Rare Raleigh chrome
02-19-19, 11:37 PM
#1
Bike Butcher of Portland
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
Rare Raleigh chrome
So I'm minding my own business, checking the forums when a PM pops up from @juvela. Turns out there's a 1970 chrome Raleigh Grand Sports frame for sale on Craigslist in LA. Yeah, that's pretty damn interesting, but it's an inch too big and an inch too high in price. The description made me believe that the guy selling it knew what he had and knew vintage bikes a bit, so I emailed him to tell him that it was quite a frame, and wondered if he was active on BF, just to make conversation, see. Turns out he isn't, but does have a Centurion Semi Pro and Pro Tour, so he has good taste. We go back and forth, and he tells me he's a reasonable guy, and would really like to make sure the frame went to a good home. Yada-yada, I rode an inch too high Super Course when I was a teenager, and french fit is a thing, so...
I'm seeing this with a Sturmey Archer IGH, a nice Carradice saddle bag, and some upright handlebars.
Oh, and more pix.
I'm seeing this with a Sturmey Archer IGH, a nice Carradice saddle bag, and some upright handlebars.
Oh, and more pix.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Last edited by gugie; 02-19-19 at 11:44 PM.
02-20-19, 12:34 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,031
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4509 Post(s)
Liked 6,374 Times
in
3,666 Posts
H**Y CRAP!
This gives new meaning to Grander AND Sportier, absolutely fabulous AND shiny.
This gives new meaning to Grander AND Sportier, absolutely fabulous AND shiny.
02-20-19, 12:59 AM
#3
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26382 Post(s)
Liked 10,362 Times
in
7,196 Posts
...that's a pimpin' ride.
02-20-19, 01:21 AM
#4
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,000
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 279 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2193 Post(s)
Liked 4,586 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Very nice! Good size, too. Congratulations!
Last edited by non-fixie; 02-20-19 at 09:59 AM. Reason: typo
02-20-19, 01:35 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 934
Bikes: 1968 Raleigh Super Course, 1972 Raleigh Professional, 1975 Raleigh International, 1978 Raleigh Professional, 1985 Raleigh Prestige, 1972 Schwinn Paramount, 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8, 1960 Carlton Franco Suisse Peugeot PX10, 1972 Motobecane Le Champ
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Liked 688 Times
in
351 Posts
An inch too tall? That’s nuthin for the chance to own a bike like that! Congratulations, it’s really beautiful!
02-20-19, 02:18 AM
#6
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,402
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,024 Times
in
989 Posts
Beautiful!
02-20-19, 05:07 AM
#7
Rustbelt Rider
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
Nice! I don’t remember ever seeing one of those posted here before.
Likes For mkeller234:
02-20-19, 07:16 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Back in Lincoln Sq, Chicago...🙄
Posts: 1,609
Bikes: '84 Miyata 610 ‘91 Cannondale ST600,'83 Trek 720 ‘84 Trek 520, 620, ‘91 Miyata 1000LT, '79 Trek 514, '78 Trek 706, '73 Raleigh Int. frame.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 684 Post(s)
Liked 370 Times
in
219 Posts
To big bike frame seems like a good reason to use flipped north roads....
Likes For Chr0m0ly:
02-20-19, 07:28 AM
#9
Seńor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,921
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,089 Times
in
637 Posts
unicorns DO exist. 
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
02-20-19, 07:46 AM
#11
Sophomore Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,531
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
631 Posts
Wow, that bike is a show-stopper. Purdy. I'd be afraid to ride it, I would probably would cry the first time it got splashed by mud (or tried to straddle to top tube).
02-20-19, 09:22 AM
#12
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,326
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 4,827 Times
in
2,228 Posts
It couldn't be in better hands, or with more copacetic bike company.
Waiting for the thread. Does a dozen Raleighs make you a Grandier Sport(s)?
Waiting for the thread. Does a dozen Raleighs make you a Grandier Sport(s)?
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
02-20-19, 09:22 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,467
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1826 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times
in
1,573 Posts
Does Guiness have a record for most Gran(d) Sport(s) in one household?? 
Congrats, and kudos for giving a home to a deserving frame! Definitely a cool frame and rather uncommon! Based on poking through the few Raleigh catalogs floating around the interwebs, it looks a lot like the 1970 Gran Sport...
It looks like yours could be the version described as "black with gold trim".
