Hi folks, I have a Raleigh made from Reynolds 531 and I haven't for the life of me been able to decipher the serial number arrangement.

I've spoke with the last in the line of Harding cycles here in Cork, Ireland and he reckons it's a 1976 model at least. Since it has eyelets, it's not a racing model.

When I bought the bike, it was a mix of Shimano 600 Arabesque & a mavic crankset. I've since gotten a Shimano 600 Arabesque crankset to match. It wasn't running what it was released with since things were mixed. It came with Mavic ma40 rims on 105 hubs.

We identified the campagnolo dropouts and cable guides, and the heart shaped lugs were what we hoped to make it easier.. it didn't.

The serial number on the bottom bracket is 24181.

Images are here - Identify Me - Imgur

Black saddle and tape were early shots, white saddle and tape are newer. Still trying to sort my arrangement of levers on the drops. Just can't get it right. Bit stretched.

If you can shed any light on this at all I'd appreciate it.

Eyelets don't mean it wasn't a racing model. Competitions and Professionals both had eyelets in the 70's.

Here's a question, I know it has the headbadge and decals, but given the serial, are you 100% sure it's actually a Raleigh?

edit: where is the serial located?

Thanks for the reply lostarchitect. I had previously been suggested that it might be the competition g.s.

The decals and headbadge were added in the last year. I cannot guarantee at all that it is Raleigh, but the previous owner who is a a vintage enthusiast believes it is.

The serial is located on the underside of the bottom bracket.

If it were a Raleigh it would be a UK Raleigh, certainly not a Raleigh from the U.S.