Mike from Iowa

Here's a Super Course, circa 1970? I picked it up in May, and built it for a gravel ride I did in June. I put 700 wheels and have Continental Speed Kings, 35 mm which is the absolute widest I can run. We spread the rear to 130.
I also put on the triple from my 1986 Raleigh Aleyska, and 8 speed in the back.

The ride was 3 days, 235 miles, about half gravel, 10,000+ feet of elevation over the trip. We rode from Marion, Iowa across the Mississippi, and finished in Devil's Lake Wisconsin.
It was the 80th anniversary of a similar ride done by the "Iowa Mountaineers" in 1943, where they then climbed the bluffs over the lake, and rode home. We did the recreation as part of a documentary film project on the Mountaineers.
The original riders on the 1943 trip are shown below.

52telecaster

I love the contrasting head tube models. So classy.

52telecaster

Beautiful bike and devils lake rocks!

Pcampeau

Nice Bike! Cool Build! Great ride! I appreciate the link for the Mountaineers, thanks for that.

Quakertownrich

'71 SC I scored earlier this year. PO campy'd it up but was needing a resto. Replaced the early Phil Woods sealed bb with another PW, so the ride is sweet.

Quakertownrich

more pics
also, it rides on 700c red tag Fiamme tubular 40 spoke rear rim, unknown 36 spoke front rim tubular. Both have Campagnolo record hubs/skewers. Crank has been upgraded to Campagnolo Strava. I love it.

Rooney 

I’ve been hunting for a Super Course for a few weeks now and snagged this one tonight. A bit neglected, but it should be serviceable. I’ll be changing nearly everything anyway. The Building a light drop bar SA 3 sp thread reminded me of a project I’ve had in mind and a reason to finally use my Soma Lauterwasser bars. ascherer also recommended building up the front wheel with a Panasonic dynamo since I plan to make this my commuter.



I’m aiming for the “most improved” award when I post the finished product.

kansascity 

I have had 3 Super Courses come through my house.

Super clean '78, that only stayed for a short while

Built this flat bar Super Course for another staff member (argh the fuzzy phone camera)

Absolutely loved this '86 with 6400 series build. Would still have it if it was one size larger. Not what this thread was intended for.

Real1shepherd

I would suggest at least stringing your bike frames before you put a lot of effort into restoring or resuscitating said bikes. These bikes often had tough lives by now.......

Kevin

branko_76 

That's an awesome bike, would love to find that model. I restored a 1971 SC last year and in the process discovered that the down-tube is seemed, just like the Grand Prix. I'm guessing Raleigh got around this by using a Reynolds tag that says "531 Tubing" rather than the more common "531 Tubes"

52telecaster

I have since moved that bike along. No real reason other than I have too many bikes and somebody wanted one.

cjefferds 

Here is my 79. I picked up the frame at a swap meet and built it up from there. My first full build. It’s a hodge podge of parts. The drive train and wheels came from a Univega donor that I parted out for this project. Love this bike!

ascherer 

Since this thread sprung up and I just finished tweaking my son's SC, here it is, now sporting an Ultra 6, new chain, a Cyclone RD, and SKS shorty fenders from the Box o' Crap.

52telecaster

Is that root beer? Man it looks great.

ascherer 

Thanks, Russell! I suppose it is, but Raleigh called it Coffee. Given that he's a barista I'm surprised he didn't keep with the theme, he named the bike Sarsaparilla. It rides so nicely, and now with that Cyclone it runs silently. That may be one of @PastorBoblnh's freewheels.

52telecaster

Suntour freewheels and suntour derailleurs are a beautiful combo. I've done some touring on the combo. Never a worry and it just works.

RogueB

Hello to all,
Short preamble: First time poster, but I have visited Bike Forum few times. I am familiar with content of Sheldon Brown and Head Badge websites. I was able to date the Raleigh Super Course I own to the 71- 72 era.

In process of restoring the Super Course and, while the bike is in good condition, the original cups from bottom bracket, or the spindle, are in need of upgrade. The original spindle has a play on the drive-side of the bottom bracket. Adjusting the (adjustable) cup to eliminate the "up-down" play causes spindle to bind. I did replace the 1/4" bearings, but there was no improvement.

