Bikingtim11

I'm new to this forum, so any help is appreciated. I am working on rebuilding what I believe is a 1972 Raleigh Professional Serial G155 744 *attached pic* Can anyone confirm this 'is' a 72 Professional (as per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raleigh_Bicycle_Company) and if anyone has any tips to offer about rebuilding, that would be great.

Ride on! Tim
Email: bikingtim@gmail.com

dbakl

Certainly not a Raleigh Pro as sold in the US, but looks like a nice Raleigh anyway. Take it apart, clean it up, put it back together with new grease and cables and bar tape and any other parts it needs. Then ride it.

753proguy

Is it a Raleigh or a Carlton? Got more/better pics. you can show us?

Captain Blight

AFAIK, all the earlier Raleigh Pros came with Campagnolo Nuovo Record gruppos. Yours has a Stronglight 93 on, which is no bad thing; but it's not NR, either. Hmmmmm. Interesting.

Bikingtim11

I appreciate the tips/info. It does seem odd that it has a red/white/blue paint scheme (seems original). I believe it's a Raleigh Pro but gosh knows what country it was built. It was an older brother's bike that is in need of some well-deserved TLC. Bike is in the shop getting the cranks removed as, yes, the stronglight cranks have an odd size. I'm going to give her a thorough cleaning/polishing and see how she turns out. Added a couple more pics (fuzzy pic of head-tube and serial # G155 744); you'll see it's in dire need of some cleanup! Thanks again.

jan nikolajsen 

Hopefully it's a good shop having the now esoteric knowledge to discern between extractor threads. Pre-82 Stronglight used the unique and proprietary 23.35mm size, while the more common TA cranks used 23mm (and off course Campagnolo and just about everyone else cut 22X1 threads)

The danger with Stronglight cranks is that the TA puller will seemingly fit, being a hair smaller, but will also strip the threads if it meets any resistance,

dbakl

A similar red, white and blue scheme was used on the Raleigh Pro track bikes. Here's one:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...with-531-decal

David Newton

If you aren't sure what model it is, how do you know it's a female? A Pro would be a male.

I don't believe a Pro ever had Nervex lugs.
The paint scheme is very similar to a 76 Supercourse, the blue band is the exception, but then the lugs are wrong.
Likely it is a repainted International, or an International painted for a Euro market.
Or something else.

norskagent

That's mine ^ !
I've never seen that paint scheme on raleigh "road" professionals.
Maybe the OPs has been altered from track to road?
Doesn't seem likely.

T-Mar

Both the Stronglight crankset and livery are correct for the 1972 Pro. Here's a picture of Peter Smith, on the UK based Ti-Raleigh pro team.

retyred

Interesting. Could be the Pro, but check out the Raleigh RRA over at Classic Rendevous, British Isles section. Excellent series of pictures. Can somebody post the link? I gave up.

T-Mar

One thing I noticed is that the team bicycle have a sloping fork crown, while the OP's does not. It also appears to have the fastback stays, which the OP doesn't have.

dbakl

Same paint but different frame. I'd guess it was a non US market Raleigh.

cudak888 

The team bicycle is a representation of the Mk.II-Mk.IV Professional, while the OP's frame is dead-on for a pre-1973 Raleigh International (right down to the rear brake cable stop).

My hunch is that it's a UK-market International in a commemorative team paint job.

-Kurt

753proguy

+1

I'd vote for that!

Bikingtim11

Some very intriguing comments. Thanks very much. It does certainly have the look of a pre-1973 Raleigh International (thanks for that); but the red/white/blue paint scheme is quite bizarre, as I have only seen those online on their Track bikes. The gruppo is a mix of Shimano Dura-ace (front derailler) and Shimano Crane (rear derailer); some of the cable guides seem to be chrome sun-tour. Still cleaning up the parts, but there are some funky handlebar-end shifters to clean; may be dura-ace as well. I'll see how the paint looks once I give it a very thorough clean and polish, but hope to stick with the current paint scheme. We'll see what transpires!
PS - Yes, I have the cranks at a LBS here in Victoria, BC, that 'should' be knowledgeable about that stronglight crankset; I'll follow-up with them soon.
Thanks again!

Bikingtim11

PS - I asked if it was a 1972 Raleigh Professional as that is what the sticker/paint says on the top tube. :-)

cudak888 

Bingo. Canadian-market model.

That's news to me. Post a closeup if you can.

-Kurt

due ruote 

Looks really nice, and I bet it rides like a champ. I would check the insertion mark on that stem - it looks awfully high.

753proguy

No worries....

If it's repainted, the decals are kind of irrelevant, though. It's not a 1970s Raleigh Pro frame or fork, in my opinion. Many of the parts are probably not original to the frame. Often frames get sold, repainted, and get different parts installed.

It is, however, apparently a Raleigh of about 1971-1972 vintage, most likely an International. I know websites say G = 1972 but that isn't always true. I have an 'F' Pro that is a 1970 model (for example).

And fwiw, an early International frameset is sought after by many folks due to its plush ride.... It looks to be a pretty cool bike!

Bikingtim11

Couple more pics as requested... showing "Professional" on top-tube and front fork. You guys are great!

cudak888 

I can see the top tube decal, but I can't make out one on the front fork, if that's what you mean to say.

EDIT: Just a second - is "Professional" written just below the front brake block?

-Kurt

Bikingtim11

Kurt: Not sure what you mean by "is Professional" written just below the front brake block?"; I'm not aware of any other "Professional" badges/decals. The frame is at the LBS getting the cranks off. Will get a better idea once returned over next couple days. To my chagrin, there is a small dent on the downtube towards the headtube, so I believe it crashed in its past, dang-it.

T-Mar

Depending on where the dent is, it may not be due to a crash. Chips and small dents on the side of the down tube often result from yhe end of the brake arm/barrel adjuster swinging into the frame. Similar damage from swinging handlebars is fairly common to the top tube. If it from a crash, it's usually on the underside of the downtube and this type invariably has corresponding damage to the underside of the top tube. It also typically cracks or flakes the paint, directly opposite the dents, on the top of the tubes.

T-Mar

Possibly, but not necessarily. During the tail end of the boom, I worked in a Canadian LBS that carried Raleigh. During this period, our models and catalogues were the same as the USA. To double-check, I went into my archives and my old 1973 copy from the LBS is the same as that on Retro-Raleighs. Unfortunately, I don't have a 1972 catalogue.