Narhay

I'm slowly working my way up the Raleigh catalog.

Pluses: frame and paint in excellent condition. Most of the NR parts are still there and in good condition. Everything is really quite nice cosmetically. It's an International in my size. Merry Christmas, Narhay.

Minuses: wheels have been changed to some sort of low flange Campagnolo hubs with ritchey rims. Leather saddle isn't the original brooks professional...I'm not sure what it is and it has no markings. Pedals are cheap replacements. Overall needs a good going over. Dry rotted tires and brake pads. No dust caps.

Narhay

Narhay

Here is the rest of the raleigh family, past and present.






Plus a couple ladies Superbes and a blue sports.

repechage

Paint appears terrific.
Could use the spacer block between the caliper and the fork crown.
I would reduce the rear dérailleur housing segment, appropriate for indexing slant parallelogram rear mechs, not for what is there.
I bet the cranks are 172.5 or even 175's, Raleigh did right and most often put reasonable length cranks on these bikes.

bwilli88 

Nice bike, I would like an International someday.

Bandera

Nice Internat'l.
Good plan, you are well on the way.

-Bandera

qcpmsame 

Beautiful International Narhay, you got a nice one. I need to avoid clicking on threads about any Internationals, makes me maudlin about selling mine back in '81. Enjoy that ride, its so sweet. You need to find you some high flange NR hubs and good tubular rims to build up IMHO.

Bill

Narhay

I am intending on adding 45mm fenders to this bike. I was about to pull the trigger on a set of Velo Orange 45mm silver fenders until two unknown options presented themselves. I have a Raleigh Competition as my go-fast bike with no fenders, 28mm tires, etc. so this one will be more along the lines of a comfortable, dry ride.

Option 1 - Origin 8 classic silver hammered fenders. These are basically copies of Velo Orange hammered fenders but at $52 instead of $68. I have the 35mm Velo Orange version on my Peugeot PX-10 and liked them once I got the rattles down to an acceptable level.



Option 2 - Handsome Cycles copper fenders at $70. These would certainly match the bike but I have to wonder if it would be too much matchy matchy. What are your thoughts?

gugie 

Great collection! You need to find a Gran(d) Sport(s) and a Professional for a Royal Flush.

Bandera

In the spirit of Too Much Is Not Enough: Copper mudguards & a Copper Crane bell.

BTW: Chainstay clearance on the '74 Internatn'l is tight for 32mm w/ mudguards and requires careful tire & fender size matching, your 25 1/2" may offer more than my 22 1/2".

-Bandera

repechage

Being responsible for maintaining a brass tray coffee table as a kid, silver easy care fenders.

Narhay

OK, two votes for silver (my wife questioned the need for a pair of fenders at all) and one for over the top copper.

Salamandrine 

I vote copper if between those two. Hammered silver just looks too French. Copper is off the rails so it doesn't matter. If it oxidizes, so much the better.

Match painted smooth or ribbed fenders would be ideal IMO. Even black or silver SKS. To my eyes Brit bikes need to be a bit more stiff upper lip and all that than French bikes. No superfluous fancy stuff.

chewybrian 

That looks awesome!

Bandera

You are correct, I withdraw my vote for copper mudguards: go black plastic.
Too bad current Blumel production doesn't offer the 70's color palette.
The cracked & no longer serviceable Blumels fitted to mine for the winter of 74/75 are replaced with simple black plastic Planet Bike mudguards which work just fine in the spirit of the light simple Blumels of the era.

All of this faux-constructor aesthetic fashionable today was nowhere in evidence "back when" my '74 was equipped with simple functional plastic British mudguards & canvas seatbag for weekend trips in lousy weather.

-Bandera

due ruote 

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/us/en/sks-chromoplastic-mudguards/rp-prod25793

White ones would look great imho.

Beautiful bike.

Edit-sorry, links never seem to work when I post from my phone. Not sure why.

chewybrian 

The copper would be too much for most bikes. But it would be a great match with the copper bike. For that bike, perfect.

ascherer 

Lovely International. Have fun!

mikemowbz

I tend to concur with others who reckon the copper is too much re: fender selection.

Keep it simple with the fenders!

Sweet bike. Great find.

I've never had the opportunity to ride an International (there's one in the house...but opposite end of the size spectrum from me).

Narhay

I purchased some

-new to me 41-52 nuovo record chainrings @qcpmsame donated a 41t chainring thank you.
-silver hammered 45mm fenders from origin8
-Suntour barcons
-found a set of bars and a stem from my 1979 Raleigh Competition GS in the right size.
-new 531 decals
-panaracer pasela pt or whatever they call the puncture resistant folding 32s
- high flange nuovo record hubs, sapim double butted spokes and m13ii rims
- new KMC chain, cork bar wrap, cables, housings,
-weinmann replacement kool stop salmon brake pads and the little spacer for the centerpulls
-7 speed freewheel
- Brooks saddke swap with another bike
- nos Campagnolo downtube cable stop


Otherwise I've stolen the wheels and pedals for a Gitane and let the bike sit. No pictures. Nothing has changed other than my bank account.

Narhay

I'm considering a rear rack for this bike. Something silver, elegant and not absurdly expensive. Any recommendations?

Salamandrine 

Nitto 33R would be my first choice for elegance and function, but they are not cheap. Mine looks great on the Mercian. I have a Tubus too and it looks like a cheap lawn chair. For less $$ perhaps consider one of the new improved Pletscher racks that Rivendell sells. Less expensive and it's more or less period correct. They are a little clunky. (charmingly?)

GordoTrek

I found this one from Wald

Wald #215 Rear Rack - Woody

Niagra Cycle has a ton of nice looking racks that are not too expensive, but classy.

Bandera

The original brake bolt mount Blackburn rack, and it's plethora of knock-offs from Vetta and others, would be both period correct and useful.
I've had one and off of my Internat'l for decades.
Look in your local co-op, old shops and on the usual auction site for one.

-Bandera

juls

OMG that paint is WONDERFUL!!! Vote for copper fenders. Forego the rack and carry a backpack