GordoTrek

sorry for my confusion,

standard 24tpi ? or raleigh standard 26tpi?

nlerner

24 tpi

GordoTrek

thanks for the clarification, i read a while back that from the grand sports on up they were standard, and the super course was mix bag... just wasn't sure

jacksonwest

So this may be a little bit of a reach, but I have one of the circa 1972 Lilac "Competitions" that rather more resembles a '72 Grand Sport once you get past the decals. Bocama Pro lugs, not the shiny Nervex like on the catalog '69 Competition or '73 Competition MK II. Seat tube also has the distinctive double-bar pattern. If the stays were 531 butted, the sticker didn't survive like it did on the frame and forks (would be curious to know chainstay length for anyone's early 70s Grand Sports -- mine is 455-460mm measured from BB to axle center at rear of drops).

Inherited from my partner's father, the original owner. He bought it in the Bay Area during the bike boom, probably in 1973, to ride with his roommate who "was the kind of guy who rode 100 miles before breakfast" according to his wife. But I think most of the kit was installed before leaving the showroom, at the shop or before. Was clearly ridden and decently maintained, then I'm guessing it was set away in a Fremont garage shortly after my partner was born or around the same time the Carlton works closed -- she'd never seen him ride it. Pictured here a couple of weeks after arrival, after just a wash, lube and cursory tune with some locking skewers and favorite pedals installed, bar-front bottle cage, frame mounted pump and assorted reflectors removed.

Clement 50 tires, Fiamme Strada 700c rims, Robergel spokes front, Torrington spokes rear, Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo large flange hubs, SunTour Pro-Compe 14-28T freewheel, Regina Gran Sport chain, V GT rear derailleur, Compe-V front derailleur, 171mm Sugino Mighty Competition crankset with 56T/48T chainwheels, Campagnolo Gran Sport pedals with KKT clips, Zeus Gran Sport post, Fujita Seamless Superdeluxe saddle, early Cinelli 1A stem, Maes bars (with Dawes Concorde etching), Universal side-pull brakes with gum hood levers and Bar-Con shifters. Tires held pressure for a whole week, then one blew and underneath was a lot of Clement Red. So much Clement Red.

I started doing my research and thinking of ways to make things a little more practical for regular use while carefully saving all the parts and trying not to do anything that couldn't be reversed. After finding a neglected tri bike a new home a few weeks ago, had some money to finally get started. Hastily picked up some 27" x 1 1/4" Sta-Tru wheels to get some Gatorskin clinchers and a Shimano 14-34T 7 speed, which ride great but all fit just barely so will be swapped out with 700c wheels built from the repacked Campy hubs and either new CR-18 or used Wolber Gentleman GTA rims. Installed Tektro aero and SunRace bar top levers an trimmed new Jagwire housing to go under shellacked Newbaum's cotton wraps. Swapped out the chainwheels for used 52T/42T Super Mighty Comps.

Currently trying to figure out what to do about a dented and bent seat stay and get the drops respaced to 126mm and into alignment. Taking a Bike Kitchen class on Internal Maintenance should give me a chance to crack the bottom bracket and head tube for an inspection and Frame Saver treatment.

Anyway, please excuse the detour from the Grand Sport canon, but this thread and forum have been a huge help, so sincere thanks in any case. It's been a great education and a lot of fun to fix and ride!

mtk

Here's my 1970 Raleigh Grand Sports. I just got it back into riding condition. Maybe selling it, don't have time for a full restore.

dweenk

Did the Carlton badge have the same rivet pattern and spacing as the Raleigh badge? I am guessing yes, since Carlton built frames for Raleigh.

USAZorro

Sorry for the low quality picture. My camera's battery was dead when the light was better.

Picked this off local CL about a month ago. Just need to lower the stem a smidge and find a good place to ride it. Too many hills here.



I believe it's a '73, but this bike has no serial number.

rjhammett

I made a few changes from when I posted my Grand Sports last fall. I converted it back to a 5 cog freewheel, added the bottle cage and outlined the lugs with gold.

USAZorro

That looks in amazing condition, rjhammett.

Charles Wahl

I think the answer is "no." Raleigh head badge has 3 holes, Carlton only 2, and I think the Carlton holes were spaced farther apart.

USAZorro

Both the oval Raleigh pattern and the irregularly shaped Raleigh crest have 3 holes. I haven't compered to see how they compare wrt hole placement, but that would seem to be another good indicator of "Raleigh-ness".

old's'cool

Jus fix her. I assume somebody before you broke her. Sorry, my keyboard doesn ike he ho sun, so is acking some characers.

pontius

Traded a friend of mine a vintage plaid wool shirt for this 1975-76 Gran Sport last fall. It had no wheels. I found some original Normandy high flange wheels for it and put north road bars on it.

I'm considering putting a single free wheel on it or lacing up a Sturmey AW 3-speed hub. I don't mind the rough paint, but I'm considering doing a custom paint job.

jimmuller 

You are kidding, right? They came in either white w/blue panels or blue w/white panels, the blue w/white being rarer. And with an IGH you'll have no RD to take up chain so that lovely original Stronglight crank will be unshiftable and thus pointless. Why not turn it into the proper road bike it was built to be?

pontius

No, I'm not kidding.

I already have a proper road bike.

jimmuller 

Just one? That's not enough. This is C&V after all.

dweenk

I'll trade a 1970's LL Bean goose down jacket for that bike before you **** it up for all time. PM me.

nlerner

I think an IGH on a Gran Sport is an excellent idea. You know, Jim, you don't have to run both rings on that crankset, right?

jimmuller 

Well, yes, I do know that. But it's like replacing the engine in your classic Corvette with a 4-cylinder because it's cheaper to run, and being willing to do so because you have another Corvette. IMHO that just ain't right, it ain't right. But nobody asked me and often people don't agree with me when they do ask.

nlerner

Well, to me that's better than only pulling that Corvette out for a Sunday ride around the block.

USAZorro

I think of a Grand Sport as more like a T-bird than a Corvette.

pontius

Oh the drama. I'm touched that you care but simmer down girls. It's just bike.

pontius

Nice looking build nlerner! I like the kick shift hub on there. What year frame is that? I didn't know they had DR hangers on the rear drop on some. Is it possible to get reasonable gearing if you use the inside smaller chainring and a smaller rear sprocket? If so, would the outer bigger chainring be an effective chainguard?

nlerner

Thanks! I'm not quite sure of the year of that one since the serial #'s aren't helpful, and other than that derailleur hanger, the frame didn't really change from year to year. As far as gearing, sure, using the inner Stronglight ring and the outer bash guard would work fine. It's not going to keep your best trousers from getting greasy, but it's better than nothing. If you're running an AW hub, a 45t inner ring and the standard 18t AW cog would give you a decent range of gearing.

PilotFishBob 

Another Raleigh to feed my addiction and now my November project. I snagged this at an estate sale for $75, pretty happy about that. Not sure what year it is - '72? Nisi-Evian rims with what appears to be the original Clement tires. Simplex plastic front derailler (cracked, that's going), Shimano Titlist rear. Stronglight crank. Brooks B15 saddle (with an old wasps' nest attached underneath but otherwise in decent shape) Overall, storage-grungy with very minor rust pips on the chrome. An 11 stamped on the bottom of the crank bracket, 6 digit non-alpha serial number on the dropout (which is also stamped with a theta followed by "USCOMPETCION"

This thing looks like it was purchased, ridden a few times and has since just been gathering dust. There's a little odometer on the front wheel that says 43 miles and for once I'm inclined to believe it... After a cleaning and restore I'll get some decent pics up.