jjhabbs 

Hey guys, It's been a while. 2020 was a lean year for new bicycles for me. The collection didn't grow much. I did finally purchase a 1973 Raleigh International. Its in great shape. I love the Capella lugs on it. Please check it out!

jjhabbs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiY6...KAu1Egl4AaABAg

noobinsf 

Wow, beautiful...

daka

Beautiful! Except for the anodized rims, it looks very original and unmolested as well. Even the Brooks Pro is in great shape after nearly 50 years. So many Internationals have been parted-out it is great to see one, especially with the one year only Capella lugs, as it was first built. Congratulations on your find!

Bianchigirll 

Great looking bike. One of these days I'm going to have to find someone to loan me a Raleigh for a few weeks so I can find out what all the hubbub is about.

natterberry 

Very nice. My '74 is champagne also, big fan of the color.

thook

it's so.....beautiful

i think the ano'd rims are working with the color thing. even better were they tall flange record hubs, but ....so what. congratulations!

jjhabbs 

Im with you. I have some period correct Nisi rims that I'm going to put on You can see them in the video that I posted below the OP>

Thanks

JJ

jjhabbs 

Honestly I dont think its the performance that creates the hubbub. I think its the artwork of the lugs. The nostalgic feelings when we see a bike we wanted when we were younger. They are nice bikes, comfortable etc. But riding one probably wont convince you to go out and get one. Just my humble opin.

JJ

Andy_K 

I'm sure the nostalgia plays a part for some people. I know it's why @gugie has around a dozen Gran(d) Sport(s) in the Atelier at any given time. For me, it's more about the comfort and the beauty. In terms of comfort, In my experience the upper range of Raleighs are smooth and all-day comfortable. Sort of like ancient ancestors of modern Surlys. The Raleighs feel less overbuilt than Surlys. They don't have quite as much tire clearance or all the convenient braze-ons, but the ride is better and compared to a lot of vintage bikes, they do have pretty good tire clearance.

But honestly, the real draw for me with the International is the chrome lugs. I'm a sucker for chrome lugs. I prefer the Nervex, but the Capella are certainly more distinctive and I don't think I've ever seen them on an International before.

nlerner

The Intl is built with relatively relaxed frame angles and a low bottom bracket, plus fully DB 531 frame make for a comfortable rider. If you’re used to crit geometry with skinny hard tires, it’ll feel like a comfort cruiser.

Kilroy1988 

It's worth noting that the International frame set evolved throughout the early 1970s. As far as I can tell, the 1970-'72 models literally carried over the 1969 Competition frame set with a much racier geometry and in particular rather straight fork blades that mirrored those of the Professional Mk. II through early Mk. IV, and in 1973 both models got more fork rake before the Professional picked up straighter blades again, while the International remained relaxed from there on out. Another telling feature of the early Internationals (which they shared with the '69 Competition) is that the larger sizes had top tube lengths of 23", versus the 22.5" that would become standard by the mid-'70s for nearly all of the Raleigh Carlton models.

jjhabbs Lovely bike! I prefer the nervex lugs as well but the unique nature of the '73 models and the fact that the capella lugs are chromed (which was seldom seen after the mid-60s) is always a treat to behold!

Out of curiosity, and for the sake of science, it would be neat to have the center-to-top and center-to-center measurements for the seat and top tubes on this example, as '73 was clearly something of a transitional year for Raleigh Carlton.

-Gregory

76SLT 

Very nice looking bike. Someday when life gets back to normal, we can do a Raleigh ride.

nlerner

My Intl is a ‘71 and doesn’t meet your specs as it’s fairly slack. I have the frame angles written down somewhere, but, iirc, seat tube is 72 and head tube is 71. It had a fair amount of fork rake, too, though @gugie played around with that when he converted it to 650b.

Andy_K 

For my '69 Competition, I've recorded the seat tube angle as 71.7 and the head tube as 72.5. It's also got very long chainstays -- 450mm. The fork is kind of straight, I guess. I've got the trail recorded as 58.1. It definitely doesn't feel like a race bike.

