DMC707

OldCoot

It amazes me how long ago 531 was introduced.
Still , to me, the bike frame material all others are judged by.

79pmooney

It (the alloy and butting) was pioneered to build lightweight steel truss airplanes to replace fabric over wood for the top racing planes in England. Right about when the brand new factory was about to start producing tubing for the next advance in aviation, a new alloy of aluminum came along. Suddenly Reynolds had all the stuff but no one to sell it to. "But you know? This might actually be good in bicycles." (I read this long ago. Don't quote me on it but I have seen references to it in histories of flight.)

Edit: and to the topic: I have two 531 bikes but neither are stickered. A '73 Raleigh Competition that was not one of Raleigh's shining examples. I had it stripped, checked by a framebuilder, repaired and powdercoated. He had t do enough to make it safe that Raleigh lost its chance at advertising. It is certified 531 throughout. And my Peter Mooney. When Peter built it he was charging $50 for the sticker. Not as markup but because it limited hie tubing choices to possibly what he felt were not the best for that application and rider. So it has been sticker free from day one and I've never known what the tubes are. I think most are 531 though it is far stiffer than the Competition. It just got a paint job (spiffy!) and soon I'll ride it to the painter and have them photograph it. But too late for this year's 531 bash.

merziac

Happy accident, turn of the cards, luck of the draw, bottom line, we have an untold number of fantastic riding, well made frames steeped in history and tradition of many of the best builders to light up a torch.

Despite Raleigh doing it plenty of no favors, the tubing had nothing to do with their poor quality and also despite that many a poorly brazed frame still went a long ways down the road with little more than tubing and paint regardless.

Next thing you know Raleigh buys Reynolds and then only answers to themselves.

Funny how so many bring up 531 when Raleigh's poor quality is cited, tubing has nothing to do with quality control unless you are going to blame the tubing for the brazers shortcomings.

We all know the pints at lunch had far more than that to do with it.

Straightblock

The bike I've had the longest. Colin Laing with newer Colian decals.



Raleigh Pro track



Its road cousin, new to the project queue



Holdsworth Mistral build completed today.

79pmooney

Those are the only two 531 bikes I've had. I had to shell out most of a grand to get the 531 tubes repaired and properly brazed. (Several were cracked.) If Raleigh wanted to stay out my mention, all they had to do was hold up the frame that was never finished after the brazer failed to return from his multi-pint lunch. Dave Levy commented the frame was held together by the paint which the painter worked under all the lugs. So it wasn't like the lack of braze wasn't known.

merziac

I get that, you miss my point, the quality of the tubing was not the cause of Raleigh's negligence, it was in the wrong place at the wrong time when Raleigh couldn't control their production and or didn't care, they obviously didn't care how bad they made 531 look even after and maybe because they bought it and brought it in house.

That is a big part of my point, many of those frames went a long way with just paint holding them together and the 531 hanging in there anyway.

Again, Raleigh got away with far more than they should have on the strength of 531 that held up in many cases far better than it should have.

Roger M

I'll put this up for Thomas.

Sedgemop 

Maybe this decal for tomorrow.

sincos

I've posted this before, but I still think it's purty. Some of the stickers have worn off (like the 531) or faded to almost nothing ("Grand Jubile") but it's a bona fide 531 tre tubi. I've since replaced the barcons with Huret retrofrictions.

northbend 

Happy 531 Day. My contribution was to ride the Singer on the Middle Fork Road this afternoon.

531 Day ride 1 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

531 Day ride 3 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Happy 531 Day by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

CV-6 

A short ride on a ca1965 Sauvage Lejeune on 5/31.

Sauvage Lejeune 31 May 2022 by L Travers, on Flickr

poprad

Sorry, but that bike is too cool not to "like."

nlerner

I ran an errand yesterday on my 531 Raleigh Gran Sport:

beicster 

Time to bump this thread. I rode my Raleigh International to work today in honor of 531. I made the decision last night without thinking about it being the 31st but it worked out for me. Anyone else riding 531 today?

hazetguy 

Happy 5/31!

52telecaster

Just a few minutes ago I bought a Triumph by Raleigh in 531. One has to celebrate the day!

heidelbergensis 

52telecaster If it is the Gran Course model, those are amazing frames! I used to own one, but alas the sizing was a bit off. Amazing ride quality nonetheless!

Will be taking this guy ('82 KHS Professional) out later on my lunch ride:

52telecaster

It is in fact a gran course. 23.5"

nlerner

heidelbergensis 

52telecaster you're going to love it! Here's mine - basically the same build as on the KHS.

bertinjim 

Happy 5/31 Day! This C 37 is one of three 531 built bikes and I cherish them all.

steelbikeguy

Just got back from riding my touring bike built with True Temper OX (I think..), and rode the Italian bike with Columbus tubing yesterday, but my Raleigh International (531 double butted) and Hetchins (531C) get out rather frequently.






Steve in Peoria

Schreck83 

I've had this Gitane for 49 years

curbtender

Waterford rs11, happy 531!