Just scored it for $75, which here in NYC is a great deal on ANY old steel framed bike, good or crappy. I'm wondering where to look for the serial no, and then how to read it. I've looked on the underside of the BB, and also behind the seattube, but no luck.

Amazing how light it is. It's got the 531 tubing sticker wearing off, Campy Nuovo Record rear mech and Campy FD; "Superbe" sidepull calipers, which, judging from the fact that there is an unused cable holder in the middle of the seatstay, are not the original components. It also has 700c wheels that I'm pretty sure aren't the originals (weren't bikes of this vintage 27" wheelers?)

It's a really pretty bike; could anyone give me more info on these? I did do a search, and came up with a few threads, but since I'm not sure what year it is, I think the info may not apply. Why are the Carlton's so much nicer than the nons?

Since it's such a nice vintage bike, I'd kind of like to spruce it up--any suggestions?

Tanks,

max

for $75, you got a really good deal anywhere for this bike. First, look at retroraleighs.com. They have year-by-year catalogs that help. Second, post a couple of pictures here so that we can help identify the bike.

The superbe brakes are not original, but they're good stoppers and worth the price you paid all by themselves. The NR rear derailleur is not original either, but it's a killer upgrade from the GS rear that was on it. Depending on the vintage, the bike may have come stock with 700c wheels or with 27".

A few questions: if you can tell from the remnants of the sticker, does the 531 go diagonally across the sticker or is it horizontal? Do the shifters clamp on? Do the shifters have a little screw with a wire bail for tightening the lever up, or do they have a wheel affair? What color? What kind of seat?

Luker, thanks for the info. There is barely any remnant of a sticker on the frame, so I can't say anything about the 531 (or could it have been something else.) But the fork blades have upside-down triangle stickers, one of which has "531" in green, horizontal letters. The shape of the sticker on the bottom of the seattube is the same shape, which is why I assumed it was the same sticker. I can see just above that sticker that there is the "ton" from Carlton (It also has "Carlton" running vertically down the seattube.) The head badge has "The Raleigh/Nottingham/England" underneath the rooster (?). The chainrings are 42 and 52t and say "Made in France." So are those the original Hurets? The cable holders on the BB say "Huret," so I'm extrapolating on this. But the Campy shifters are clamped on, just above the little triangle for placement on the frame. I think the shifters have the wire bail--I think. It's the kind like I've seen on newer, 80s bikes and such with the little wire handle that folds out for tightening or loosening, but then folds down for securing. The Superbe brakes say "4700" on them. What's so special about them? The front wheel has a Maillard hub laced to a 700c Rigida rim. The rear wheel has a newer looking hub that only has "Sealed Mech. FH-HG20" on a sticker on it, also with a Rigida rim.

Unfortunately, the saddle is definitely some 80s or 90s upgrade--not the original: Specialized, really ugly, with a cutout middle and very angular edges.


The whole bike is black, other than the chrome at the ends of the fork blades. I find her very pretty to look at, but I would like to "spruce her up", as I said. I'm certainly convinced that she could use--nay, needs--a Brooks saddle; and the cable housing is white or cream color that's yellowed. Think I'd like to replace that. Can I polish the headbadge with chrome polish, or do I need something else for the brass or whatever it is?

One last thing, before I forget: both front and rear brakes have this loop of wire covered with rubber that straddles the wheel, even rubs the tire, and is attached to the brake bolt. They look like the outlines of tiny fenders; but what are they there for? I've never seen anything like them before.

I've really fallen in love here; such a weightless frame for its age--even with all components on it. I'll try and get a couple of pics posted tomorrow.

Nice catch on the bike. As for the little loops with rubber, they're for taking off any debris like small pieces of glass, gravel, metal from staying on your tires and you getting a flat. I have them on my 70's Nishiki and on a 70's Peugeot Mixte.

saddle would be a Brooks B-15 or maybe a Wright's. Or if you're not worried about exactness, then maybe an Ideale...
Superbe was the top of the line for suntour, and they work very well, and there is a large suntour fan club that keeps the value of all things superbe high. And they really are at least as good as anything from the period.

If the fork is 531 then the full frameset is probably 531.

Sounds a lot like a MkII. In '74 they painted the rear triangle, by '76 they had chromed the rear triangle. By '78 they had gone from Huret to Campy GS parts. At some point ('76?) they changed the name from competition to competition gs. They also migrated to a really cool fully sloping fork crown without any apparent lugs. From your description it sounds like you have an earlier one - are the decals gold or white?

LOL - An easy thing to be unsure of, but that's supposed to be a heron.

The common name for these are "tire savers". When they're adjusted properly they come very close to touching the tire, but do not. You can adjust them by pressing down on them so they mold around the tire - then you bend the wire by the frame so there's about 1 mm of clearance. If your wheel is out of true - well I guess you'd just want to fix the wheel.

Hey, thank to everyone for the info. The rear triangle is all black, no chrome. I'll adjust those tire savers, though I find them funny-looking.

Can one still find an Ideale saddle?

How can I really spit-shine this puppy?

I'll get the pics up later today or tomorrow...