My favorite bike...Raleigh Grand Prix
01-10-20, 10:34 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My favorite bike...Raleigh Grand Prix
This classic Raleigh Grand Prix is my favorite bike. I have had several of these in the last 10 years or so. The ride quality and my position on the bike makes me like this model over anything I have ridden in the past...well...50 years or so. And the graphics and general look of the bike is top notch. Of course I upgraded to tubular wheels, the rest pretty much 1973 stock components.
Last edited by big chainring; 01-10-20 at 01:15 PM.
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01-10-20, 03:17 PM
#2
Knurled Nut
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He's a handsome fellow, that one.
Even the chain guard has style.
I'm a sucker for a love letter to a bike.
Even the chain guard has style.
I'm a sucker for a love letter to a bike.
01-10-20, 03:28 PM
#3
Senior Member
"the rest pretty much 1973 stock components."
That front hub looks suspiciously like a replacement for the Normandy Sport. If the rear hub matches, you have a nice pair.
That front hub looks suspiciously like a replacement for the Normandy Sport. If the rear hub matches, you have a nice pair.
01-10-20, 03:47 PM
#4
elcraft
Wrap-over seat stays and lug design suggest this one may be one made in the Gazelle factory in NL. If the cranks are Stronglight branded, the Bottom bracket may actually be standard BSC threading rather than Raleigh Proprietary 26 tip threading. Although you have kept the OEM equipment, you could upgrade the crankset to a cotterless alloy one and save a bit more weight in the rotating parts (where it counts).
All in all, this is one of the most iconic "Ten Speed" bicycles of the 70's. Looks to have been garage kept and minimally "beaten upon" for its age.
All in all, this is one of the most iconic "Ten Speed" bicycles of the 70's. Looks to have been garage kept and minimally "beaten upon" for its age.
01-10-20, 09:04 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
Yes this is a Gazelle built Grand Prix in 23 1/2 frame size. The wheels are Campy Tipo with Mavic rims, Tufo cyclocross tires. The chainguard is Simplex made to play well with the Simplex Prestige front derailleur. Saddle is a Wrights, but predates the bike by 5 yrs. I added Suntour bar end shifters also.
01-10-20, 09:13 PM
#8
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That era graphics are neat.
Always amazes me to see that apparently people didn't like to drink water in the 70s.
Always amazes me to see that apparently people didn't like to drink water in the 70s.
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01-11-20, 09:04 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
That era graphics are neat.
Always amazes me to see that apparently people didn't like to drink water in the 70s.
Always amazes me to see that apparently people didn't like to drink water in the 70s.
Speaking of water though. Back in the day, water was available everywhere. Gas stations, even if I used their slop sink in the service area, always had water available. Most had drinking fountains. Any park or forest preserve would have a fountain or a hand pump to bring up water. So one water bottle was all you needed. A refill was always close by. And for the most part I was probably dehydrated when I was racking up miles in my youth. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night craving water. Doing 50-80 miles every day, and not really paying attention to water intake.
01-11-20, 09:09 AM
#10
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I have 2 Grand Prixs, a 74 and 76.
Here is my favorite build of my 74 and as it is now as a SS. My 76 is just a frame and fork.
Here is my favorite build of my 74 and as it is now as a SS. My 76 is just a frame and fork.
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01-11-20, 10:46 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by bwilli88
I have 2 Grand Prixs, a 74 and 76.
Here is my favorite build of my 74 and as it is now as a SS. My 76 is just a frame and fork.
Here is my favorite build of my 74 and as it is now as a SS. My 76 is just a frame and fork.
01-11-20, 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
Yes this is a Gazelle built Grand Prix in 23 1/2 frame size. The wheels are Campy Tipo with Mavic rims, Tufo cyclocross tires. The chainguard is Simplex made to play well with the Simplex Prestige front derailleur. Saddle is a Wrights, but predates the bike by 5 yrs. I added Suntour bar end shifters also.
01-12-20, 12:29 PM
#14
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My brother had a Grand Prix. Bar end shifters were not OEM, although they are period-correct. For that matter, tubbies are period-correct. Nice looking bike.