I noticed in the post #2163 that, the (beautifully refurbished) Super Course of same vintage as mine, is fitted with square taper spindle.

May I ask where you were able to secure the parts for that upgrade. The bottom bracket threading on those bikes is 26 TPI and securing serviceable parts is not an easy endeavor. I did reach out, via email, to Phil Wood Co., which used to make cups with 26 TPI threading (currently listed as “sold out”) and sealed BB cartridges to match, but, did not get a courtesy of a reply.

E-bay’s share of square taper spindles, which could fit the 71-72 Super Course (using original cups), require extensive machining to be serviceable.

I was informed that I have to have "10 or more posts" before I could post photos, hence, I added few more details in lieu of pictures.

The serial number on left dropout has 6 numbers, suggesting 1972 model.
However, the 1971 USA Raleigh catalog has a pictures of what is (was) carbon copy of my Super Course, including the AVA "death" stem.
Wheels were replaced and freewheel upgraded to 6 speed, but otherwise bike has all original equipment.

Thank you for any information.

nlerner

I’ve not tried this alternative, but I’ve read of using a threadless bottom bracket in a SuperCourse given the proprietary threading:

https://www.modernbike.com/product-2...yABEgJ-z_D_BwE

daka

Some Super Courses were made with the proprietary Raleigh 26 tpi bottom bracket and others with a standard British BB. Of the four Super Courses that have passed through my garage, only one of them had the Raleigh BB. The quickest way to tell is to measure the width - If it is 68mm it is a standard British/Japanese configuration and parts are easy to come by. If your measurement is more like 71 or 72 mm than you have the Raleigh BB and you need to refer to Sheldon's advice on updating to a square-taper unit. There are spindles out there that have spacing of the races close to what is appropriate for the Raleigh BB but your cups need to be in good enough condition to re-use. My experience is that the Raleigh cups, while they look a bit crude, have great longevity and it is usually the spindle that becomes pitted.
Telling a '71 from a '72 may be difficult if it is numbered on the NDS dropout, I haven't seen anything written that helps decode those numbers. But, if it is any encouragement, the '73 Super Course I used to have and the '73 Gran Sport that is still here are both numbered that way and both had standard bottom brackets.

Good luck!

52telecaster

Both of mine were British.

ascherer 

+1
The one I showed a few posts up was British and replaced with a threadless, probably Velo Orange but maybe one more like the one linked here. I have one on another bike that may have damaged BB threads. They're both holding up just fine.

RogueB

Thank you nlerner, that is a viable option.

Having some problems trying to reply using quotes (the 10 post rule with URL problem?)

RogueB

Hello daka,

Thank you for the information.
I should have emphasized that I actually did measure the threading on the BB with a thread/pitch gauge and, "unfortunately", it is 26 TPI
The width of the BB is 70 - 71 mm, when measured with caliper.
The serial numbers are indeed an issue in Raleigh history; I obtained serial number data from *kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html" (also known as the Head Badge site).
The site also has some vintage Raleigh catalogs which, when cross referenced with serial number, suggest production year between 71-72.
I looked for appropriate square taper spindle, as defined on the Sheldon Brown's page, but finding one in serviceable condition and appropriate race spacing is another story.

P.S. I get kicked out of the site when pressing "post button", hence, unlinked response

RogueB

Hello 52telecaster, (that is one superb electric guitar)

Thanks for info; I did neglect to include in my first post the fact, that I measured the threading on the BB with a gauge and it is 26 TPI (Raleigh proprietary threading)

RogueB

Hello ascherer

Thanks for the data; I will install threadless BB if I can't secure a spindle with appropriate measurements to fit my Raleigh.
Phil Wood Co. had a perfect solution until they "abandoned" the 26 TPI cups for their sealed BB offering.
The bike you worked on is indeed beautifully "modernized".

The "10 first-poster rules make it somewhat difficult to respond directly to the posters.