It’s a day off from work. I found a little extra spending cash. A 220 mile round trip bus ride with an afternoon spent visiting Portland, Oregon... Couldn’t resist.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2042506700692/

Not exactly sure what the full plans are for it yet though...

The bus pulled in on time, and the fella was waiting for me. Now I only need to stay busy, and carry the old bike around town for 2 hours..,

Checked into one of the many used record shops. Dire Straits are definitely classic! But are they vintage yet?

Starbucks is about the only dependable public restroom anymore.

Classic tale with a nice twist! Wicked potential project you got there. I would have been scared with those bars swinging around. Too easy a chance for a dented top tube.

Surly! And I considered that last night. I had planned to bring along a length of cord to secure them, but had spaced it by the time I left out this morning. Hopefully the top tube had survived the walking around well, and that the frame isn’t sliding around too much in the luggage compartment.


Very nice bike you’ve shown there. Just added to my inspiration, thank you for that! And also for mentioning the rear break adjustment. I’m excited to try bar ends out for the first time. I figured for as much as they’re going for on eBay, taking the trip up was plenty worth it for those alone.



Definitely agree on the Style 0!

Heard a track on the radio a couple weeks ago, and realized how long I’ve missed having a copy of that album.

Dire Straits = Dad Rock

I spent most of my time carrying the Raleigh around indecisive about where to eat. There’s almost too many options in Portland’s Pearl district.



And making my way back to the bus depot, I spied the infamous Mary’s club. The only place I’ve ever been pickpocketed. Years ago...



And finally, waiting for the home bound bus to arrive..,



As far as cities go, I really like Portland, and should visit more often. I’d like to bring a bike along next time however... ride around, and stay longer!

I just love the excitement involved with acquiring a "new" vintage bike. If all goes well, I am venturing to the Boston suburbs to acquire a bike this weekend.

Tired from more walking today than I’m used to, I’ve been looking the frameset over while listening to Dire Straights, and I’m really impressed with the shape it’s in.



The paint, and decals have held up extremely well over the decades. Just enough chipping, and scratches to give evidence that it may have seen a few miles here, and there in the past. As well, I can’t find any dents, dings, or rust.









Seven digits on the left dropout places this Grand Prix in 1973.



Specs for ‘73 lists a “Raleigh” 52/40 crankset, which leads me to believe that the Stronglight 52/42 must not be original. Looks like this crank would have come on the Super Courses in 1972 but with a 40t inner ring. As it happens I have that specific frame but I don’t foresee using this crank on it. Too much weight!

I’m presuming the stem for sure, and maybe the bars are original though I don’t have a sharp enough eye for logoless Maes bars to really know. Of course the Suntour barcons aren’t, but I’m sure glad they’re here!



It all makes me wonder about the bike’s life, and where all of its original components went. What’s behind the upgrades? I do know a little about it but not much. The seller said he’d gotten it from his friend’s dad who being the same height as his wife, purchased two brand new, identical Gran Prixs on the same day so that they could bicycle together. Makes me wonder about the status of the second bike too.

The fellow I bought it from had just started riding when he acquired it. He’s 6’ tall, and didn’t realize the bike wouldn’t fit him. It is just my size however, and it’s the same size as the ‘72 Super Course I’m working on. That bike came to me as a 100% bare frame minus a fork even.

In all honesty, I bought this Grand Prix planning to use its fork on the Super Course. I defiantly wanted the barcons too, but for an undetermined future build. What I’d do with the rest of the frame, and parts I hadn’t given much thought to. But seeing how lovely of shape the Grand Prix is in, there’s no way I can poach it’s fork for the Super Course.

While not a rare bike by any means, it is in remarkable shape for what’s left of it. That it’s survived as long as it has without anyone committing some form of irreversible hack or damage to it, I don’t want to be the one who finally does. I feel like I have a responsibility to keep it whole, and bring it back from limbo. So be it!

