I need someone with a discerning eye (CL stolen bike recovery content)
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurjarmstrong/

At one point, was the black bike on the first page copper colored?

I don't understand the logic in that question, but I will say that it looks like a dead ringer for a 1973-1976 Raleigh Competition, especially with the original fork. Might even be the original black paint stripped of decals and pinstriped.

What's up?

-Kurt

doesnot really look it, why?

A friend had a copper colored Supercourse stolen a month or two back in the same size. The CL ad only says it's a Raleigh. His had the same rear centerpull thing and the below the top tube brake guides so I figured it could be the same bike.

He sent me his full name and phone number in a response email so I checked his Facebook/Flickr and he doesn't seem like a bike thief, just sort of a bike nerd that doesn't know much about bikes. (See his Flickr)

hmm, with the lug outlines and the paint chips allover and no copper visible, I would say no dice. but, who knows ;-)

for what its worth, my Super Course has the exact same Brake Guides and arched cable stop brazed onto the seat stays. The lugs on mine are different though.

Copper colored Super Course - was it a pre-'77 model, or post-'77, and was it originally spec'ed with centerpulls or the later Weinmann sidepulls?

This frameset in the picture archive shows forged Suntour G.S. dropouts, which would indicate the post-'77 model, and it can't be later then '81 (I believe, '80 could be the cutoff date) as it has the centerpull cable stop brazed onto the frame. Short of checking whether this thing was made for 700C's or 27" wheels (and whether the paint is original), it's a tough call to determine whether it is a Super Course frame or a repainted Competition.

-Kurt

EDIT: It has the flatted-edge headset - can anyone confirm if the later SC's used this headset?

The bike originally had Weinmann centerpulls, a Raleigh crankset, a Brooks, and some SR components. I can't say for sure on the year, but I'd guess pre '77.

It's not Nervex Lugs, looks like Bocama so that would point to mid to late 70's.

Looking at the chipped spots in the paint, I would say no copper. Who would go to the trouble to repaint a frame and then add scratches in the paint, all the way down to the metal, then let it rust a little before trying to re-sell?

In one of the photos there is a spot on the seat cluster that looks it could be copper paint visible through a chip in the black. But that spot doesn't show in the other photo.

I don't think this is your man.

Well, even if it isn't him I'm going to try to sell/trade him his frame I've been trying to get rid of. (He was looking to trade a 60 cm frame for a 52-56cm one.)

The bike in question has Suntour dropouts if that helps.

Not until 1977. The color would have been gold, because all Super Course's came in those years were red and gold.

After looking at the pictures, I don't think so. The bike in the pictures looks like it once had shifter bosses. The Super Course would not have had those.

I'm not sure about that - the Competition wouldn't have had them either. It looks more like scraped paint from the clamp-on shifters that were once mounted there.

-Kurt

This was the picture that persuaded me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/...0a230a.jpg?v=0

The other thing you could do is possibly ask them the seat post size. If it's 26.8, it might be a SuperCourse. If not, it isn't.

Perhaps you could tell them you're hoping to find a Continental, like the one you used to have (or that your dad had), and then ask about the seat post size.

That's also the one that convinced me that it's two scratches in the frame. I don't believe either the Competition nor the Super Course ever had braze-ons.

-Kurt

P.S.: Don't forget that there are two other known Super Course seatpost sizes.

I was possibly reading too much into the positioning of the discoloration.

The '77 - '78 Super Course (with Sun Tour dropouts), had 26.8 seat posts. Yes. It is Raleigh, but my point is, if the seat post size is 27.2, it's not a Super Course.

UPDATE: There is hope in the world! It wasn't that frame. I found the real bike just by chance on top of a truck parked outside the food co-op today. But my friend's in Europe for 6 months so I'll be forced to fix it up and ride it. So sad, eh?


http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5438862_n.jpg

Hey, thats great news. Too bad they stole the derailleurs....;)

How did you get it back? Or more specifically, how did you get it off the truck? Did the truck owner know he had a stolen bike?

Just curious.

The truck owner is just waking up and realizing this right about.....now.

Forgive the digression, but if it were not for the background vehicles and the tapered jeans (as opposed to wide-leg), that photo could easily be backdated to the late '70s - you look the part, and so does the scene surrounding you (not to mention the Super Course as well).

-Kurt

Actually I was with my girlfriend and we noticed a wheelbarrow and a bike tied to the top of a truck. She said "Oh, a wheelbarrow bike, that's a new one." Then when we got closer we noticed it was my friend's bike. We contemplated calling the police for a minute, then decided that I should go inside the store and ask the employees there if they knew who the truck belonged to. While I was inside, the truck owner came outside and she explained the situation to him. Apparently a friend gave it to him for free (his story), but he had no problem returning it. Apparently he was leaving for California and had just stopped for snacks. Perfect timing.