The choice to leave the BB shell and seat tube junction black is quite prudent... no need to polish around the tight spaces where the tubes gather.
Are the painted sections opaque, or are they similar to cromovelato, and probably quite fragile?
Steve in Peoria
(and by chance, quite fond of the 24 1/2" Raleighs... just sayin'.
)
edit: just noticed that the catalog says it came in 23 1/2 and 25 1/2... no 24 1/2". A shame! 25 1/2" would be beyond my comfort zone.
Congrats, and kudos for giving a home to a deserving frame! Definitely a cool frame and rather uncommon! Based on poking through the few Raleigh catalogs floating around the interwebs, it looks a lot like the 1970 Gran Sport...
It looks like yours could be the version described as "black with gold trim".
The choice to leave the BB shell and seat tube junction black is quite prudent... no need to polish around the tight spaces where the tubes gather.
Are the painted sections opaque, or are they similar to cromovelato, and probably quite fragile?
Steve in Peoria
(and by chance, quite fond of the 24 1/2" Raleighs... just sayin'.
)edit: just noticed that the catalog says it came in 23 1/2 and 25 1/2... no 24 1/2". A shame! 25 1/2" would be beyond my comfort zone.
Last edited by steelbikeguy; 02-20-19 at 09:39 AM.
02-20-19, 09:28 AM
#14
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,326
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 4,827 Times
in
2,228 Posts
if it is a 1970 and came with a Zeus crank, there's a replacement close (very close) to you!
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
02-20-19, 09:28 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Beautiful bike do post as the build proceeds.
02-20-19, 09:30 AM
#16
Full Member
I probably overuse the word but that is AWESOME!
Likes For Lemond1985:
02-20-19, 10:23 AM
#19
Bike Butcher of Portland
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
@steelbikeguy, yeah, 1970 model. Sky at Velocult (which closed down recently) had one, but the paint and decals was all stripped off. He knew of 2 others in existence stateside. @nlerner probably owned one of them. The chrome is completely smooth where some of the paint chipped off, so there's little to hold it on. What I've heard is that they made a very short run for the catalog and to show off to dealers, but never went to production with them. The few that were made were snapped up by dealers.
Interesting thing about the seller, he bought a Bianchi track bike from Billy Nye the Science Guy.
@RobbieTunes, I do abuse @Andy_K for bike hauling privileges. Or maybe he has been in my pickup once and was scared of my driving...
Interesting thing about the seller, he bought a Bianchi track bike from Billy Nye the Science Guy.
@RobbieTunes, I do abuse @Andy_K for bike hauling privileges. Or maybe he has been in my pickup once and was scared of my driving...
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
02-20-19, 10:29 AM
#20
Bike Butcher of Portland
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
Maybe, maybe...let's talk. Steel, cottered?
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
02-20-19, 11:09 AM
#21
Bad example
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Seattle and Reims
Posts: 3,042
Bikes: Peugeot: AO-8 1973, PA-10 1971, PR-10 1973, Sante 1988; Masi Gran Criterium 1975, Stevenson Tourer 1980, Stevenson Criterium 1981, Schwinn Paramount 1972, Rodriguez 2006, Gitane Federal ~1975, Holdsworth Pro, Follis 172 ~1973, Bianchi '62
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 816 Post(s)
Liked 175 Times
in
83 Posts
I’d own that. :-)
__________________
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
02-20-19, 11:12 AM
#22
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,326
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 4,827 Times
in
2,228 Posts
02-20-19, 11:14 AM
#23
Bike Butcher of Portland
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
02-20-19, 12:06 PM
#24
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,326
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 4,827 Times
in
2,228 Posts
Keeper of the Flame - he seriously puts time, artistry, & $$$ into paint restoration and rideable builds.
Chapeau to Mr Raleigh (your thread) -
makes me think and want to ask, "Is there another Ride and Wrench time planned in south Portlandia?" (a quickie, not the full gastronomy-fest, and pass-out)
First Course - following liquid refreshments
Is @Drillium Dude successfully hibernating through winter quarter, I mean, winter’s weather!
Chapeau to Mr Raleigh (your thread) -
makes me think and want to ask, "Is there another Ride and Wrench time planned in south Portlandia?" (a quickie, not the full gastronomy-fest, and pass-out)
First Course - following liquid refreshments
Is @Drillium Dude successfully hibernating through winter quarter, I mean, winter’s weather!
Last edited by Wildwood; 02-20-19 at 01:27 PM.