So now, the standing questions are... Which way to build it? And for what purpose will it serve?

The presence of wrap over seat stays and the Stronglight cranks ( indicates standard 24tpi British threading; not Raleigh proprietary 26tpi threading) suggests that this frame may have been built in the Gazelle factory in the Netherlands. Oddly though, there is a Carlton "C" seat binder bolt that would have come from Worksop, England. The fork, however, has Rampar decals and a decidedly Asian / Non British fork crown and drop outs. It would not have been a good replacement for your Super Course. It would have had a nicely chromed Wagner fork crown and Raleigh 26tpi Proprietary threading. This fork may have standard 24 tip British threading.
Sourcing OEM parts shouldn't be too difficult, as many European bikes of that era would have had Simplex derailleurs and Weinmann centerpull brakes. A Simplex Front Derailleur, however, are rare as the delrin bodies tend to crack. You might want to consider Suntour from that era, or for that more OEM plausible look ( and better durability, IMHO) use Huret derailleurs- some Grand Prixs were equipped with Huret Challenger derailleurs.
As Ryansu pointed out, that pesky adjustment ferrule for the rear brake bridge are really difficult to find. There is a similar ferrule found on the same era's Simplex delrin downtube shifters. It was a completely superfluous part unless the bike had completely enclosed cable runs. Since these shifters were notorious for breaking, they can be found at the bottom of the bins at your local co op. These particular shifters were OEM for this model, anyway.
Good luck with the rebuild, looks like a fun project.

Thank you for the reply, and for all the info. I did notice however that forum member branko_76 mentioned below that “It definitely has Raleigh's proprietary 26 tpi threading for the head-set and bottom bracket.” So until I service the parts, it looks like which threading I’ve wound up with will go unconfirmed.


Another example of Raleigh’s randomness?


It interests me that Raleigh would mix parts across models! I’m glad you’ve point the fork, and crown out. That is perhaps what I love most about this forum. All of you are constantly informing me, and training my eye. I really appreciate it.

I do have a proper fork for the Super Course, but it came from a 63.5” frame. Its also a bit out of true. I’m trying to avoid having to straighten it, and chopping/rethreading it if I can. Another option is a chromed, sloped crowned CRO-MO fork I have on hand. We’ll see...

But for what you’ve pointed out, all the more reason to keep the Grand Prix frameset together!


Picked up a pair of Weinmann brakes today at the co-op. I like the Huret idea, and just might go that route. I know there’s a few examples floating around the co-op to take a look at next visit.



Also from today’s co-op pickings, I snagged these from a set of, just as you said, “broken” delrin Simplex DT shifters. The ferrules sit pretty loosely in the brake bridge hole however. Does that sound right, or should I expect a snug fit? Both the Super Course, and the Raleigh are missing these parts.




Thank you. I’m sure it’ll be fun, as it already has been, and I’ve hardly just begun!

Next time I’m definitely going to limit myself to Columbus SL tubing 😂

Those are exactly the ferrule type I mentioned. The original Raleigh part was not a snug fit on my Super Course; one of the reasons this part gets lost in the first place. Unless there is a brake cable anchoring it in place, the part falls out instantly! As for the bottom bracket threading, if you can show us a picture of the NDS / Adjustable cup, we might be able to better identify the situation. I don't believe Stronglight ever manufactured anything in the 26 tpi threading.
If you can locate them, the Huret Challenger derailleurs area rally nice option; solid and reliable. If you can find a Luxe model that isn't too worn, they are nice as well. I am not a fan of the ubiquitous Alvit model, really heavy and a dirt catching design, IMHO. The delrin Simplex derailleurs can be made to look new, I'm told, with a soak in motor oil, but I was never a fan of them. The front derailleur, in particular, uses a horizontal rod rather than a parallelogram design to shift- crude and very dated. And the afore mentioned shift levers are unreliable at best. Definitely continue to keep us posted on the progress!