Raleigh Professional 1980
 

Not 1970 but 1980.
One decade wrong. Shame on me :mad:
Well maintained classic road bike. Spins like hell. Reynolds frame.
Nice finish.
Ugly handlebar tape is already removed.

Very nice. Somehow, however, those braze on shifters and Reynolds decals don't say 1970 to me. How did you date it? Cool bike.

Or the short dropouts with the porta catena hole.

Or the non-fastback stays. And color. And components...

A 1970:

Exactly.

Your Raleigh looks a lot like my MkV, which has a 1978 serial number. I don't think the dropouts with the small tapped holes were available before that year. The lugs with the windows are also an indication of late 70s to early 80s.

Looks just like mine aside from the paint:
http://velospace.org/files/DSC01288.jpg

http://velospace.org/files/3382777243_dc75f14e2d_o.jpg

I'd guess it was painted a different color for the European market?

Yeah, I think so. It looks just like the one Robtown bought from eleven12k

So who is Jan Willemsen?

My guess is this guy. Someone else will have to tell you what it says.
http://www.l1.nl/content/3285455/Mon...emsen+moet+weg

[edit] that someone else could be google translator, I suppose:

The monument to the former cyclist Jan Willemsen at the cemetery in Nuth has to go. There is no authorization and under the rules of the cemetery there should be no memorial at that place.

The municipality and the relatives have been searching for a solution. According to Mayor Hubert Vos Nuth is now working to solve the problem. He is convinced that there is a memorial event for former cyclist Jan Willemsen in Nuth will come.

UK-market Raleigh Professional - it's the Mk.V variant, though I'm not sure that the Mark designation was given in the UK. The seattube decal gives it away as a UK model, FYI.

I'm rather surprised to see a Professional in that scheme, given the paint job is identical to the U.K. 1982 Raleigh Competition. Nevertheless, the lugs, fork crown, and stay-to-dropout treatment undeniably indicate a civilian Professional Mk.V.

If it is an original paint job, I'd expect this to be a 1982 Raleigh Professional. We need the serial number to be sure.

-Kurt

Well spotted. There sure is a lot resemblance, but it is not identical: for example my old Record Ace had half chromed blades and stays, 1010 drop outs and clamp on shifters. It came originally equipped with Suntour Superbe.

Thanks for all the remarks. I tought it was a 1970 due to some internet search but I consider your remarks since you know what you're talking about. The paint and striping is original.

(seen my Peugeot Gentleman deluxe?)
I got these bikes for free from neighbour and friend because they know I like old bikes and working on it.

Jan Willemsen is the name of a dutch roadracer who later on was a mechanic in different cycling teams (TI-Raleigh) and participated as a mechanic in the Tour de France e.m..
Later he runned had a bikeshop in his place of birth Nuth in Limburg (South Holland, the only region in Holland with hills and the decor for The Amstel Gold race.)
@ due ruote: your translation about the memorial monument is very close.

Ah! Much like the frame I also seem to have gotten your name close, but not quite right.

That wasn't my translation per se; I just pasted the content into Google translator.

So is that a sticker from his shop? It's a bit blurry and the name is all I can make out.

I just took my '74 out on its maiden ride around the block (Glue on the tires isn't quite dry yet).


Wow. Just... wow. Is there a word for falling in love with an inanimate object I haven't yet bonded with?

i'm glad people around here don't like splash tape. :thumb:

Amazing, the Peugeot, sparkling fresh, and what a neighbour. Since the English have no sense of poetry whatsoever, their SN actually reflect the production dates of their bikes, imagine that.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/TH_raleigh....html#19731982

The sticker is from his shop: Jan Willemsen - Nuth. That's all.

About the identification of my white Raleigh. The following identification number is stamped under the BB tube: WL0000463.
Any help?

1980. See the website ^^^^^^^^^

I'm pretty sure Auden, Eliot, Hughes, Hardy and Kipling would beg to differ. Though of course they'd all probably ride DL-1s.

Where did I miss the serial # in this thread?

-Kurt

You didn't, it sneaked in between timezones. Hope I didn't spoil the fun.

No problem.

Indeed, 1980 Professional, according to the serial. I suspect that it was repainted by Raleigh - either that, or Raleigh was already using that scheme in the UK by 1980. U.K. data and catalogs are sorely limited.

-Kurt

Sorry lads, I took the '0' in the serial number for 1970. My mistake.
I go out for a spin now.... with a bike that is 10 years younger. I hope my average speed will increase now....

It all depends on the bar tape. What did you put on?