1976 Raleigh Competition Mk. II - All original barn find
 

Picked up this 1976 Raleigh Competition Mk. II when I was looking for a (seemingly pretty rare?) Huret Jubilee first gen FD for another bike. And as has happened in the past, this bike is way too pretty and original to pull the FD from... so it looks like I have another (lovely) bike. It's actually not all original... the rims and spokes have been replaced, but that aside, it is untouched with all of the fabulous French/Swiss mech. It was a New England yard sale find and I picked it up from the fellow whose father was a friend of the original owner.... so it more or less is (and presents as) a one owner bike.

These photos are in its "as found by me" state (though "cleaned up" by the seller, so he said). It's filthy and the saddle is shot (and missing its cantle) but that aside it's in shockingly good shape. I have a feeling this one is going to clean up wonderfully. I can't fault the previous owner for replacing the rims as they thoughtfully laced the new ones to the (very smooth) original Normandy Luxe Competition hubs! My lucky day it seems.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f4ecdf4771.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24d7634c7e.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d689e908bf.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9db5aff1ac.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cc4f969499.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8ad3950cb0.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b95c5cce16.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5e7d8abb1d.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...108df3c38e.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc88749e4f.png

Great find! Does the serial # date it as ‘76? I wonder if it’s a bit earlier.

I really like everything about it, except for the easily deleted brake turkey levers and the chainwheel guard.

Hey @nlerner, it has a WB6****** serial number on the BB shell, which if I am correct means Carlton/Worksop made, Feb of 1976. So that makes it early '76 at least. It does have that earlier feel to it, but from what I read it was only in 1976 (if I recall correctly, though I could be off) that the Jubilee FD and RD were standard.

I agree @John E. I'm going to ditch those turkey brake levers sharplike. I hadn't seen a chainwheel guard on the stronglight like this before and my initial reaction was the same as yours... strangely though it's growing on me (maybe)... I may polish it up before making a decision.

Was my earlier post deleted?

Nice score! It should clean up nicely.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...36d55dd5c.jpeg

If so, it wasn't my doing. :)

My '76 Comp will do everything. I'm running 35's on it right now (not in this picture) but it's the one frame I always come back to, very versitile, light, and stiff. Top quality frame.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2073b9957d.jpg

Nice!
22.5" frame?


I had my original stolen very shortly after it was bought.
Never got to wring it out properly.
My $100.00 CL find has a different future. :beer:

I believe so, never measured it, but it rides like a 57cm. Put a 130 mm stem on, some good wheels and I was in business. It's amazing such an old bike from 1976 still rides so well. And has such great tire clearance!

Yes, it was. We don't make buying or selling offers in the regular forum.

5 speed hub or a cold-set?

Unusual shifting set up:
RD STI...MicroShift?
FD a Down Tube...original Huret?

If someone wants one of these and has a connection near Waterloo, NY (either from Rochester or Syracuse, NY) there is one on FB marketplace asking $30.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace.../?ref=bookmark

I am not connected to this sale and I live about 2 hours away so can't facilitate.

Oh, no kidding. I wasn't being serious. I think it is called a back handed compliment - the item is no good, send it to me for disposal.

I bought mine new, in 1974. I think they offered the Huret Jubilee drive train for a couple of years.

Huret FD is off a 1985 Peugeot PGN-10. RD is an Alivio 7 speed long cage I got off a Trek 930 Singletrack. Downtube friction shifter is a 600 Tricolor. Rear triangle was cold set. Brifters are 8 speed Microshift (I'm totally sold on these for 8 speed road setups).

"Unmolested"? :lol: Don't make me laugh. This is what it looked like when I got it a couple years ago, had some Aksium wheels and a full 600 Tricolor group. Only paid $200 which was one of my better deals (for this overpriced region).

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d9925cdb0f.jpg

Yeah, that serial # confirms 1976, but Raleigh catalogs and price lists are confusing. Take a look at the 1974 price list, which lists the Competition as a "Mk III" and shows Jubilee mechs:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b3e28c1c_b.jpg

Then don't complain.

Thanks for posting that @nlerner That's pretty cool (and definitely makes your point about it being confusing).

???

No action?
Need updates. :ride:

Wow that is a really nice find. I picked up what turned out to be a 1972 Competition, not near as nice condition as yours (link to my thread below). Had the same lugs, and the same Huret dropouts. Yours has chrome "socks" in the back but mine only has chrome in front. Mine did not have original bars or wheels, and had a different crank--but I actually really like the chain guard on your crank, I would want to keep that myself, probably the only crankset I'd keep the chainguard on (bet it will look GREAT after polishing!). You really lucked out on the rim replacement too--congrats!

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ii-1973-a.html

I think the OP's bike has the crankset and BB of a Raleigh Gran Sport, or maybe a Super Tourer, which came stock with the chainguard and extra-long c'ring bolts and spacers and a 125 mm or so spindle rather than the usual 118 mm spindle Stronglight used for doubles. Chainguard goes where the big ring should go, 52T in the inside position, 40 or 42T with spacers further inboard where a granny ring would go if only the BCD was smaller than 122. I don't think I've ever seen this set up on anything other than Gran(d) Sport(s) and Super Tourers.

Crusty, errrr rustystrings...
 

...how's your Raleigh Comp restore coming??

There are (4) of us on BF/C&V who've picked one of these up this summer.

I'm shopping for a silver compact/110bcd
for mine...

I may decide to sell on the TA 52/42, even tho it shifts fantastically paired with the Huret Jubilee FD.
sacre bleu! :twitchy: