bark_eater 

Anyone know if Mafac Racer's will have enough reach on a 73 Super Course? I'm planning on sticking with 27" rims.

Schreck83 

Yes, on my 1972 SC: Show us your Raleigh Super Course!

It would have had the 750/610 Weinmann center pulls, just like the 1973.

bark_eater 

Thanks, I think my 73 has Weinmann 750's front and back. I'll have to check tomorrow. I like your bike. The one I'm putting parts together is green and a little rougher cosmetically. I've got a pretty good pile of nicer parts from the same vintage that I'm going to use. I'm sticking with the cottered crank with 48-36 rings though.

Piff 

For those centerpulls, I replaced my pads with vbrake pads and it really improved. I found it really helped with the pads hitting the rim squarely. You may not need them if you're sticking with 27", but I found the 750 weinmann on the back simply useless before swapping pads. The reach is so far when converted to 700c, and combined with how flexy the brake arms are...

I'm also experimenting with koolstops v brake pads that are meant for ebikes and marketed as being up to the task of heavier bikes at faster speeds. Since I'm going to use the super course for touring I thought it would be perfect.

branko_76 

Schreck83 , that's a beautiful SC you posted....

Real1shepherd

I agree that the original Weinmann center pull pads are almost useless. I'm going with the Eagle 2 Kool Stops on the rear, letting the tailing length go rearward. And probably the Kool Stop Continentals on the front due to the close proximity of the pad bracket to the fork.

Kevin

ascherer 

I'm driving north tomorrow to collect this for my son. Looks like a good specimen.

BFisher 

Sure does, @ascherer! Handsome ride!

Piff 

Is that a rare color? Most that I've seen on this thread are green, orange, or brown. That one has a bit more red, or am I wrong?

bwilli88 

That is one of the prettiest Super Courses I have seen. I would love that, your son should be happy.
Might sound stupid but that would become my one SS/Fixed gear bike.

ascherer 

I'm pretty sure its a 1972 Coffee. More will follow.

3speedslow

Save travels and that SC looks like it will only add to the Happy 4th!

ascherer 

Back from our travels, she's a fine catch. I gave it a quick spin and it tracked straight and felt surprisingly light underfoot. Everything will get serviced, consumables replaced and a good wash and polishing to follow. It'll be rideable as is but most likely it'll end up with North Roads and thumb shifters - WTB if anyone has a pair rattling around. The lad is getting more of a bike than he knows.


Ready to come to the Big City


Script is intact, no older than 1972. It has Simplex shifters so more evidence of 72.



The magic starts here...


Nervex goodness. One of the few wear spots. Theres some scrpes just above the downtube logo on the drive side over the "eig" but other than a few small chips here and there the finish is in great shape, as is the chrome.

More Nervexy bits and a nice sharp decal up top.


Normandy hubs, Weinmann 27x1.25 rims are in great shape and fairly true.


Original Stronglight crankset. A bit of polishing and it'll sparkle. Teeth look OK. Atom quills will probably be replaced with flats.


Hunkahunkahunka Suntour steel. Shifts well. Suntour Perfect looks unridden.


There had been something glued over this fellow, it's re-emerging with a bit of Goo Gone.


B15 with perforated sides. It's in decent condition, drinking in a thin rubbing of Proofhide.

ascherer 

From what I can decipher from cudak888's serial chart, this translates to: "Who the bloody h3ll knows, mate?"

jblackmd

I bought this 1973 SC tt in 1980. It was new in the box, a leftover. It’s a great ride! I switched out the sew ups to 700c, switched out the crank to a Sugino LT after I bent the original in a fall, and the handlebars.

My ride. 1973 Raleigh Supercourse TT.

nlerner

Either ‘71 or ‘72 based on the decals, lugs, cottered crankset. It’s possible some of the original components have a date code, but I can never remember how to figure those out.

ascherer 

That's where I'm at, Neal. Especially given Simplex instead of Huret. Haven't looked closely at the components yet, but it's not that material. It's gonna morph.

nlerner

ascherer , I have some SunTour thumbshifters if you’re interested. I’ve had them on several upright bar builds, most recently a Raleigh Competition. They’ll work fine up to 7 speeds, I’d guess.

ascherer 

Sir yes sir!
You still have my email from when I snagged your Mercian decals? Let's talk turkey, thanks! -Andy

ascherer 

I love those Capella lugs.

BFisher 

Changing my '73 back to its original crank, but with a single ring. Going derailleurless, too.

jblackmd

Nice! I used to have that crank until I bent it. After having used those Simplex derailleurs for decades, I think I can safely say you are better off without them! Just had them tuned... and they still suck!

BFisher 

@jblackmd I actually had this set up with a Shimano Exage triple crank and matching derailleurs, and a seven speed freewheel. It worked great, but the gearing was a bit too low, and I wasn't happy with the look of the bike. The parts just didn't match with the frame, to my eye. I'm excited for the next iteration.

jblackmd

That's a lot of gears! For a SC, anyway. So you went in the opposite direction. Cool! How does it ride?

BFisher 

Well, it's not completely together yet. I've had it set up as a 2x5, and a 3x7. The bike rides very nicely. The wire-bead 27x1 1/4 Continental Ultrasports are a smooth-riding low-cost tire.