Show us your Raleigh Super Course!
#1826
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@BFisher, that's terrific. What size chainring and cog?
That's a 49 tooth chainring and a 22 tooth cog. A seller on eBay had a few of those chainrings at a great price - NOS. Gives me a nice range of about 45, 60, and 80 gear inches.
#1827
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Thanks for he gear size info. I've been contemplating the 3-Speed conversion.....this kind of info really helps.
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https://sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html
#1829
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Yes, I've been looking at that, It's the thought of getting rid of my 'gruppo' and minimizing... lots of years with the 10 and 15 speeds, though I do vaguely remember my first 3-speed and getting my first chrome drop bars! Now I'm going back to the inverted bars..how times change.
#1830
aka Tom Reingold
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I find a handlebar change is the biggest change I can make to a bike. And I just finished a handlebar change on my Super Course. When it had swept back bars, the steering was floppy, perhaps too much so. When it had flat-ish bars, it was still floppy. Now that I have drop bars and a long reach stem, the problem, if you can call it that, is gone. I've had a lot of different handlebars on this bike, as it is my testbed bike.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#1831
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Brifters on a Super Course?! Does the Spanish Inquisition thread need to be revived?
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#1835
Not lost wanderer.
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#1838
aka Tom Reingold
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And one of these days, I'll paint the bike. It has been an eyesore for years throughout all of its incantations.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#1839
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Maybe if you say the right incantation, it’ll look better.
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#1840
aka Tom Reingold
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Tried that many times. Didn't work. Maybe I should try harder.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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#1842
aka Tom Reingold
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I finally finished this project bike, my 1971 Raleigh Super Course. The work was dragging out for months or maybe even years so I picked up my effort. There were dozens of niggling problems to work out, many because I kept losing little pieces on my messy workbench.
I have no quick release for my brakes, so those are coming. I have no barrel adjuster for the rear brake, but they will be integrated in the quick releases. Currently I have to deflate a tire to get a wheel out.
I have a dynamo headlight, a battery headlight, a battery taillight, and I will probably add a dynamo taillight, too. The fenders are a bit too narrow for the tires, but they'll do. The scratched up Blackburn rack dates back to about 1979 when I bought it new.
I think the bike is heavier than in its previous incarnation. The new crank is all steel, and the I think dynamo hub is heavier than the bottle dynamo it replaces even when accounting for the weight of a plain front hub. Oh well. It rides great.
I got the Shimano Claris 2x8 drivetrain in a great deal from @sloar. He took it off a new bike that he parted out. It works like a champ, though not until I aligned the frame.
I spread the frame from ~120 to 130. I used RJ The Bike Guy's threaded rod method, and that worked badly. I got to the target spacing, but the right side is more flexible than the left side, so the frame was way off kilter. I fixed it with the 2x4 method.
One of these days I may replace the stem with something less ugly, and I might also touch up the paint. I never made any effort to make this bike handsome, and maybe I should.
Brooks Cambium handlebar tape! The reviews complain that it's hard to install because it's stiff. It is, but it wasn't a huge challenge. I think I like it very much, and I got it because it should be durable and reusable.
This bike has been a testbed bike for me since I picked it out of the trash in 2008. I've rebuilt it many times. Interestingly, the changes among the 5 or 6 handlebars I've used make more difference than anything else.
I have no quick release for my brakes, so those are coming. I have no barrel adjuster for the rear brake, but they will be integrated in the quick releases. Currently I have to deflate a tire to get a wheel out.
I have a dynamo headlight, a battery headlight, a battery taillight, and I will probably add a dynamo taillight, too. The fenders are a bit too narrow for the tires, but they'll do. The scratched up Blackburn rack dates back to about 1979 when I bought it new.
I think the bike is heavier than in its previous incarnation. The new crank is all steel, and the I think dynamo hub is heavier than the bottle dynamo it replaces even when accounting for the weight of a plain front hub. Oh well. It rides great.
I got the Shimano Claris 2x8 drivetrain in a great deal from @sloar. He took it off a new bike that he parted out. It works like a champ, though not until I aligned the frame.
I spread the frame from ~120 to 130. I used RJ The Bike Guy's threaded rod method, and that worked badly. I got to the target spacing, but the right side is more flexible than the left side, so the frame was way off kilter. I fixed it with the 2x4 method.
One of these days I may replace the stem with something less ugly, and I might also touch up the paint. I never made any effort to make this bike handsome, and maybe I should.
Brooks Cambium handlebar tape! The reviews complain that it's hard to install because it's stiff. It is, but it wasn't a huge challenge. I think I like it very much, and I got it because it should be durable and reusable.
This bike has been a testbed bike for me since I picked it out of the trash in 2008. I've rebuilt it many times. Interestingly, the changes among the 5 or 6 handlebars I've used make more difference than anything else.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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#1843
The dropped
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Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
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OK, I will!
Assembled for the clunker challenge
Front brake ONLY. The Dia Compe 610 brakes don't have enough reach to clear the tire, even on 27" wheels. I'll swap for the correct Weinmann 999 750's after the 100 km.
I'm pleased with the results. It has good bones.
I'm hoping I love the ride even though this is a little small for me. I could use a longer head tube. I'm using the clunker challenge as a test to see if I can tolerate it for long rides. I have all the bits I need to convert to a fixed gear, which is my intended build for this frame.
Shout out to marius.suiram for making this dream at least possible.
Assembled for the clunker challenge
Front brake ONLY. The Dia Compe 610 brakes don't have enough reach to clear the tire, even on 27" wheels. I'll swap for the correct Weinmann 999 750's after the 100 km.
I'm pleased with the results. It has good bones.
I'm hoping I love the ride even though this is a little small for me. I could use a longer head tube. I'm using the clunker challenge as a test to see if I can tolerate it for long rides. I have all the bits I need to convert to a fixed gear, which is my intended build for this frame.
