Raleigh Technium on eBay -- worth considering?
 

This Raleigh Technium of unknown (to me) vintage is available near me on eBay.

A Google search took me to posts here that said, basically, these bikes were all over the map quality-wise. I'm looking for an inexpensive way to get back on a road bike. Can anyone tell me more about this specific model?

EDIT: forgot the link!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Raleigh-Technium...QQcmdZViewItem

Link to eBuy auction?

DOH!!

See edited post. Thanks Lynn.

So, did you win it?

No. Being unsure of its worth and condition, I put a max bid of $89. It went for $91. (I didn't hang around to watch the bidding -- we went to the movies.)

There will be other opportunities...

I have to unburden myself: this might not be necessary if I hadn't put my mid-70s Reynolds 631 Raleigh Competition (the black frame w/half chromed forks) out on the curb a few years ago because the LBS told me it was not worth making rideable again...that it was probably worthless at all. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I'm not really into vintage bikes but even if it was no great shakes as a collectable or "vintage" it would at least have been serviceable with some work. Ah, hindsight. No, it didn't have the original Huret Jubilee deraileurs...they wore out many years before and were replaced with Shimanos of some sort.

I only hope someone got it before the trashmen came...

I've done this a couple of times, also. The regret lingers long after the keepsake is sold/given/thrown away. That's why I'll NEVER sell my 1985 Davidson :)

Don't feel bad. When I was just returning to cycling last year I walked away from a Raleigh 12 speed with Reynolds tubing for $15. I found out later, that bike was selling on ebay for $200 to $300. I had just picked up three old mountain bikes and was concerned about what my wife would say if I brought another used bike home. I just don't let those mistakes get to me, I now own over 12 bikes and don't pay attention to my wifes comments.
The reason I asked about the Technium is, I just obtained a virtual twin to the one on ebay only a different color. I'm in the process of cleaning and upgrading the bike.

LOL! Sounds like my house.

BTW, I lost enough weight pedaling my collection of old bikes that my wife became concerned about the size of her caboose. She asked me to look for a more "comfortable" ride for her (she had a delightful cro-mo traveller). It was a pleasure hunting up a new ride. She's so delighted with the like-new Bridgestone XO5 I picked up for 10 bucks that she's pointing out garage sales when we're out.

I still see a lot of those old Techniums running around the campus, they must have been durable. I built one into a decent rider a few years ago while I had a "good" bike in the layaway. Called it my "retro-rocket".

Bottom line: Probably more than any other brand of bike out there, if it says "Raleigh" on the headtube, it's a decent bike. That goes wheter it was built in Nottingham, Taiwan, or wherever. One thing I've noticed over the years is that whoever has owned Raleigh, they seem to have a basic consideration about turning out a quality product. At which point, the only other factor is the price tag attached. Raleigh, more than any other brand, seems to be a safe choice.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C