01-12-20, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
This classic Raleigh Grand Prix is my favorite bike.
01-12-20, 02:38 PM
#16
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I've had alum, carbon and even a steel tandem and hybrid but never an actual steel roadie. Though my wife has a full carbon roadie, she also has a 1984 Bianchi (I was told buying from a friend/ 1986 by a Bianchi fan).
She rode it for 4 years before going carbon. Once she got the full carbon (Trek OCLV, $3000), she said the steel Bianchi was a better ride.
I have sat on it and rode a bit to test and make adjustments and I know what she means. If I end up getting another roadie (have 7 bikes now) I may look into a steel bike. Maybe look for a Torelli or similar, WITH LUGS!
We've had it racked while visiting bike shops after a ride and have had offers to buy it from us, sorry, not for sale. Dude who sold it to me asked $40 saying it was old and beat up, wanted money for a dept store MTB. I gave him the $80 I had in my pocket then dropped a couple hundred to upgrade a few things. Sweet bike, she won't sell it!
She rode it for 4 years before going carbon. Once she got the full carbon (Trek OCLV, $3000), she said the steel Bianchi was a better ride.
I have sat on it and rode a bit to test and make adjustments and I know what she means. If I end up getting another roadie (have 7 bikes now) I may look into a steel bike. Maybe look for a Torelli or similar, WITH LUGS!
We've had it racked while visiting bike shops after a ride and have had offers to buy it from us, sorry, not for sale. Dude who sold it to me asked $40 saying it was old and beat up, wanted money for a dept store MTB. I gave him the $80 I had in my pocket then dropped a couple hundred to upgrade a few things. Sweet bike, she won't sell it!
01-15-20, 03:23 PM
#17
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Here's my '78, I think, Grand Prix SS conversion, 65cm. Fun bike for around town and riding with the kids. I had the dreaded 26tpi bottom bracket, so I went with the Velo Orange threadless unit and it worked like a charm.
02-03-20, 08:35 AM
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What I like about old Raleighs is that they made so many of them in 25" (63cm). I cannot recall seeing a Trek 620 or Miyata 910 in 63cm, but with old Raleighs it seems that's all there are.
I have a c.1980 Gran Prix that I built up with upright bars and a Nexus Inter7 hub for my son to use as a commuter. Fits 700x35c tires and fenders no problem. I need to upgrade to dual pivot or some other modern brake technology, though - the centre-pull Weinmanns work as well as expected, but that's not saying much.
I have a c.1980 Gran Prix that I built up with upright bars and a Nexus Inter7 hub for my son to use as a commuter. Fits 700x35c tires and fenders no problem. I need to upgrade to dual pivot or some other modern brake technology, though - the centre-pull Weinmanns work as well as expected, but that's not saying much.
04-29-20, 11:54 AM
#20
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Very nice job on the Grand Prix big chainring !
04-29-20, 02:25 PM
#21
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A frame that is a perfect fit is hard to beat, especially with upgraded bar end shifters and a nice wheel set. My favorite bike is an old Fuji Royale with bar end shifters. It has a 25" frame with a top tube is about a mile long, which works for me. Haven't found anything more comfortable to ride.
04-29-20, 02:31 PM
#22
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My 1984 I bought brand new and still own
04-29-20, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by chainwhip
I'm curious how it plays with FD. 
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
04-29-20, 09:31 PM
#25
Interocitor Command
Excellent! Love it. Nice looking bike as are the others in this thread.
My main road bike is a 2004 Supercourse I bought on closeout. Although it's a different beast entirely from the older line-up, I still love it. I've changed the stem to a shorter one with a 17 degree rise in order to make it more comfy for my lower back (read: old guy friendly). I also swapped the saddle. Other than that it's all stock.
Nice looking bike as are the others in this thread.My main road bike is a 2004 Supercourse I bought on closeout. Although it's a different beast entirely from the older line-up, I still love it. I've changed the stem to a shorter one with a 17 degree rise in order to make it more comfy for my lower back (read: old guy friendly). I also swapped the saddle. Other than that it's all stock.
