Thinking
 

I have this Raleigh Super Course hanging in my basement, a 1977. I am thinking strip off what parts that are on it and have it resprayed in black with red lug lining. I also have a nice set of Dia-comp brakes and levers in black that will go real well with this color scheme.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1499002980

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4206/3...d7546651_b.jpg

I recently came into a real nice Shimano 600 Arabesque groupset. It does not have a headset. I think the headset on the Raleigh is brinelled and I would like to get a 600 Arabesque headset to match the group and I do not know what the inner diameter is of the head tube is, can anyone help me with this info?

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1499002978

Other ideas to continue this is a black Brooks pro, Red cable housings, black bar tape, Maybe have the big ring black anodized and the small ring red anodized, fill in the Arabesque engravings with either Red or black. I have a set of Randonneur bars from a Schwinn ?? and not sure what stem, probably a GB 90mm. Not sure what wheels, 700c, and tires but I have a real nice 7 speed freewheel from PastorBobnh.

Thinking?

You already have a beautiful Raleigh in one of the finest colors. Black is the worst color for a classic frame (it very rarely works), and lined lugs will make it look much older. And also very high contrast and insensitive choices in colors for lining etc will make it look cheap and rough. It can maybe maybe work if you select the colors very carefully and
DON'T go all black and have a tint of some color.

All black will make it look like an urban beater bike.

But hey, that's just me.

Thinking is dangerous for me.

Do you have an example of what you'd sorta like it to look like?

It's not my favorite color scheme on Motobecanes.

Exactly!
Motobecane Grand Touring, the ugly duckling, is even hard to sell in original color scheme.

This is where I got my inspiration.
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...storation.html

https://scontent.fsnc1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...74&oe=5980943A

Attachment 570098

Gold and black work well together...

I don't consider my black bike to be an urban beater, maybe a Closed Road Killer. :roflmao2:
AND looking for black Modolo brakes & levers.
Butt = that's just me.

I love the look of those old black & red Motos, and assumed that's the idea you were shooting for. I would need a better look at the frame's paint before I would personally choose to go that route, but it's a SuperCourse, not some really rare thing that shouldn't be messed with.

I will admit, the the way the paint has aged and patinated over time is one of the things I like best about my (Emerald Green) SuperCourse.

As for the headset size, why not just pop it out and take a caliper to it?

Personally, I rather like black frames myself. However, I love the look of the original paint and would be very hesitant myself to change it. It's your bike and your decision though.

Hey now your picking on my best girl

[IMG]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/...6dd88f4b_k.jpgIMG_1034 by Ryan Surface, on Flickr[/IMG]

In regard to the headset, probably the best course of action if you want to replace it is to have a shop do the work.
If you are inclined to do the work, you'll need at the least a digital caliper.

1) Remove the headset cups. Measure the diameter of the headset cups. Measure the interior of the head tube in at least two spots and average the readings.
2) Remove the crown race from the fork. Measure the diameter of the crown race in two spots and average.
3) Measure the length of the head tube.
4) Measure the length of the steerer tube from the race seat to the top.
5) ST length minus HT length gives you stack height.

Stack height, crown race diameter and cup diameter determine what headset you'll need.
According to Park Tool, you'll need a difference of 0.1mm to 0.25mm between the cup diameter and head tube diameter for a proper press fit.

My guess? Tange Passage.

Can't
I am in Cambodia and it is in Lancaster, PA. I will be doing this next spring/early summer.
Besides I also have this 78 in nice patinaed gold
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1499050557

Hey it's yours. If you want to, go for it. My $0.02 however is not to mix the black brakes with the silver components. Those are interesting, I've never seen them. You should find some black parts to go with them, if you go that route.

Black....*yawns* ...boring.

Black can be very nice. But if I were to pick my favorite bike color black wouldn't be it.

http://www.theworld.com/~muller/pics...nArlington.jpg

Great bike ! And yours is not even in the difficult black and red color scheme!

Ok, still looking for the inside head tube diameter size of a 77 Raleigh supercourse? Is it a 27 or 26.4?

Worst color and boring - really..? Well, black works just fine in my book...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...Full_TQF_3.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...ll_TQF_L_2.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...6_FullSide.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...FullRtSide.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...ull_Side_1.jpg

[QUOTE=bwilli88;19691075]
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1499002980

What a beautiful colour!

Crank is dated 76. IDK how to date the frame.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ylu-bsmAo...der-723689.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uE4Wm9MuqW...063-718305.JPG

Actually it is quite blah. Maybe with a good compounding that gold might come back but I have 2 of this poopy color.

You're right - go with your feeling. Like many above, I am not too fond of black with red accents, but, in the end, I think it all comes down to the details. If the finishing is right, it might look gorgeous. Please keep us updated.

It could come out very nicely, but I'll point out that black seems to be the most popular color on modern bikes, so ...

Just sell it and put the money towards something you really want. A good wet paint job is $300+. A good PC is $200+. The DIY route can yield great results if you are skilled, patient and a bit lucky.

I can tell you from experience, since I live about 30 miles from Lancaster, that rattle canning anything gets harder after the end of May. Temps and humidity increase and complicate things.

Also variety is the spice of life. Have two very similar bikes only ensures that only one gets ridden. Given you like this one less, unless the build is radically different, its gonna sit.

Also IME when a build IS radically different, you are more likely to build to a concept that does not really work wel for the area you ride in ( my IGH phase comes to mind....) or the type of riding you do. YMMV.

If you are not worried about orig paint I say do it. I don't know ow about red cables, may distract from cool bits but I think it will look good. Maybe flat black and gloss red to make it stand out.