Raleigh SuperCourse MK 2
 

So here we are again. Been a while since I’ve rehabbed a Raleigh - or a vintage bike for that matter.

This one was down the street for $40 and also happens to be my size. Pretty original I guess.
looking forward to cleaning it up and putting it back into service.
haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do with it yet.

figured I’d start a thread for updates




https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...721c6bd8a.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2b4ba5f6.jpeg

Tires look fine.

yeah I plan to run those

Are those really Fuji branded cranks? I know there are tons of 70s swaged japanese cranks that ape the french look, but these are nicer than average.

That's the special chain that requires no lubrication...lucky you!

Seriously, I loved my Mark II. Comfy and stable riders. It was also my first 'fixie' conversion in the late 90's and used it for commuting.

yeah!

a special “Fuji Herse” Crankset. Rene’s adopted cousin.

agreed .
making it a single speed is on the table. I don’t really need another fixed gear but a canal path fixed gear running 35’s could be cool.
hmm.

Any pics from “before”?

yep, here you go. It was pretty bad.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c72291bc3.jpeg

Did any posts get deleted here? A bit confused why this popped up haha.

Not even a drive side pic. Rookie.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aaf4310764.jpg

Valve stems are supposed to point at the reflectors.

we’re all pointing at the reflectors instead.
personally I think they need to be bigger.

Mine has the wrong inner ring (changed from I think 48T in the bottom photo to the 44T shown). Big ring is 54T and can't be changed.
Arms are cold-forged, quite slender and light.
These were OEM from a 1973 Nishiki/American Kokusai aka International (note text on chainring bolt washers).

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fd9cbf650.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42fecec90d.jpg

Lovely!

With a bit of patience and some careful humidity management you could even add a nice light crust for the ultimate retro-vintage look:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...60806da490.jpg

I had the identical frame back in the 70s/80s/early 90s. Loved that bike but stupidly sold it for cheap to buy an inferior bike with indexed shifting. I wasn't aware of N+1 at the time and regret it many years later.

The components that I remember were the Simplex derailleurs (plastic RD). It had an unusual cotterless steel crankset, and what I've found to be unusual Ideale saddle instead of what people have told me was the standard Brooks. But since I see some variety in components of that era (Huret derailleurs, for instance), I think the bike came with the Ideale. I wish I could find a 21" SuperCourse with the chrome like this one. I'd buy it and get it going

I have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course, possibly the same year as yours. I think it's a 21-1/2" size. I'd be willing to sell it. It needs some touch up paint, though, at least.

Rosebud, set up for my first tour in 1977

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...697e283388.png

Sad that it’s not a Gran(d) Sport(s).

Don’t remind me .

Oh to be young again. All that gear and one 16 oz water bottle.

Also breakfast and dinner at McDonald's, because it was cheap (change back from your dollar).

Alenax conversion candidate.