QuickDraw

East Hill Pics approved, that is

OK, I finally got around to snapping some updated Photos of my 1986 Raleigh Grand Prix. here are the details:
Frame: 531 DB Main Tubes, Tange Stays and Fork
Wheels: Campy Triomphe Hubs, Stainless DB Spokes, Mavic G-40 Clinchers
Cranks: Campy Triomphe 52-42
Brakes: Campy Croce Delta Calipers, Campy C-Record Leavers
Shifters: Campy Triomphe
Der: Campy Triomphe
Seat: Brooks Swallow
Bag: Gilles Berthoud
Fenders: Fast Boy Fenders

I'm still messing with a few things but it's about 95% there, although I'm contemplating a move to a slightly larger frame. What do you think of it? Possibly the fanciest Grand Prix ever. Anyways I thought you guys would enjoy.

cudak888 

If you ever decide to do so, I'll make you a deal on that seatpost (for my '84 Super Course)

-Kurt

huerro

Beautiful...Did it come with the eyelets? Mine doesn't have them, maybe mine's not an '86 after all.

QuickDraw

The Eyelets Appear stock. Also I got this bike from Kurt, and Kurt I love the seatpost, that's one part i wouldn't part with

PBR Streetgang

Nice! The saddle alone makes it the fanciest Grand Prix ever.

sirpoopalot

i bet that seatpost is right at the min insertion line (or slightly above it)

interesting bike. the bag, the pump and the fenders, and the lights make it seem like a rando/audax bike, but the road group & brakes beg to differ.

cudak888 

Far as I know, the Raleigh USA Grand Prix models were always eyeleted for the extent of their production as a steel frame ('83-86). Chuck Kichline's '84 has eyelets, pretty sure all others do too (might as well check the '84 in the opening of Quicksilver too).

On that note though, the '83 Grand Prix and Super Course models were unusually low-end in comparison to the '84-86 models to follow. '83 GP had stamped dropouts, one-piece crankset, Suntour Vx components, stem shifters, conventional seatpost. The '83 SC was essentially the same with the upgrades of forged dropouts, forged post and Suntour ARX - essentially the same group that was handed down to the Grand Prix the next two years ('84/5).

Take care,

-Kurt

jimc

Nice bike, I like that color scheme--Jimc

___________________________________________________________________________________________
2007 Custom Davidson
1985 3Rensho
1983 Mercian KOM
1973 Grand touring Motobecane

East Hill

East Hill does indeed approve of the photos, and heartily agrees that the bike is a beauty too!

It looks as if you are ready for a tour...

East Hill

maureenkh

Beautiful bike and great choice of components and accessories. Thanks for sharing the photos with us.

Maureen

-holiday76

speaking of East HIll approved, this is the smallest bike I've ever had in my garage, by far (i normally ride a 63cm):



the seat tube measures 40.5cm!

More detail pics here:

https://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/m...?g2_itemId=631

It's a 80 something Raleigh Capri.

QuickDraw

yea the seat post is right at the min insertion line (not above) and the bike feels a few cm too short, the reach is perfect though, so it's either a slightly larger frame with a shorter stem or a longer seat post. I'd hate to loose the campy seat post as it's one of my favorite parts on the whole bike. I could live with the smaller frame as is, though it is not as comfortable as it should be, i think a 60-62 cm frame is about right for me, this one is 58cm. Hmmm.

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone, it was really fun starting with a nice bike and adding some great parts to it, to make it mine.

beakgeek

I'm digging the MPLSBIKELOVE spoke card! Sweet ride.

huerro

Very strange. Mine definitely doesn't have them unless someone spent a lot of time and money removing them and giving it a perfect respray.

cudak888 

Must see a photo then. What year is yours? Couldn't be an '84 or 5 if the DO's are painted.

-Kurt

cudak888 

Huerro rightfully did not wish to hijack this thread, but I thought this is worth public mention, just in case anyone Googles this subject in the future:



Sometime during the run of the 1986 models, the Taiwanese production shifted either to another location or another manufacturer. At any rate, I have seen a few of these later models, which are usually spottable by the smooth seatlug binder cluster design:



I never did notice whether these later machines were sans eyelets though. Apparently so - from these photos - though I have saved (on one of my other computers) one or two photos of the later variant that have come and gone through eBay, and I do not specifically recall the lack of eyelets. I'll have to dig up the photos again.

-Kurt

QuickDraw

Thanks I believe the logo was developed by a local artist named Adam Turman Cool stuff and some bike related art, I believe the logo is based on the "Grain Belt Beer" logo


I think it's a classy logo and a classy site. Lots of cool people over there.

beakgeek

I know. I have been to a MPLSBIKELOVE wrench get together and have particpated in Speed Tag!

QuickDraw

Ahh very cool, I play on the St. Paul bike tag now and then, and have been on a few group rides. Good to meet you on the interwebs, if you see me around town on my grand prix say hi.