Kilroy1988 

The frame angles sound correct to me, and were obviously more slack than the upright Raleigh Professional models beginning with the Mk. II - I was referring more to the fork. Here's a green '71 that's for sale on eBay right now, and a copper '74 for comparison, and you can see what I'm talking about. I've owned a '74 frame and have the same fork on another bike right now as well, and the rake is clearly more defined than the earlier Internationals. And finally the 1969 Competition that became the first-generation International is shown. The fork crown was just about the first thing to change, but you'll note that the nice wrap-around seat stays remained intact for the model transition! Based on my research asking several owners of these frames, the '69 Competition with its 23" top tube is identical to the '70 and '71 Internationals I've encountered. But I'm only talking about the 24.5" frame size for comparison's sake.

(EDIT: Sorry the photos are so large on-screen. Didn't mean to take up a bunch of space with that!)



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ascherer 

++ That's for sure! I took one of my first rides on my '71 with noglider at his secret mountain hideaway. My reflexes were informed by a couple of decades or riding my Mercian Pro with its upright geometry, shorter wheelbase and fast steering. Came up to a little bit of bad pavement and - surprise - a minor shift of body weight wasn't enough to slip around and I sailed right into it. Tom says: "What happened there?" Sheepish me: "I guess takes more input to go around something with this bike!" I've fully adjusted, and it sure is more forgiving on less-than-smooth surfaces, including trails and gravel. jjhabbs that's a lovely specimen you got. Enjoy!

BFisher

@jjhabbs, classy bike in a classy color! Love it!

davester

Beautiful. I have a strong affection for Internationals. I owned one for any years; I toured all through Europe, New England, and the Western US on it and even did a little racing, but it was destroyed during a tour when I was run down by a pickup truck. I've always wanted to get another but they never seem to show up. The workmanship on these was variable, to say the least. However, the classic chromed Nervex or Capella lugs and "socks", the artful touches such as the wraparound seat stays, the beautiful colors, the subtle "Raleigh" script (at least on the earlier ones) the high flange Campy hubs, and the stretched out touring geometry make for a marvelous package that is incredibly appealing. I do have a later, made in Japan, Raleigh "International", but it is not the same thing and, although a high quality bike, is missing many of these appealing features. I think that I need to start searching for one of these again .

Pcampeau

jjhabbs I’m going to guess that in your collection there are likely some other bikes with Nervex Pro Lugs. Actually, if I recall from another one of your videos you have a Chrome 72 Paramount, so that’s one. I think it’s good that you got the Capella version, it helps add some variation...plus those lugs are beautiful! I know in my own collection I’ve got four different bikes with Nervex Pro Lugs and I’m starting to look like a one trick pony. Granted, it’s a good trick, but I tend to look for other types of lugs now.

Kabuki12

As far as the whole Raleigh fascination I think it is the history and beauty of their bikes. I have a few in my collection and my favorite is the 1977 Competition GS . It is lighter than the International and I think the pro too. It has the Bocama cut out lugs and rides like a dream . My daughter’s Super Grand Prix is a lowerend Raleigh and it rides well too. She has done some really long rides with me and she loves it. Of all my bikes , the Black Competition gets the most comments from people when I am out and about, it really is a lovely bike. Your International has that look with the chrome lugs , very artsy and I hear they ride nicely.

repechage

mine has 70 mm of Bottom bracket drop- I do not consider that making a low BB.
75 mm would be
i don’t know of any production bikes lower than 75.

jamesdak 

Classy looking ride, there was a too small version of one of those selling here locally just a little while ago.

USAZorro

Beautiful. Will be interested to hear what you think of it after you ride it. I acquired a 1974 (no longer with an original set up, but with a configuration that works very well) from sloar a couple years back. It provides a very spirited ride.

oddjob2

A great addition to your already stunning collection!