Fairview

Ever since my early 70's Fuji Finest got flattened by a falling tree, and I later foolishly sold my 72 Schwinn Paramount, I've been craving an early 70's road bike. I bought this Raleigh today, knowing very little about Raleighs, so hopefully I didn't mess up too badly.

I never can leave well enough alone, so have a couple questions:

a) These bikes apparently originally came with tubular rims/tires. Would you go back to tubulars- does anybody ride them anymore? and
b) The catalog photo for the Raleigh Professional '74 shows a tire pump. Any ideas on what would be correct, brand and size? and
c) This bike has bar end shifters and I wonder if that is how it originally was sold.

I think that is it for now. It's a pleasure to find this site- looks like you folks have lots of fun. Jeff

mkeller234

Those bar-ends may have been added by a bike shop, though down tube shifters would be catalog correct.

Tubular tires are a personal choice, some people love them and others don't. I think most of the worry about tubulars is fear of the unknown and local availability. They aren't all bad, definitely worth a try.

auchencrow

Yes to tubulars (for that bike)
A Silca Impero frame pump would be a good choice (even if not the correct one!) These are still available.
I would 86 the bar ends and revert to DT shifters (JMHO - Many would disagree)

PS- Congrats on your latest snag and welcome to C&V!

Michael Angelo 

You just got this on ebay. Right? Beautiful bike, I wanted to pull the trigger on it , but have too many projects. I think you got a great bike in wonderful shape. Personally, I wouldn't change a thing.

sauze

LOVE this bike... any more photos ? Close up's and all that jazz? I personally love my Suntour bar end shifters I'd at least give them a try it may not be stock from factory but IMHO they improve the 'rideability' of the bike.

CV-6 

Nice score. Love that color Pro and the fastback stays.

mkeller234

Looks like he has Campy Bar-end shifters, not Suntour.

1 Lugnut

Join the club.

Nice looking Raleigh. Beautiful color blue & in great shape. Tubulars are worth checking out...imo! I love the way they ride, esp good ones. Look around for a spare set of wheels, keep the originals & judge for yourself...

Velognome 

You should send it to me before something terrible happens to it! Nice buy. I'd say ride it "as is" for a year then think about what could be changed. MY bet would be "nothing" Have fun and enjoy your new ride!!!!!

rhm

A stock '74 Pro would have had downtube shifters and tubulars.

That said, if I had a stock '74 Pro, I would upgrade it to (a) bar end shifters and (b) clinchers. Why?

a. Bar end shifters because I shift more if it's easy, and less if it's not so easy. And shifting is good. Though, to be fair, this depends to some degree on size; the smaller the frame, the closer the downtube shifters are to where you want them. I'd be riding a 62, on which I find the reach is a bit much. And as a result I don't shift as much.

b. Clinchers because I like to ride, and I don't like to fix flat tires. In fact I really loathe flat tires, even with clinchers. Repairing punctures in tubular tires is more challenge than I'm willing to deal with. I have a great deal of respect for people who ride tubulars and can fix them as good as new. But I do not have the patience for that.

So, bottom line, I would like your bike exactly the way it is. But obviously these are decisions we all have to make for ourselves.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Edit.
I just looked at your photos (it took them a while to load). Wow! I used to have a '74 Pro, and if mine had looked like that I would have kept it. I wouldn't change a thing on that bike. It is perfect, better than new.

ciocc_cat

I've been riding sew-ups (tubulars) since the mid-1970s. I briefly tried narrow "hi-tech" clinchers in the early 1980s then switched back to sew-ups. In my experience, sew-ups are less flat-prone and offer superior handling.

jyl

FWIW, I was looking at a book on the Raleigh race team of the 1970s and 1980s, and noticed a few pictures of team racers with bar end shifters. So it was a perfectly authentic modification even back then.

Drillium Dude 

Fantastic

That bike looks like it came out of a time-capsule. If that's wearing original paint, she didn't get many miles. And if that's the case, I'd bet the bike was set up with bar-ends from the git-go.

Well done! I hope you enjoy many hundreds of happy miles on that beauty.

DD

gaucho777 

You have very fine taste in bikes! I'm picking my jaw off my keyboard. The blue paint against the metallic highlights & lug lining is stunning.

A. Tubulars...yes! I ride primarily tubulars on all my road bikes. I'm just another bloke on the internet saying "I love their ride quality" but the chorus is pretty loud from those that have tried them. Nothing wrong with having two sets of wheels. Keep your clinchers around and try out a set of tubulars. To me, they are also part of the fun of riding these old contraptions. And who wants to ride training wheels instead of racing wheels? I find most of my flats on clinchers are from pinch flats (fat ass flats) so I get fewer flats with tubulars. There are admittedly some drawbacks. One of my anxieties is getting a flat early in a ride and not having the confidence to go really fast into corners the rest of the ride. I also don't like to ride tubulars after a hard rain when the road is littered with rocks and debris. I don't mind the rest of the tasks--the storing, the stretching, glueing, aligning, mending, inspecting, finding, carrying, folding. It's part of the ceremony.

