Narhay

I picked this one up today. Originally purchased in Little Rock Arkansas. It is in "as found" condition. Campagnolo dropouts, brooks saddle and some Campagnolo gran sport parts. My intention is to redo bearings and ride for a little bit to see if the bike fits me. If it does (1" bigger than my usual frame size) I will be either looking to move the parts from my super course to this one, restore this one with a few replacement bits or potentially make it into a modern 11 speed bike.

It has mismatched wheels. The front looks like a high flange Nuovo tipo with a 27" rim. The rear is a low flange Campagnolo unknown hub with a 700c concave rim. Anyone know what it is?

Narhay

The top tube has the worst patch of rust. I will wrap a rag soaked in evaporust and touch up. What sort of touch up paint has been used successfully on these black competitions

Salamandrine 

Back hub is a nuovo tipo (gran sport) low flange hub. Rim is a Weinmann concave. No one else made concave rims. so it all sort of matches, except for the high flange, low flange thing.... Congrats though, very cool bike.

IMO it's kind of rare to see one of these so unmolested with most of the original parts. At the most I'd consider respacing to 126 and making it 6 or 7 speed. Make matching wheels. Maybe swap the brakes for some neo reissue gran compe centerpulls, or just put new pads and cables on those and call it a day.

Narhay

Just realized the title is Nathan, not Narhay...

I'll have to get a bit more familiar with the bike before I choose a direction to go with it. I do like the 14-28 pro comp freewheel. That tall gear will be useful around here. I was worried the gs Rd would not handle 28t

thumpism

There was one just like it, even in my size like this one, at an estate auction we attended. I was very good and did not bid on the Raleigh, the very clean Honda Hawk 650 motorcycle and the Ford Ranger pickup I was also interested in. Each sold for very reasonable bids but we got what we went for and I did not endanger my marriage.

Narhay

I sense you're still trying to convince yourself you did the right thing. I'll help you out...you should have purchased all three.

juls

Wow the 27 on the front looks enormous compared to the 700 rear. Someone loved that bike-looks like it is in good hands.

thumpism

Thanks for the thought, but not buying what I don't need is one of the things that enabled me to retire early. More time to ride the bikes I have. Highly recommended.

The Golden Boy 

That threw me...

oddjob2

Skipping the Ranger is a good thing. Had an 84, they suck. But when I bought it in 1987, I got a couple of dates with the sales lady, who wore knee high white vinyl boots. Need I say more?

Slash5

I cleaned up some top guides by wrapping some plastic around the top tube loose enough so you can get an eye dropper of evaporust in. I taped the ends with several turns. Worked well.

Velognome 

Nice score, my favorite ride, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Narhay

Thanks for all the great input. Do the cane Creek brake hoods work with these weinmann 605 levers? I've got a pair from the BOC I'd like to press into service.

Steve Whitlatch 

Beautiful bike. My friend has one. I love looking at his. The 3 arm crank is sweet.

mikemowbz

Very cool. If it's too big, drop me a line.

EDIT: Scanning last night, when I initially replied, it didn't quite register that this bike is the same year as the Raleigh Pro repaint currently en route to me from Ex Pres! Possibly the same size as well? Or perhaps a size down (that one's a 62 ctt, 57 tt)?

rootboy 

It IS one tall bike.

And yet another Comp where they ran out of N. Gran Sport front derailleurs, so put a Record on.

qcpmsame 

Nice find, very nice to see an unmolested example, as said previously.

If the title bothers you, ask a moderator to change the spelling for you. Just a thought.

Bill

Narhay

This is the problem area on the top tube. The rust doesn't go deep but it has ruined the paint in this location. I will see what I can do about the evaporust and if I can touch the paint up afterwards.



And this is the other conundrum. To preserve the Reynolds 531 decals the PO put tape on them. I am now in the position where I would like to remove the tape for aesthetic reasons. Do you think I have a chance at not ruining them or should I be on the lookout for some replacement decals?

The Golden Boy 

Please contact the mods and get this title changed.

Narhay's title on Narhay's post about Narhay's 1978 Raleigh Competition GS should be proper!!!

Velognome 

Leave the tape, it part of the provenience. Another option for the rust on the top tube is to apply a rust converter such as Rustoleum's Rust Reformer. The product goes on white and dries clear. More importantly it converts the rust to a stable iron tannate which just so happens to be black. Once cured, hit it with some clear coat to seal it. From 10 feet out it will look fine, up close, they call it patina.

Original finish will always look better and be worth more than a repaint or an over restored finish, it's only original once.

Narhay

Agreed! But mostly so I can google Narhay competition in a couple years and find my thread again.

jj1091

Maybe you could carefully cut the tape around the decal with an x-acto knife, then peel off the tape outside the decal.

rootboy 

That's an idea, jj1091. And a pretty good one. You could try the judicious use of heat, Narhay, to slightly soften the adhesive on the tape, and you MAY get lucky. But knowing, as we all do, how delicate those original Reynolds decals were, I'd be willing to bet the decal might come off with the tape. At least, pieces of it.
But if it were mine, I'd give it a try. I think that tape is ugly and nice looking repop decals are out there, of course.

rootboy 

These are such nice looking bikes. I don't have many regrets, but I do regret selling mine back in the early 80's.

Salamandrine 

I'd probably chance it also, as repro decals are available, and IMO a damaged or missing decal would still look better than that tape. Obviously it is a judgement call.

However, I don't think I'd use heat. That will likely loosen the decal. Oftentimes tape adhesives will dissolve in alcohol, but the decal is held by a waterbased glue. I would suggest denatured alcohol, drop by drop, tweezers, etc. Be patient and go very slowly. If you really wanted to be really methodical, do a practice run with a decal from a cheap plastic model under shipping tape.