Originally Posted by
noglider
I haven't done a side by side comparison, but I will be able to do so soon. I have a 1971 or 1972 Raleigh Super Course with plain gauge 531 main tubes. I'm building up a 1974 Raleigh International with pretty much the same geometry but butted and therefore lighter tubing. Workmanship appears to be about the same. They are both pretty good specimens, as luck would have it. My International is taking forever to get together, since I'm painting it over the course of months. I just moved house today, so I'm not sure I'll work on it at all soon.
I'm very interested in this comparison. I have a 53 cm S/C 1973 waiting for time to be given some love, and I wonder the same thing - how well does the frame work, being straight gauge? Back when it was new I hung around bike shops a lot, and most shop guys did not respect the Super Course, calling it the Super Horse and not in a good way. But I'm also interested in the laid-back geometry. I've never owned a late '60s/early '70s International, but I think I might like it.
I'm also interested in some discussion about why PX-10s, especially with the earlier geometry 1968 or so, are good riders. I have one of them, too, pining for some love.