B. +1, with a Campagnolo head. Re size, I'd add a clamp on pump peg below the Reynolds decal, and then measure the size down to the bottom bracket.

C. Re shifters, do what you like. It'll be a gorgeous bike either way.

Rodion R

a) Many folks claim that tubulars have a superior ride quality. The downside is that they are typically more expensive, harder to install, and more difficult to repair. Nevertheless I think they are worth trying. I wouldn't change the current wheel-set but rather get a second tubular set if you want to try them. I'm getting ready to build my first tubular set and try them out.
b) Silca Impero pumps were fairly standard good quality pumps. The pump will be sized to match your frame (frame sizes are stamped into the pump) OR you can get a small pump and attach a pump bracket to the frame.
c) Sounds like bar-ends were not original but I think they are awesome. I have suntour bar end shifters on my Raleigh Pro and I personally feel that they are a big upgrade from down tube shifters. No frills on the suntour barcons. Easier for riding but not so great aesthetics wise. Those campy ones look pretty good.

By the way, that's the most gorgeous Raleigh Pro I've ever seen. My Raleigh pro is the best bike in the stable.

Michael Angelo 

A closer look, I think those are Campagnolo Bar ends.

Fairview

Michael, Yes, you caught me. I was goofing off looking at old bikes on ebay when I should have been working! Next thing you know....I'm buying.

The seller called me and he is the original owner (turns out we are the same age- 57). He has always kept the bike immaculate and it resides in the living room of his house.

I added three more photos below so if you see anything that needs attention, please let me know.

I'll be looking for a set of tubular wheels (I like the suggestion of a spare set of wheels) so if any of you have a set or know of a set to buy, I'd appreciate a lead. And a pump, too.

thanks for the hearty welcome. Jeff

Captain Blight

I have a '74 myself, in black and silver. I think it's my favorite bike. I, too, was hesitant about tubulars, but having tried them, I love them. The combination of of supple tire and lively frame makes for an absolutely sublime ride. However, tne frame has a lot of clearance and I'm strongly considering building a set of clincher rims so I can use a larger-volume tire, like the Challenge Parigi or one of the Grand Bois offerings.

I have mine set up with downtube shifters, but the NR shifters aren't all that great; they never stay in adjustment and have kind of a numb feel to them. I'm actually on the hunt for a set of Campy GS levers, I do like the way those feel and work.

Bottom line, it's your bike and you should do what you want with it. But every cyclist should try out a 531-framed, tubular-tired Nuovo Record bike just because they are so iconic of the era. I know I didn't really get it until I'd tried it.

Michael Angelo 

Hello Jeff,
You have a fantastic bike, looks new. I love those campagnolo bar end shifters with matching covers on them. I also have a Raleigh Professional, it also happens to reside in the house too.

Raleigh Team Professional

rootboy 

Dang. Nice bike. Only thing I would do to that is get rid of that bar tape...I'd go black cloth....and ride it. Maybe a second set of wheels with Record low flange hubs and tubulars. Great score !

SJX426 

Gorgeous!

Tubulars all the way. Second set of clinchers isn't a bad idea either. In the early 70's I had both for my UO-8. When I wasn't commuting, I used the tubulars. The difference made the tubular based rides exhilerating! But that was a long time ago! Still prefer them and have them on my 83 Colnago.

ScottRyder 

I have both a clincher and tubular set for my '72 Pro. I had on the clinchers for a brief time but the tubulars are all I ride now.

Scott

qcpmsame 

I always admired that colourway for the Professional line. Had a good riding buddy that owned one like your new acquisition, beautiful bikes. I'd agree with Auchen on going back to the sew up tyres and the Camoy DT shifters, as it came. Add the pump and you are good to go, ride it and enjoy it. You did well, sir.

Bill

KonAaron Snake 

I'll start by continuing the praise, it's BEAUTIFUL! I really like it...that's my favorite Raleigh Pro color and I dig the seatstay cluster.

To me the barcons vs. DT shifters really comes down to what you like. I wouldn't worry about period correct...I'd worry about what I liked to ride. I think barcons look awesome, but I don't like them. If you prefer riding with barcons, ride them...they look very natural on that bike.

Tubulars vs. clinchers...where are you going to ride? Do you have other bikes? Do you mind spending more for tires? Tubulars truly do ride better, and it isn't really close, but they are spendy and that can count. I think it really boils down to how and where you will be using it. Honestly, I'd probably just go with what you have on it...both have advantages.

cehowardGS

Sickning,