Raleigh Comp Lilac
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie


Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 24
From: Wellington, Co
Raleigh Comp Lilac
Hi all, I think I started to post this a while back, apologies if duplicate. I recently purchased an extremely clean '72 Competition frame, Lilac color. Only issue is no fork. My seller didn't have it, so the search begins.
I traced the frame back to Lakewood, Ohio. Not sure about prior to that. Somewhere there is a fork?? Unless it got trashed along the way but hoping it might turn up, or something very close. My frame has Zeus forged dropouts. Fork should have a Vagner #12 (+) crown. Not positive about the epilets. Perfect would be 8 1/2" steerer? I know, but have to get it out there in case someone has it hiding in their closet or somewhere.
I love the older thread with all the early Competitions. And of course, the Lilacs, since there is no catalog info.
Tom in Wellington, Co.
I traced the frame back to Lakewood, Ohio. Not sure about prior to that. Somewhere there is a fork?? Unless it got trashed along the way but hoping it might turn up, or something very close. My frame has Zeus forged dropouts. Fork should have a Vagner #12 (+) crown. Not positive about the epilets. Perfect would be 8 1/2" steerer? I know, but have to get it out there in case someone has it hiding in their closet or somewhere.
I love the older thread with all the early Competitions. And of course, the Lilacs, since there is no catalog info.
Tom in Wellington, Co.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 1,242
From: Menomonee Falls, WI
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Bike could have been crashed, so no fork, take a good look at the frame before you proceed. Awesome bike though, good luck with the build.
Tim
Tim
#4
Senior Member




Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 21,827
Likes: 5,782
From: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
I have one of these (frame, fork, headset) that I've never gotten around to building. The fork is good; the frame is structurally sound but has a few minor issues that need to be dealt with.
#6
Senior Member


Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 3,410
From: Greenwood SC USA
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
go trawl the earlier Competition threads - someone had a lilac Comp 23.5-in with a big dent in the top tube he bought for its parts -
#7
Thread Starter
Newbie


Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 24
From: Wellington, Co
Thanks all so far, off to a good start. The seller listed it as a 24 1/2", but it measures more like 24 1/4, c-t. Head tube is 7 3/8. I have a new set of front dropouts, Zeus with eyelets. Most of these seem to have the #12 crown, but then I saw a Lilac on a previous post with the epaulets on top?? If I found the correct crown I could have one built, or put a longer steerer on it if everything else was correct. Tough color to match.
Yeah I thought of crash damage at first, but this has never been built. Seriously. I have a fork that I can use to ride it, but really want to exhaust that needle in a haystack of finding THE fork. Could have gotten trashed somewhere in the 40 years, who knows. I will get pictures up when I get a few more posts.
Thanks again.
Yeah I thought of crash damage at first, but this has never been built. Seriously. I have a fork that I can use to ride it, but really want to exhaust that needle in a haystack of finding THE fork. Could have gotten trashed somewhere in the 40 years, who knows. I will get pictures up when I get a few more posts.
Thanks again.
#8
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wrt "never been built" -
the price structure and market of the day was such that some stockists would order quality road models and then tear them down for the fittings
the local agent in me town had during the mid-to-late nineteen seventies an impressive array of Raleigh framesets hanging from the ceiling
a Super Course Mk.II was $49 and a Gran Sport or Competition $89
they would order Pros for their road ensembles and put the frames up for sale at an attractive price
---
wrt the 24 1/4" frame size
catalogue frame sizes were nominal
the quality road models were offered in one inch increments on the half inch as measured c-t-t
-----
wrt "never been built" -
the price structure and market of the day was such that some stockists would order quality road models and then tear them down for the fittings
the local agent in me town had during the mid-to-late nineteen seventies an impressive array of Raleigh framesets hanging from the ceiling
a Super Course Mk.II was $49 and a Gran Sport or Competition $89
they would order Pros for their road ensembles and put the frames up for sale at an attractive price
---
wrt the 24 1/4" frame size
catalogue frame sizes were nominal
the quality road models were offered in one inch increments on the half inch as measured c-t-t
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