I've hinted in other posts here, about a bike I used to ride years ago. It's the Raleigh Touring 14 (also known as the Rampar Touring 14). As near as I can date the bike, it is most likely the 1979 model (I bought it used from another student). It was my "car" during college, as well as some camping trips, and later, as my commuter to work, and just riding around. At one point, however, I got hold of a Cannondale road bike, and gave my Raleigh to a good friend of mine. He was a champ and told me that if I ever wanted it back, I could--and has, in fact, on more than one occasion offered it to me. Well, I recently discovered a cheap way to get it shipped from Ohio to Krakow, Poland--about $75 all told. This is where my predicament comes in. My friend was a champ to keep the bike, but as his pics will show---well--time hasn't been too kind to the poor baby.

Hence my searching for advice. The rust looks pretty bad, but it's mostly surface rust. When I bought this bike, there was a lot of rust, as you see here--on the spokes, components, and other bits and pieces, as well as the frame (It's been repainted twice). However, the fork looks horrible, as does the rear freewheel. (Although, I have a more modern pair of wheels I can put on it, so that's no big deal. My question is this.... Is it worth bothering sending this bike over from the US? I should add that I have looked and looked, and asked and asked, and touring bikes, like this, just aren't to be found here, nor are front racks, randonneur bars and bar-end shifters (I would absolutely die if I had to use brifters or downtubes--I am happy with friction--besides, road bikes don't have room for fenders and larger tires, nor braze-ons). I'm about 90% to saying "yes" to the deal, simply because even if I decide that the bulk of the bike is a "no-go" those three items alone, were I to buy in the US and ship over would cost more than to have the entire bike shipped (the shipping agent doesn't do small packages, so shipping just the parts would cost more!) Beyond that, I'm kind of attached to this bike. :-)

However, some of you folks here have dealt with some pretty rusty hulks. Do you have any advice? Is it worth the $75 from what you can see here? Is there anything I can do to the front fork to rescue it, or is it a goner? TIA for any advice. :-)

(Oh, the biggest shame? The once-beautiful genuine leather Avocet touring saddle.)

Pictures: