Benefits of horizontal dropouts. I slid the rear wheel up a bit

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f9f3782d.jpeg


and got 1.5mm of space under the rear brake calipers with 1-1/8" tires

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7feb22672.jpeg

Yes, those levers would have had gum hoods originally and those are Spenco grips, I believe, aftermarket on that bike. Thinner and more nicely finished than the more popular Grab On grips.

I bought a pair of AGC levers for the hoods. $20. They're black

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...36fc44d08e.png


I also picked up a set of 700c wheels with Araya bronze rims and some nice Sansin hubs also for $20. Rear wheel comes with a bonus 5-speed corncob freewheel. . The bronze matches the gold pinstripe of the graphics.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fd5bf7e7.jpeg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3fe89822d.jpeg

Are you sure the pads hit only the rims on your 700c wheel set?

In '84 these bikes came with 700C. I would have expected that the '83s would have as well.

they hit right at the top of the rim. No tire.

Did some work on the bike. 30mm Panaracer Agilest tires on Araya 700c bronze rims. Recessed AGC calipers swapped out for non recessed 1st gen Dura-Ace. Filled the recesses with a washer.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cd7fdb73.jpeg


Of course the cable housing for the front brake was 1" too short with the new brakes. Cables needed changing anyway. LBS closed on Sunday. Alt LBS did not have black bar tape.

Everything all set. Plenty of space for the 30mm tires.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...388fba5ac.jpeg

I think they look just fine on this bike.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6cbdbe8c8.jpeg


Tires look nice too...The bronze rims go well with the gold outline on the graphics...and there are plenty of graphics on this bike.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c32a68a5.jpeg


These Panaracers are a bit of a struggle to install straight. I tried a few times to even them out on the bead to no avail. Any hints?

Soapy water in a spray bottle, sprayed on the tires while installing can help the bead set evenly.

I tried that too. I installed some Velox rim tape on the rear rim before mounting the tire. Maybe I got some up the bead?

What I do is mark the tire where it's stubborn to seat. Deflate, and while pumping it back up I squish the tire so the bead seats there first in the stubborn location. Then go on like normal to inflate the rest. Works okay for me.

Love the Brooks Saddle on your Competition.
This project got me hooked into the "Bicycle Hobby" as our Florida condo neighbor said once after I admitted to owning over a dozen bicycles - "Sounds like more of an Obsession rather than a hobby".

Enjoy yours!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f1aeae795.jpeg
1983 Raleigh Competition 25" Frame set. Mostly Orginal.

Hoods and tape. The gold is a little much. Hopefully it gets dirty quick and loses the shine. This was cheap Amazon tape and, no surprise, didn't come with an adhesive backing. I think I'm a convert. Much easier than dealing with the backing ribbon getting in the way. And if it doesn't come out well, no problem...unwrap it and do it again.

I think I'm going to take a ride today and see what these 30mm tires feel like. The smell of Autumn is in the air.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...64781a94f.jpeg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e0c3f3c7.jpeg

Look what the mailman just brought. The seller sent me the origin documentation from this bike.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6289e6873c.jpg

What brand was it on Amazon? The one I normally buy on Amazon is currently not availble.

I was always put off by those Reynolds-copy stickers. Can't trust the tubing if the stickers lie to you.

Back on topic, with regard to getting tires to seat, I've found that overinflating them a bit will help.

I get it. It would be nice to know what it really is, but sometimes not knowing keeps the confirmation bias at bay. It rides great and that's all that matters to me. Reasonably light and just the right amount of give without being too soft. I have an old Peugeot that I converted into a fixie. It is 501 and this feels very much like that bike. 531 is too soft for me.

This was a rim tape issue. I brought the rim into my alternate local bike shop and after showing it to him, he sold me 19 mm rim tape. 11 mm would’ve done the job but I ended up slicing the 19 mm down to about 15. Problem solved.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26b9e05d41.jpg

XhuangTech EVA Road Bike Handlebar Tapes, Bicycle Bar Tape, Cycling Handle Wraps (Gold) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09288HCMS..._HQ6h2jGDR64vB