Originally Posted by
76SLT
I identified mine as a 73 based on what I read here.
Raleigh Serial Numbers & Charts If they have a 7 digit serial number and it starts with a 0 followed by 6 more numbers, it should be a 73.
Thanks 76SLT, that pretty much confirms the '73 versus a /72.
Originally Posted by
dddd
Yeah, the angles on this model (as well as the Super Course) are 73 seat tube and 71 head tube, which is traditional "off-road" geometry.
The 73 seat tube angle gives the rider a decently "upright" position over the bottom bracket for sustaining higher power delivery (versus some touring bike's 72 degrees), while the 71 degree head tube angle slows the steering and pushes the front wheel forward, both of which are best suited for solo riding versus riding in a tight paceline.
I'm not sure that I would want to go bombing off road on a bike with sketchy frame brazing, but the relaxed headtube angle provides the stability to support that kind of riding, just as on a good cyclocross bike.
dddd - Wow, you just nailed my perceptions of both this bike and a Ross Utopian I have been trying to tame as I like the paceline capable handling type bikes. While I could use contrasts on twitchy and stable, the paceline analogy is perfect as I found them really hard to hold to a perfect line if I twitch the bars just a bit. The other bikes I love riding have been more race geometry and while I sought the Raleigh and the Ross for potential commute with bags, I should stop expecting them to carve a corner will ultimate confidence like my Moser. I also just picked up a 1985 Team Fuji that carves corners, but I suspect if we tried to load the carving bikes they would be messy on a commute. I know there are countless threads on the geometry topics, but the vintage / make and country are fascinating to see the differences.
As for the sketchy brazing, it is amazing the differences I can see in the English, French, Italian and Japan bikes I have owned in terms of what is their priority and character.