Raleigh International Setup Question
06-28-20, 07:02 PM
#1
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Raleigh International Setup Question
I’ve been having fun getting to know my 74 Int’l and am pretty happy with how I originally set it up (28 tires, B17 saddle, 48/38 chainrings). But part of my plan with this project was to play around with the setup and try different things. My biggest concern is that I’m not familiar with how durable/tough the frame is. I’d like to try a gravel setup, but I don’t want to overtax the intended limits of the frame. I plan on trying a different saddle, 48/34 crankset, 33mm tires. When I hit the gravel, will I risk the Integrity of the frame at all with this setup? Thanks!
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06-28-20, 07:14 PM
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The International should be as durable as any other 531 frame. I've never worried about my International on rough roads.
The bigger question is whether the 28mm tires are a good match for the type of gravel that you'll be riding on.
Regarding the 33mm tires.. have you checked the fit between the chainstays? I haven't tried anything that big on mine, but know that a 27mm tire doesn't leave a lot of room.
Steve in Peoria
The bigger question is whether the 28mm tires are a good match for the type of gravel that you'll be riding on.
Regarding the 33mm tires.. have you checked the fit between the chainstays? I haven't tried anything that big on mine, but know that a 27mm tire doesn't leave a lot of room.
Steve in Peoria
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06-28-20, 07:27 PM
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I set my '74 International up with the intention of riding Cino (hopefully next year now). I have a triple chainring and 700c 35mm Panaracer Pasela ProTites on it with no clearance issues.
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06-28-20, 08:20 PM
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Believe it or not, I have a dream of doing the Cino on the International! That route is only a few miles (that’s Montana miles) from my home town.
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06-28-20, 08:24 PM
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As a guy who lives near you and is quite familiar with the gravel trails in the Twin cities area, I can tell you that 28 mm tires will get you by around here. On gravel I use both my 68 Super Course and my 75 international and can travel long distances on our well maintained rails to trails system. Wider tires may be necessary if you travel to other places but here in flat Minneapolis they’re not a must. My international is currently set up with 28mm tires. This is not to say that you wouldn’t enjoy wider tires, just that here it’s not a must. As to stress on the frame, I’ve been riding mine for 3 years now and I have complete confidence in my International.
Edit: I didn’t know about your Montana ambitions before I posted my reply. USA Zorros set up sounds great for what you want.
Edit: I didn’t know about your Montana ambitions before I posted my reply. USA Zorros set up sounds great for what you want.
Last edited by Pcampeau; 06-28-20 at 08:29 PM.
06-28-20, 09:31 PM
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Well, at my age the Cino thing may be more of a dream than anything else. I guess I’ll see if the Challenge Almanzo tires fit on the bike and give it a whirl. Thanks for the advice!
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06-28-20, 09:41 PM
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Raleigh Internationals are not consistent in the a) chain stay length or b) width of tire they will accept in the rear. All you can do is measure, and deal with what you've got. Things vary from year to year, maybe frame to frame for all I know.
06-29-20, 09:42 PM
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yeah, the B17 is perfect for that nike in so many ways. But I have a saddle (actually, three of them) that fits me perfectly - I use that saddle on all my bikes. As I swap things around to see what type of bike the Int’l will finally end up as, I kinda think that B17 will find its way back to the final version.
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06-30-20, 12:16 AM
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About 10 years ago, I was in a discussion on Bike Forums about what constituted a “gravel bike”. Someone offered a definition along the lines of it’s like a road bike that you can also ride on gravel roads. Someone else responded with something along the lines of, “Oh, we used to call that a bike.”
Your International is plenty tough enough, but as others have said tire size could be an issue. By 1974 the tire clearance wasn’t what it had been on the earlier Internationals. I’ve got a ‘74 International setup with 28s and fenders. Without fenders you might be able to get 32s in there.
Your International is plenty tough enough, but as others have said tire size could be an issue. By 1974 the tire clearance wasn’t what it had been on the earlier Internationals. I’ve got a ‘74 International setup with 28s and fenders. Without fenders you might be able to get 32s in there.
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07-01-20, 06:20 PM
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Good and timely thread, as I am about to do the same thing to my '71 International. With my cheap-ass plastic calipers it looks as thoughI can put 35mm rubber on it.
As far as strength/reliability, I think that bike will hold up well. Of course, its a bike boom era Raleigh, so don't get out of cellphone range! PLEASE post what you do and how it turns out.
As far as strength/reliability, I think that bike will hold up well. Of course, its a bike boom era Raleigh, so don't get out of cellphone range! PLEASE post what you do and how it turns out.
07-01-20, 07:41 PM
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It ain't the bike that makes it gravel-worthy, it's the tires. Fat, high volume, low pressure. But then you've got to fit those tires into the frame, so long chainstays help.
I think too many people focus on the frame. Start with the tires you want to run, find a frame that works with them. BITD there weren't nearly as many tire choices as we have today. No one, and I mean no one would have thought to run 42's, even 38mm wide tires on an International BITD. Now it's quite common to do 650b conversions on these frames.
I think too many people focus on the frame. Start with the tires you want to run, find a frame that works with them. BITD there weren't nearly as many tire choices as we have today. No one, and I mean no one would have thought to run 42's, even 38mm wide tires on an International BITD. Now it's quite common to do 650b conversions on these frames.
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07-01-20, 08:01 PM
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I think too many people focus on the frame. Start with the tires you want to run, find a frame that works with them. BITD there weren't nearly as many tire choices as we have today. No one, and I mean no one would have thought to run 42's, even 38mm wide tires on an International BITD. Now it's quite common to do 650b conversions on these frames.
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