Super Course Mk II". Anybody got any ideas on this one? Or am I just trying to give Raleigh too much credit for organization back during the height of the Bike Boom.
By the way, I got the Motobecane finished yesterday. Someone's certainly going to find a home for this one. Only things I don't like about it is the stem shifters and brake extension levers. Both seems too cheesy for a bike that is obviously not the bottom of the line model.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
#2
Rustbelt Rider
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
The Super Course has Capella lugs, which to me says 1973 or very early 74 like the serial number says. I'd guess that they used the old 1973 frames and decals, with a mixed bag of new specs and sold it as a 1974ish model. I bet there was a lot of bleed over between years where the models changed.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
#3
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,392 Times
in
2,092 Posts
-Kurt
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,420
Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
129 Posts
In all fairness to Raleigh, at least they were much harder-assed regarding the components on their bikes than other manufacturers. We'd often have shipments held up because "the factory couldn't get enough components from the suppliers to complete the latest batch of bikes" (from the regional rep, getting chewed out by Merle). The secondary French brands we carried would happily stuff anything on a frame just to keep delivery numbers up.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,420
Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
129 Posts
I'll shoot something later tonight. I got a 52t for it, still need a 42t . . . . . . and . . . . . . . assuming they exist, would love to find something between a 48 and 50t, the range I actually ride.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mnmkpedals
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
7
11-04-13 07:02 PM