Fairview

I have recently acquired another vintage bike, so I am thinning my collection by one. This is my very original 1974 Raleigh Professional in excellent unrestored condition. It is all perfectly original with the exception of beautiful clincher rims, a different handlebar stem, and replacement handlebar tape. There is not a mark or scratch on the bike anywhere. I don't know where you could find a finer example.

The frame, measured as Raleigh measures (from center of the crank up the seat tube to top of the top tube), is 24.5 inches. I am 6 feet 1 inches with a 33 inch inseam and the bike fits me perfectly, and I'd say there is plenty of adjustment if you are on either side of my size.

As you will see from the photos, the Professional is fully Campagnolo equipped, all date correct, and includes the optional Campy bar end shifters. I keep the bike in my office for an occasional ride along the bike path through town, so I will miss seeing it. The wheels are laser true, brakes are smooth and quiet (Campagnolo brake pads) the shifting is precise (six speed free wheel as originally supplied), and this bike is a joy in all respects.

I have installed the Campagnolo crank dust caps that are missing in the photos, and I have recently removed the white handlebar tape and replaced with silver gray handlebar tape that more closely matches the original, and looks even better. Included in the sale is a 1974 Raleigh sales brochure, the warranty card, assembly instructions, and pouch as originally supplied by Raleigh, all in excellent condition.

If you would like more photos, ones that you can enlarge and study closely, you'll find my Raleigh file in my SmugMug photos. The link is here: https://milepost105.smugmug.com/

I don't know exactly how to price this bike, but based on what I see, $1475 plus shipping seems more than fair. I can have this bike packed professionally at a local bike shop if you so choose. The bike is worth extra care, so I'd encourage you to do so.

Please contact me if you have questions. Phone is 540-241-4953 if you'd like to discuss it. You are welcome to come look at the bike and ride it, or send your trusted bike guy. I'm in Waynesboro, Virginia. Thanks for looking! Jeff

The Golden Boy 

Wow, that is beautiful!

But you have the discipline to say "one in, one out" that I just can't muster.

Good luck! And enjoy the chrome Paramount!

steelbikeguy

Beautiful! ...and it's my size too.... and it would look great parked between my International and Raleigh Team (and next to the Hetchins), but I'm tight on space.

I hope someone picks this up quickly and gives it a good home!

FWIW, my vintage bikes have all been ones that popped up for sale, such as your bike. I've never gone out searching for bikes, but haven't had much ability to say "no" when a nice one shows up. For that reason, I really do hope your Pro finds a new home, and quickly!

Steve in Peoria

kroozer 

Wow... what do the keepers look like?

sloar 

Beautiful, Id like to find one in a 56cm. Good luck with the sale.

bikemig 

+ 1. Hopefully I'll beat you to it (finding that 56 cm international,

sloar 

Uh oh! Its on now.

bikemig 

I wish, lol. I've seen your bike haul; I'm confident you'l beat me to it.

ascherer 

Just lovely.

Kactus

That is beautiful. I'm SOOO glad that it's too big for me.

merziac

This is an absolute bargain, you might find a nicer one, but it won't be this reasonable, you might find a cheaper one but it won't be anywhere near this nice. Anybody that's on the fence about this should jump.

The Thin Man 

I totally agree with all of this.

merziac

Tx man, I am furiously trying to justify this after peeing away a stupid amount of $$$ recently on way too much bike stuff already. We'll see how that works out.

Fairview

Thanks for all the nice comments. It truly is a beautiful bike.

If you think my asking price is out of whack and would like to make an offer, please do. Feel free to call or text me on 540 241 4953, or send a private message.

I would like to see my bike go to someone here on the forum.

Best to you, Jeff

rootboy 

Man. Are your other bikes that nice?
that is really something.

Fairview

Not yet!

rootboy 

I won't go where we sometimes do here...as in; "boy, am I glad that isn't my size or..."

That is my size. And I've always loved these bikes since I first saw one sitting in our local shop. It was probably about this same era.
But alas, I'm not putting my funds into vintage bikes anymore.
This one is almost making me re-think this.
That bike is just beautiful.

What stem originally came on these bikes? A 3TTT?

Hope you find a good home for it here.

Bandera

Yes, generally a stubby one ill-mated to a flexy GB bar in a width suitable only for Barney Fife.
With a variety of bar styles/widths and stem lengths available we re-fitted with Cinelli in the proper sizes for the customer "back when".

-Bandera

Fairview

These are to show a close up of the stem and bars, the silver tape, and crank dust cover

USAZorro

It would be a three way battle.

Beautiful, beautiful bike. Mercifully, far too tall for me.

Kactus

Considering the condition and originality of the bike, I don't think your price is out of line. The only things not original, stem and rims, is something that most people would probably upgrade anyway. What happened to the original rims?

Fairview

I don't know what became of the original tubular rims. That swap was done before I bought the bike. If I had done the swap, I certainly would have kept them, I'm just wired that way.

merziac

Like I said, an absolute bargain. You should be able to hear my gears stripping through the internet trying to figure out how to justify this, it's a little small which all my bikes have been so until lately but that,s not a factor with this one.

CrankyFranky

Oh Man! I had to just drool at a Pro like this, but couldn't swing the extra hundred or so back in '72, so I settled for my Atala. This is a perfect time capsule, Jeff. Bumping just for props.

deephate 

That's a really nice bicycle. I mean really nice...I'm drooling. I may need a drool bucket.