Shout out to marius.suiram for making this dream at least possible.
Last edited by Unca_Sam; 09-24-20 at 07:31 AM.
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#1845
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Touching up
[QUOTE=noglider;21710203]I finally finished this project bike, my 1971 Raleigh Super Course. The work was dragging out for months or maybe even years so I picked up my effort. There were dozens of niggling problems to work out, many because I kept losing little pieces on my messy workbench.
I have no quick release for my brakes, so those are coming. I have no barrel adjuster for the rear brake, but they will be integrated in the quick releases. Currently I have to deflate a tire to get a wheel out.
I have a dynamo headlight, a battery headlight, a battery taillight, and I will probably add a dynamo taillight, too. The fenders are a bit too narrow for the tires, but they'll do. The scratched up Blackburn rack dates back to about 1979 when I bought it new.
I think the bike is heavier than in its previous incarnation. The new crank is all steel, and the I think dynamo hub is heavier than the bottle dynamo it replaces even when accounting for the weight of a plain front hub. Oh well. It rides great.
I got the Shimano Claris 2x8 drivetrain in a great deal from @sloar. He took it off a new bike that he parted out. It works like a champ, though not until I aligned the frame.
I spread the frame from ~120 to 130. I used RJ The Bike Guy's threaded rod method, and that worked badly. I got to the target spacing, but the right side is more flexible than the left side, so the frame was way off kilter. I fixed it with the 2x4 method.
One of these days I may replace the stem with something less ugly, and I might also touch up the paint. I never made any effort to make this bike handsome, and maybe I should.
Brooks Cambium handlebar tape! The reviews complain that it's hard to install because it's stiff. It is, but it wasn't a huge challenge. I think I like it very much, and I got it because it should be durable and reusable.
This bike has been a testbed bike for me since I picked it out of the trash in 2008. I've rebuilt it many times. Interestingly, the changes among the 5 or 6 handlebars I've used make more difference than anything else.
I have no quick release for my brakes, so those are coming. I have no barrel adjuster for the rear brake, but they will be integrated in the quick releases. Currently I have to deflate a tire to get a wheel out.
I have a dynamo headlight, a battery headlight, a battery taillight, and I will probably add a dynamo taillight, too. The fenders are a bit too narrow for the tires, but they'll do. The scratched up Blackburn rack dates back to about 1979 when I bought it new.
I think the bike is heavier than in its previous incarnation. The new crank is all steel, and the I think dynamo hub is heavier than the bottle dynamo it replaces even when accounting for the weight of a plain front hub. Oh well. It rides great.
I got the Shimano Claris 2x8 drivetrain in a great deal from @sloar. He took it off a new bike that he parted out. It works like a champ, though not until I aligned the frame.
I spread the frame from ~120 to 130. I used RJ The Bike Guy's threaded rod method, and that worked badly. I got to the target spacing, but the right side is more flexible than the left side, so the frame was way off kilter. I fixed it with the 2x4 method.
One of these days I may replace the stem with something less ugly, and I might also touch up the paint. I never made any effort to make this bike handsome, and maybe I should.
Brooks Cambium handlebar tape! The reviews complain that it's hard to install because it's stiff. It is, but it wasn't a huge challenge. I think I like it very much, and I got it because it should be durable and reusable.
This bike has been a testbed bike for me since I picked it out of the trash in 2008. I've rebuilt it many times. Interestingly, the changes among the 5 or 6 handlebars I've used make more difference than anything else.
Last edited by Teej1; 09-28-20 at 09:00 AM. Reason: not in proper space
#1846
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With all of the touch-up paint sites touching up shouldn't be a problem. The price of the paint...not cheap but not too outrageous either especially when considering maintaining the max amount of original finish.
#1847
The dropped
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
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Touching up
I'm convinced Raleigh used a two step process to achieve the finish on Bronze Green bikes, maybe the coffee color too.
Blue and yellow make green. There are examples where the blue-green base coat is showing through a worn top coat. It could be that the top coat was an amber urethane, leading to the depth of the finish I love so thoroughly in the gorgeous bronze green.
Blue and yellow make green. There are examples where the blue-green base coat is showing through a worn top coat. It could be that the top coat was an amber urethane, leading to the depth of the finish I love so thoroughly in the gorgeous bronze green.
#1848
Senior Member
Did Urethane even exist back when these bikes were built? I'm thinking it must be some slightly ambered lacquer made from crushed insect larvae or something like that. I agree on the two step process for that color. You see a lot of old bronze green Super Courses where the top coat has come off leaving a silvery-green base underneath that appears to be still well adhered to the frame.
#1849
The dropped
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Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
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Did Urethane even exist back when these bikes were built? I'm thinking it must be some slightly ambered lacquer made from crushed insect larvae or something like that. I agree on the two step process for that color. You see a lot of old bronze green Super Courses where the top coat has come off leaving a silvery-green base underneath that appears to be still well adhered to the frame.
I'm lucky enough to live near the PPG auto finish dealer for my region, so I usually bring a bike into their storefront, and the color match guys use their magic. Be warned that round tubes do not make for easy sun-gun matches!
#1850
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One older guy showed interest in my bike today, told me it was beautiful, and asked if it was a new bike made to look like an old one, I guess I did such a good job cleaning and polishing that it doesn't look old. I told him it was a 1973 model, I bought it from the original owner, full disassemble and clean by me, including polihing the hubs...
I've been off the bike far too much the last 10 weeks, injury, wildfire smoke, life, work.... It was good to get out for a solid ride today for the first time in what seems like forever, I'm ready to get a bit of fitness back, coming right into winter, D'oh!
Last edited by jackbombay; 09-29-20 at 11:30 PM.