echo victor 

Saw this come up on craigslist, and it didn't move for a few days, so I followed up on it. I always like knowing a little bit about the history of a bike, and in this case I got it from the second owner who bought it from a friend. His friend was in the Navy and managed to bring the bike with him and "rode it all over Europe," which I thought was a pretty cool history.

A couple interesting upgrades have been made: Suntour bar-end shifters and a Sugino triple crankset with the small chainring removed. I suspect that it may have been removed due to not having quite enough clearance.

The rest seems pretty much stock: GB stem, Weinmann Vainqueurs, Huret derailleurs front and rear, and a Brooks saddle which appears to be beyond saving. If anyone thinks it is possible to save it, I'm listening.

One thing I found interesting is that the Atom hubs are laced to Araya rims. The Periodic Table of the Super Course doesn't list any models with Araya rims, and I suspect they may be a later replacement. Anyone know for sure whether '77 SCs would have come with Araya rims?

Any opinions on the VA '79 bike license sticker? My girlfriend likes it and thinks I should definitely keep it... I'm somewhat less convinced.

And the photos:

due ruote 

Nice old Raleigh. It could be the original wheels were ditched to make it easier to ship back to the states. Who knows? I'm afraid you're right about the saddle. It looks like toast to me.

I would strip it all down and treat the rust (eg. headtube), and service all the bearings. It will make a nice rider.

I'm with you on the VA sticker (sorry, GF).

rootboy 

I'd remove the sticker too. Nice bike.

nlerner

What's the serial # under the bottom bracket? I don't believe the SC MkII in that paint scheme was made after 1975.

echo victor 

Ah, maybe if I get enough votes for license sticker removal she'll see that people who are serious about vintage bikes tend to remove them.

Interesting point about the paint job versus date. I'll check the serial number tonight or tomorrow.

spacemanz

I like your bike. For stickers, I'd say about 80 or 90% oughta be removed, but it really depends what it is. I have a sticker on my C'dale that says Island Bike & Triathlon, from Hawaii. That one's a keeper, & I'm sure there are others worth keeping. Just not that one.

wearyourtruth

i'm on the keep-the-sticker side. it's part of the history of the bike, and chances are very good that if you remove it, unless you intend on doing a repaint, you will just be left with an immaculately white rectangle on your seat tube. i'd rather the sticker personally.

macbethpoe

Very pretty Raleigh, I love Raleigh's, I have a Super Record, nothing special, but would love to have something like this one day. If you are willing, I will buy that old leather saddle for the frame!

Edit: and keep the stickers! I just removed some off my Vitus during restore, and regret it, it's part of the bikes story and history.

shoota 

Here's one thing to think about the stickers. If you remove it you can't put it back on, if you leave it it will blend in to the bike over time. And occasionally you will look over the bike and see the sticker and be reminded of it's history and previous owners, and everything it has been through. Then again it's just a sticker too.. so idk.

I already miss my MKII Mixte and I hate mixtes

auchencrow

Lose the stucker!
- And the rust.
Then get yourself a new Brooks and you'll be in 7th heaven riding that thing!

echo victor 

Hey, nlerner (Neil, right?), the serial number is WB5--8596. I think the dashes are actually 0s, but they're hard to make out. [edit] I think that actually makes it a '75 then, right? [/edit]

I think maybe I'll hang on to the license sticker for the short term and see whether I like it when the bike's all cleaned up. I think I'll probably still lose it eventually, but it's a good point about it being easier to remove than to put back...

nlerner

Yup, second half of January 1975, according to that date code.