tlt31

I've been working on this one for a little while. It was an estate sale find for $50. I've redone all of the cabling, cleaned and re greased all bearings, installed bar end shifters, and upgraded to a Brooks B17 I had on another bike. On top of that, I lost a wheel while driving from home from Southern Ohio. I replaced it with a new aluminum Sta Tru wheel and threw on a cheap fat kenda tire to try out.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you guys had on my setup. I'm kind of new to this and not sure if their are noticable flaws to my setup, ei. trying a fatter tire or seating my stem too high....

I'm planning on new handlebars, fenders, matching tires, and a few other odds and ends once I can afford it. Here it is for now, though. I hope I'm not hijacking this thread.

mazdaspeed

^ Not hijacking at all! The bike looks great. Everything appears to be in order but for future reference it's standard practice to photograph bikes fro the drive side.

auchencrow

+1
That bike looks great (even better with a drive side photo)

noglider 

But it's a sharp photo. Take several, please.

tlt31

I've been wanting to take a couple more to put up, but I'm in the process of creating a workshop area in my 8x3 basement storage unit after having commandeered my living room. I have to be considerate of the lady. I'll have them up in a couple hours.

Thanks for the compliments so far. I'll be sure to shoot from the drive train side this time.

tlt31

Bikedued

Looks awesome!! I had one that used to be that color. A previous owner thought it would look better black, so now it's a rattle can special. The only thing I see wrong with the setup is the bell, it should be on the straight up part of the stem with the "bell" facing the drive side. Other than that, carry on,,,,BD

Is the handlebar too narrow? That's the only reason I could see to change it?

tlt31

Good call on the bell. I used to have the stem all the way in, and it wouldn't fit on the vertical part.

I was looking at getting more of an upright and swept back bar. I'm having a hard time deciding because I like having the drops when I want them, but I don't often have a need for them.

I was thinking about getting something like the Nitto Promenade or Nitto All Rounder bar. I also want a higher rise stem.

noglider 

I like both of those upright bars. Also, Niagara Cycle has some for low prices. They have an alloy one whose picture looks like steel, and one of these days, I'm going to buy one to see what it's like.

I like drop bars for trips of six miles or more. For short trips, I prefer upright handlebars.

RavingManiac

A couple shots of my 73 Super Course.

Heatherbikes

pretty. I want one! A mixte if possible. Are the super courses good bikes? I know they are relatively up there on the vintage raleigh hierarchy. How would it compare ride-wise to say a vintage 5 speed raleigh(clubman? sprite? I don't know) with 20-30 tubing. I love that bike, but it's limited to short jaunts.

Bikedued

Much more lively ride, and more upright so quicker handling. If you want to go really hotrod, but still have a Super Course, look for a very late 70's or very early 80's. The lugs are not quite as pretty, but they really shine with butted tubing and forged dropouts.,,,,BD

Here's a comparison of the two eras. Early 70's and 79ish

https://historynut.bravehost.com/1980...%20Course.html

nlerner

This one's just about done, so it was time for pics: a 1973 Capella-lugged Super Course. The parts were all on my '72 SC with it's regular old Nervex lugs, and once this frame was in the house, I knew a transfer was in order (and the '72 is out the door). I'm running this bike with a Sturmey Archer AM hub innards in an alloy AW shell laced to a 40-hole, Raleigh-labeled Araya 27" rim. Shifting is with a S-A bar-end shifter. Otherwise, it's DiaCompe/Weinmann brakes with black hoods, Weinmann CP brakes, SR stem and "Ranndner" bars, a TA 3-pin crankset to which a previous owner did some interesting "lightening," Brooks B17 that likely was black at one point, and 27 x 1 1/4" Pasela tires. The frame finish is in quite good shape, but I'd love to replace those falling apart seat tube foil decals. Anyone know of a substitute for those?





















Neal

snarkypup

Anyone in the Seattle area want one for $150?

https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/bik/2523132764.html

cb400bill

IIRC, Auchen made some for one of his SC's.

auchencrow

Neal -

Bill must have a great memory...Your local auto parts store likely carries this stick-on chrome and the thin pin striping is available in a variety of colors.
(I have also used the chrome at times to replace old chain stay mylars)

cb400bill

I remember being impressed with your ingenuity. And your skillz.

Here is a closeup of the 1972 OEM sticker for comparison.

nlerner

Thanks, Auchen. You remind me that I have some of that pinstripe tape around, which I used on a Sports seat tube awhile back. I'll pick up that metallic tape, too.

Neal

auchencrow

Thanks Bill. Of course, your OEM stickers look better but the improvised version is better than none.

You also reminded me of the most delicious English hazlenut caramel coffee goodness ever concocted by mortal man.

noglider 

Good news, guys. I took my Super Course out of mothballs yesterday, after it being there since about the fall. I was avoiding getting it back on the road because it needed so much damn work. It turns out it didn't need much work. I had to:

- put the saddle back on
- put the wheels on
- replace the terribly rusted chain
- put pedals on (I wonder where my favorite pedals are...)

Oh my God, I'm in heaven. This was my "hybrid" bike, and by that I mean it's a cross between an errand and a fun-to-ride bike. Both practical and fun. It has a Pasela in the front and a cheapo CST in the rear. Oh man, what a lovely ride.

I think I'm putting my Rudge Sports into mothballs now!

auchencrow

No doubt the Super Course is a dreamy ride, Tom, but there's no need to mothball your Rudge (Unless you only have one saddle between them! )

BRed

Hey everyone,
I love that there is a thread dedicated to these beautiful machines. I recently bought one that looks exactly like RavingManiacs, and was getting ready to start upgrading to see if I could get her to shed a little bit of weight. I am looking to make the bike my commuter/touring bike. So far I want to switch out the cottered cranks, 27in wheels for 700s, and the old centerpulls for dual pivot tektro r566s. Any ideas on decently cheap lighter wheels that will follow with the vintage look? And also any suggestions for cranks?

I already had Paselas on the list of things to buy.

I will post pics when I can borrow my roomies camera.

auchencrow

I'd suggest keeping your high flange Normandy hubs (they are good looking and high quality), and lacing some new 700c Sun CR18's to them.
They're inexpensive, strong and (sort of) look vintage.
(First be sure that the Tektro calipers will reach though.)

I have a SC with an Ultegra 6400 crank - looks reasonably OK and works well.

noglider 

heather, the Super Course was a mid-level bike. That is to say, it was higher in the line-up than most bikes people bought, but it wasn't anywhere near the top of the line. The great thing about the Super Course is that it rides better than you'd expect for a mid-level bike. Also, they're fairly easy to find. Some of the original components are rather intolerable by today's standards, especially the derailleurs. The cottered steel crank isn't for everyone, either.

My Super Course now has nothing original on it except for the headset.

bikemanbob

This Super Course is my first true English road bike! I've been wanting one for some time when Auchencrow contacted me about one on Craigslist. Auchen knew that I was busy on Sunday mornings (I'm a minister) so he contacted the owner on my behalf. It took a day, but I finally got my Super Course.

The bike was completely disassembled and rebuilt. It is nearly complete, and I'm very pleased with the results. Thanks Auchen!