High-end 1986 Triumph road bike
 

I found this odd bike via Craigslist today, a half-hour away but just $100 so I went and got it.

It's a Raleigh-built frame, Nottingham not Ilkeston or Carlton.

Full 531 DB tubeset and big-windowed lugs, plus steep angles.

It's a Franken-bike build, some of the better original bits like the likely Superbe Pro crankset, brakeset and wheelset have been substituted for other stuff. Bolt-style Dia-Compe "G" calipers were fitted using washers, boo, hiss. Only the Suerbe Pro derailers and shifters remain. The front derailer seems to be clearly the original installation based on the absence of clamping prints on the seattube.

I'd never heard of such a model before, and can find no literature or info online.

Anybody know if these "road" models were more than just a very brief marketing effort?

BTW, I believe Raleigh bought Triumph Bicycles in the 50's.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1505/2...b247ee0b_c.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1710/2...8a6d1282_c.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1564/2...b5036f13_c.jpg

One of these popped on the Denver CL a couple of weeks ago, unfortunately for a lot more than $100 so I took a pass.

I did a cursory search at the time and from what I gathered, the Triumph label allowed Raleigh to provide bikes to shops without an agreement to sell Raleighs.

There was a Raleigh Gran Course frameset that I believe was also offered as a Triumph. A search of BF turned up a number of threads (e.g. link)

Here's pic from that thread:
http://www.routinezero.com/bikes/xsm_gran_course1.jpg

I want one.

Thanks, CO_Hoya (!) Your picture shows the same 60cm size as mine with 57.5cm top tube.

Same frame it is. Same Gipiemme dropouts and details. Your link gave me all the info I could want.
I guess I would say that this is the standard-formula mid-80's Nottingham Raleigh road bike.
From 1989 or so they had moved on to Technium frames, with available 753 OS main tubes, and still with steep 74-degree angles.

I wonder what the name on the top tube was for my frame. The little decals are long gone. (EDIT: it's Gran Course alright)

Not that it matters. It's not a great-looking frame in such well-used condition as mine, so warrants a possible refinishing but I would not bother with the shadowing fade on the tubes.

Raleigh calls it "Variable Geometry", but I just call it "steep". Ought to be "sprightly" as Charles Wahl had observed.

A few forum members have one of those, or a versions it... thinking of @nlerner, @Zaphod beeblebrox , @RobE30...

That is really nice, and I'm glad it landed with someone who knows what it is.

I had a Nottingham Triumph at one time, bright red. That was the only thing fast about it, but I bought it from CL, the guy was 70 or so, and had a beautiful 34 Ford Coupe. It was all Huret and had steel rims, like new, and those leather straps on the hubs. I took it to Stop/Swap/Save and sold it before I got into the show to the Bike Man from Delaware. If it had said 531 I'm sure I'd have remembered.

I'm the current owner of the 1984 Raleigh Gran Course that Charles Wahl purchased new as a frameset. It's a great rider, not unstable as those steep frame angles might indicate though I've run it with 28-32mm tires (the 32mm were a 650B conversion). The fade paint job is, indeed, very 1980s:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...2/IMG_2388.JPG

For the record, the Triumph in Inland Empire is still listed on CL: https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/5394848840.html Asking $700 and just comparing the 2, they look like the same model. I posted this one a few days ago in the CL thread. I've seen Triumphs but not of this quality, I think I've seen the 3 speeds too.

For sure, yours was one that ended up in the hands of one who appreciated it. Stellar build, yours is a one-of-a-kind.

What in Frankenstein's laboratory is going on with your particular Shimergo rendering? How many cogs on that cassette? Eight maybe? Maybe it's a freewheel?

Glad to know that such tire sizes will fit! Are those the narrowest 650b tires available by chance? I see it is pictured still with 700c.

BTW, I remember that SR used the Gran Course moniker around 1979, for a ~27-pound road bike pretty far down in their lineup.

Standard Shimergo setup: Campy Veloce 10-speed ergo brifters, 8-speed Shimano cassette, Dura Ace 7402 RD. Just plug and play.

I initially had it with 650B x 32mm wheels/tires (and I believe 32mm is as narrow as you can currently find; I was using Grand Bois Cypres tires, which are really nice), but for the last couple of years I went back to 700c wheels. I can't say I've notice much of a difference. I like the ride with both configurations.

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...if you decide to go that route, Pacific powder coat over on 23rd Ave will strip and powdercoat the frame and fork for about $125. Make sure you mask the crown race seat, or they will powdercoat it. But they did a reasonable job for me on three frames, all single color black or white.

It's a nice frameset. I had mine for a few years, sold it, bought it back and resold it after building it up w/ modern 10spd Ultegra. Enjoy it. If I find another, I'll most likely bring it home