'70s Raleigh International - Customized
 

After selling a too big (60cm) Raleigh International to poprad recently, I found myself still pining for one in my size, as I otherwise really enjoyed the ride feel of this versatile sport tourer. As luck would have it, I did find one on eBay, and in keeping with my Motobecane Grand Record, this one has been customized and repainted.

Initially, I had plans of big, C&V appropriate changes, but I found that I really liked most everything about this bike already, and so decided to only change out the saddle, mismatched cantilever brakes, and bar tape. The QR skewers are also mismatched, so I have some Bontrager titanium skewers on the way from England, to match the wheel set.

It's a really nice setup, with Dura Ace crankset, 105 long cage rear derailer and brake levers, 10-speed Hyperglide cassette, Ultegra chain, Shimano bar end shifters, Bontrager Classic wheels and hubs, Bontrager seat post, Bontrager threadless stem and bars (apparently somebody really liked Bontrager stuff!). I do like the wide (44cm) Bontrager bars quite a bit.

Customizations include the addition of cantilever posts, three sets of water bottle bosses (would have had none originally), pump peg and nub on NDS seat stay, braze-on for rear lighting on seat tube, and modifications for direct fender attachment (even came with some leather washers), and repainted in Rally Blue (apparently a Subaru WRX color).

Anyway, here's the before and after pics (and more here):

Before:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a7af26f_3k.jpg1970s Raleigh International by John Jones, on Flickr

After:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0e9b78_3k.jpg1970s Raleigh International - Customized by John Jones, on Flickr

British appearing color scheme.
Flickr now lets one view but not zoom if one is not a user and or PRO…
so it goes.

I was just looking at mine today. I need to service it and glue on some tires.

I saw that one and thought the paint scheme looked quite handsome and the setup rather practical! Not my sort of thing but a solid ride, I'm sure. Your subtle changes help with the classic feel as well... Enjoy it!

-Gregory

Hah! John, I'm the former owner of that one. Small world! Got it from a friend (who used to be on BF, but not for a long while) who had it modified by Spectrum, I believe. I later sold it on eBay. Here's what it looked like when I built it up:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4798/3...381c3e01_h.jpg‘75 Raleigh Intl restomod

No freaking way! Small world indeed :)

DD

Lovin that paint job (Always wanted an early WRX) and the small world story. So, how do the cantis feel on that fork and those seat stays? I imagine a frame set intended for cantis would be beefier there? Like they do for disks?

I didn’t ride it a lot, but detected no flex with the canti brakes.

Wow... just... wow. :thumb: :D :beer:

I haven't taken it for a proper shakedown ride yet, but it seems solid to me. Rode it around the neighborhood a bit, and we have some steep hills. Firm and feeling good so far!

Also, is that a Suntour Superbe Pro seatpost, and did you have to cut it to fit because of the rear light boss? I had to cut the Bontrager seatpost down to fit for me.

American Classic, and, yes, cut down because of that boss.

Current bikes owned by other BF C&V ers...now that could be a thread...