the sci guy 

I cleaned mine - looks to be the exact same as on yours - and they definitely aren't white. They were definitely tan: https://www.bikeforums.net/20893160-post27.html

BUT, maybe that's just years of dirt & wear & decade grime so ingrained in the rubber that it'll never be white again?

Here's my Super Tourer how it came: https://www.bikeforums.net/20907068-post97.html
And here's a Gran Sport with the white hoods - and white cabling - but they're definitely white: https://www.bikeforums.net/20907621-post98.html

I was planning on getting white either way since I couldn't find tan, so in the end I suppose it's a moot point

gugie 

Catalog shows them as white. When I was 15 and walked up to one at Big Wheel Cyclery in Fresno, CA they were white - kinda brilliant white. My friend Bob's was white. White plastic and rubber doesn't stay that way under UV, dirt, years...

the sci guy 

Fair enough. White it be, then! Which is good because I was going to go get some at the bike shop this weekend anyway.

fordbailey

Nice shop decal.
The Gran Sport is cleaning up nicely !

fordbailey

Starting to add parts...

fishboy316

My 72' Grand Sports. I love this bike. Has a great ride and is faster than my professional. (Not by much though) Probably my most playful Raleigh. Still need an international to complete the set.

fordbailey

After starting the parts swap from my Raleigh Competition frame to my Gran Sport frame, I was optimistic. The tires fit, the bottom bracket didn't need the drive side spacers anymore. I was excited by the prospect of switching frames- geometry seems a little tighter, chainstays a little shorter, paint much brighter and fresher. Then I got to the rear brake. I realized that putting 650bs on this bike is not going to happen without getting "torchy" with it: the brake bridge is too high for the MAFAC Raids to work. Such a bummer.
So I will build it with 700c wheels and the widest tire that will fit. I'd still like to make it work with 650b wheels, just not in the cards right now.

gugie 

Damn, didn't think of that detail. RAID's with a drop bolt? THAT might be taking things too far.

due ruote 

I love the way my ‘73 rides with 700c and 33 mm Supple Vitesse tires, fwiw. I couldn’t realistically go wider than that on the rear and still have an acceptable margin for a wheel going out of true - unless I were to crimp the chainstays.

fordbailey

It's weird, though. The bridge seems extra high on this GS. Better part of an inch higher than on my Competition.
I've been loving my 650b bikes. Now the only one I have built up is my single speed... I guess I'll start brazing...

So Gugie- have you renounced your 650b ways, satisfied with 700c wheel size on your fleet ??

noglider 

I had a 1975 Gran Sport, and the brake bridge was super high on it, also. I think that's how they made them.

gugie 

I guess my feeling is: the right horse for the right track. I want fatter tires for combined surface riding. If I can get that with 700c wheels on a particular frame, then I'll go that way. My Grander Sportier has long legs, 700c x 35's fit ok with fenders, but 33.3 is perfect clearance. I've ridden that bike on good quality gravel roads, but want a wider tire for rougher stuff. I decided to build up this bike as a test against my 650b x 42 Competition. After riding it awhile I think I'd prefer it with wider tires - and I want it with fenders - so 650b x 42s would be an improvement.

I built a frame for a buddy around 700c x 44mm tires with plenty of fender clearance, but he's 6'6" so wheel size wasn't an issue. There's a lot more choices in 700c rims and tires, so all things being equal, I'd try to build a frame round 700c wheels. Smaller frames require smaller wheels to give the clearances you need/want.

The magic of 650b is that you can fit a wider tire in many frames that 700c won't allow. A fat 650b tire has almost the same outer diameter as a skinny 700c, so BB height isn't changed much from the original design.

Sometimes you have to test your beliefs and be willing to try something else. I did and my belief was strengthened.

I'm still in the 650b boat with caveats.

fordbailey

What a fantastic frame you made ! That's a lot of bells and whistles for your second frame ! I'm getting ready to get some tanks and some supplies to do a proper modification to my Competition (it has bad paint)... as practice for the work I need to do on the GS. The GS will, in the meantime be rolling on 700 x 35c.



Look at that brake bridge ! I think it needs almost 90mm of reach !

oddjob2

As several of you know, I have a big enough collection to ride a different bike nearly every day for two months, plus roughly the same number of bikes to proffer to the currently bike starved masses, lol. Problem is I need the space to house a new fossil fuel vehicle.

The beautifully maintained Gran Sport has been on local FB for about a month and Danbianchi881 has been discouraging me from obtaining it since the day I saw it. Well despite the ark like conditions this morning, I nabbed it for only $5 more than a Bridgestone BB-1 I just sold an hour ago. I think I have reached that At Last moment in bike collecting! The GS will join a Raleigh rack which includes a Super Course, Super Course MK !!, Alyeska, and International. I intend to replace the suicide shifter and turkey levers.

natterberry 

I came for lagoon blue, and was not disappointed.

pontius

Gotta love that license sticker.

Narhay

You'll need a Raleigh Professional and RRA now. You're welcome!

rickrob 

I picked up this 75' Gran Sport Frame last summer with a dented down tube and the paint was in rough shape. First repaint went bad and did not hold up. Re-painted with VHT Epoxy and SprayMax 2K Clear, got much better results. Built it up with 600 Arabesque components and L-600 barcons. Just took it out for first test ride. Needs better brake pads.

oneclick 

I may have posted this elsewhere, but the paint used seems to be a pretty close match so that could be useful to some.
I didn't know about it until after I sold a frame with the real colour so cannot say for sure how good a match it is..

...and no, it's not a GS, it's a Super Course - but what else did I have to try the paint on?

Rustoleum Seaside Gloss, goes on nice & smooth - claims rust-preventative, paint & primer in one, any-angle spray head, any surface, fast drying, nice comfy spray-head:

rickrob 

The Seaside Blue looks like a close match to me. I used Rustoleum "Lagoon" on the blue panels on my GS, and that is darker than the original Lagoon Blue.

Charles Wahl

PSA: I posted a notice in "eBay / Craigslist" for a Gran Sport frame/fork in WI with decent price and shipping; 1973-ish, 62 cm ctt, good cosmetics & chrome.
https://www.bikeforums.net/22015732-post61120.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ral...4/363359232622

nlerner

Here’s a work in progress: New issue 2-speed coaster brake hub based on the Bendix yellow band, front Shimano dynohub, Stronglight 93 crankset with 42t ring and pant guard from a modified 48t ring, original GB stem and V-O porteur bars, Soma tires, Velocity rear rim, Mavic front, original Weinmann cp front brake. Hope to fit it with a chain and giving it a test ride later today.

jonwvara 

That looks pretty nifty, Neal. I like the homemade pants guard.

nlerner

Thanks, Jon! I fitted it with a chain and took it out for a quick test ride yesterday afternoon. Two problems: 1) I need to flip the 42t ring as the chain's connecting link is catching on the chainguard. Flipping it should give me enough space. 2) I didn't seem to be able to get it to shift! According to the seller (SomaFab), it takes a slight backpedaling (but not enough to engage the coaster brake), but I think my touch wasn't subtle enough. More testing to come.

gugie 

My Sturmey-Archer 2 speed kickback doesn't shift all the time either. I think I like your auto-shifting Ted Williams better.


Always looking for an opportunity to post this pic.