52telecaster

I just picked up a USA Raleigh Olympian with the tube decal 575sl. I know this is a made up tube set name but I always wondered what it really was. I don't have the bike home yet but I will update with seatpost diameter when I get home. It's an extremely well made frameset with functional entry level components... Shimano light action12 speed and diacomp quick release sidepulls. A sakae sa crank and laprade seatpost. Hopefully not stuck.

T-Mar

Give the era and level of the bicycle, I suspect it is one of the seamed, CrMo tubesets. I can't tell if the decal says double, triple or quadruple butted. Ishiwata's seamed CrMo tubesets of this era were either triple butted (EX series) or quadruple buttted (EXO series). Both EX and EXO came in three different gauges and also a tretubi and carbon-manganese version. Double butting would more likely be Tange (900, 1000 or Infinity). Tange 900 was basically a seamed version of #1, while 1000 was basically a seamed version of #2.

I notice the decal mentions "main tubes", so presumably it's using lower grade material in the forks and stays, either carbon-manganese or hi-tensile steel. That's not uncommon, given the era and level.

The "SL" designation implies a lighter gauge set. Assuming Tange, that suggests 900. The lightest Ishiwata sets were EX-F or EXO-L. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that it truly was a custom set and that it wasn't just a rebadged or slightly modified standard offering.

scarlson 

I always thought this tubing was pretty good. The mixte version of the Raleigh Olympian is one of the best mixte frames available, in my experience - and that's partially owing to the decent quality tubing. It was surprisingly light, although I couldn't give you an exact measurement. I know a couple people who really love theirs, both mixte version and regular diamond frame. I spread one Raleigh Olympian 575sl mixte to 135mm and it was much stiffer and harder to do than your average hi-tensile frame. Felt a bit more like a midlevel Japanese bike, but not quite as stiff as a 531 rear triangle. I felt one of these bikes was good enough to justify brazing on some canti posts and rack mounts for the owner.

Here's another thread about it, in case you haven't seen it.

zukahn1 

RBCA made bikes of this era had slightly oversized double butted sl cro-mo main tubes and strait gauge 4120 stays and seat tube. Most of the Raliegh Amercan stuff had mixed tubing. Very well made sturdy great riding frames. Most of these had a 26.4 seatpost.

52telecaster

The seat post comes out!!! And it's 26.6 also the sticker says triple butted. The frame with components is certainly light enough. It seems to be as well made as my 81 miyata 912. Of course that 912 had a high tensile fork. Also the brake reach is fairly tight. I'm guessing 1 1/4 x27 would make fenders very close. Of course if I build it it will have 700c. Anyway thanks for all the info.

52telecaster

Down tube brazeons


Double eyelets in front

Raleigh branded sealed hubs

3speedslow

Raleigh branding on those are EVERYWHERE!

seriously would love to get my hands on one of those. Awesome colour!

52telecaster

I'm going to give it a good clean and if the hubs are sound I may build new rims around at least the back one. Lately I am enjoying old suntour freewheels.

OldCoot

I have had an 1985 Grand Prix and it was labeled 555sl. While one might assume since 575sl is a higher number it would better tubing... Yet, I think that would be a dangerous conclusion, especially in light of the fact that the Olympian was a 'lesser' model ( at least in an 1985 catalog). Raleigh just came up with their own labeling system. I never found anything definitive regarding this re-labeled tubing. The bike was quite stiff.... almost dead , which to me means thick tubes ( modulus of elasticity is almost identical across all steels, so similar external diameter tubes, a set of tubes to be stiffer must have thicker walls...). Do you know what year it is?

52telecaster

I don't know but the 84 Olympian had a claw for the rear derailleur and stem shifters with Raleigh (502).
This one has down tube bosses, cast dropouts with a derailleur hanger and the 575sl. It doesn't show up in the 85 or 86 catalogue this way so it may be later.

Schreck83 

One time I counted how many instances of the name "Raleigh" were on my Alyeska. I don't remember the count but I'm sure it was more than 30. Idea for a new thread: how branded is your bike?

52telecaster

It is quite ridiculous. Almost as of they are trying to convince us it really is a Raleigh.

3speedslow

When are we going to get a full frame shot.

scarlson 

Also funny how much the 575SL decal is made to look like a Reynolds decal. When I first saw one, years ago, I thought it was Reynolds until I did a double-take and saw that it said Raleigh.

But, for all our ridicule, I do appreciate these bikes and I think they are pretty decent quality.

52telecaster

Decent clearance with 38s and a tektro 559 will reach.

Full shot with 700c upfront and 650b in back.... Decisions decisions...

52telecaster

I think they are too. In particular the later ones. It seems they got upspecced as the years went by. I'm curious to see what it's like with good stuff.

52telecaster

Got it with the wrong wheels.

scarlson 

Yeah these really don't have very good clearances with the 27" wheels they came with! But, I have done 700c and 650b to the mixte version I talked about earlier, and they are both good. The BB seemed pretty high so 650b didn't seem like a problem.

Now why stop at 38s and sidepulls? Gugificazione with cantis and a bit more aggressive indenting will get you to 42s and fenders, no problem. Could even rake up the fork a little to lower the trail. You'll have yourself a nice faux Herse!

52telecaster

I have other frames I would do that with if I were to go that far but it is definitely a worthwhile frame.

OldCoot

After poking around in Raleigh catalogs, This is the same color combo as shown in the 1983 catalog. The specs for that year just call out "Raleigh engineered" chrome moly tubes. No statement about butting of tubes or not. Still these asian made Raleighs were and good value in my estimation. Always enjoyed the pantographed on top of the forks. Nice touch at this level.
Enjoy the bike.

52telecaster

In a package I was giving with the bike they had a 1986 owners manual. What confuses me is the 86 catalogue shows the downtime shifters and rear derailleur hanger but calls the tubing 555sl. This one has the 575sl sticker. Who knows if the catalogue right or not. Going to clean it up and may set it up as 650b.

OldCoot

Hmmmm.... U have also owned a Supercourse and Grand Prix from 1986, which is when they went Reynolds 531 butted main tubes. Sure enough catalog says 555 for the Olympian. Misprint in catalog or the label, or maybe an intentional mid year switch? Nice that you can squeeze in fat tires. The Supercourse and Grand Prix maxed out 700c x 25c ( brake clearance issue).

52telecaster

It was specced with 27s so it has a bit more room. I actually own a 73 competition and super course. They are wonderful riding machines.

This morning I removed the bottom bracket on the Olympic and it was in decent shape but I am installing an idle grand Crue crank and bottom bracket. The bike is getting significantly lighter.

dweenk

My Olympian with 650B's and fenders. Same color too.

52telecaster

Looks great. What brakes did you use?