Originally Posted by
Redneckroofer
So I have an 83 Raleigh touring 18 that was gifted to me. My original idea was to try and faithfully restore it to original. Also thought about updating to today’s standards. My question is, which route would you all go? I’ve tried to contact Raleigh and haven’t received an answer yet (3 days). This bike rides so nice, but would love me some sti brifters and some featherweight wheels, to start. Not at 10 posts yet, pics coming soon.
The Raleigh company that made your bike is long gone. I would be shocked if they gave you any meaningful response. Once you start talking new wheels and brifters, you are really crossing into buying a used bike with the features you want instead. I've installed brifters on many vintage bikes, but it starts with scoring a nice donor bike with all the stuff I want, and then transplanting it from the donor bike to my desired bike, doing all the work myself. The tricky part is finding a deal on a donor bike, you have to look aggressively and POUNCE. To most, its a lot easier to just find a good newer bike instead.
I think those DT shifter bosses on your bike are obsolete and unique. You are going to have to do some grinding to make a change to them. Much easier to stick with what you have.
Those old canti brakes can provide excellent stopping power, properly adjusted. Its a touring bike, so it was designed to stop an average rider with a lot of heavy gear packed on the bike.