75lechamp 

Here goes another build, this time one of the copper/orange Raleigh Internationals. It looks to be an early '75 (WB5 serial number).... It came from the east coast, and looks like it must have spent a lot of time languishing outside or in a shed, but once I cleared out all the dirt, grime and surface oxidation, it came out pretty clean...

My plan is to go to a pretty original build, keeping the original Weinmann centerpulls and Carlton hoods for brakes, all Campy otherwise, Brooks pro saddle, and tubulars of course. My '74 Pro has those AVA rims, but I think I will put on some Super Champions on this one...




Overall, the original paint and decals look great







Having said that, there is a good bit of corrosion around the crown and on the chrome part of the fork. Since this, like all my bikes, is intended to be ridden, and I don't mind some patina, this is about as far as I will go....




Quite a few original parts came with it including the brakes and brake cables. The brake cable housing is pretty decent, and I think it might be hard to find new housing that replicates the ribbed type like you see on these. I think I will keep it.




One thing I would like to try to find is that small cable adjuster that fits into the rear brake cable support. I heard that maybe some old Simplex shift levers have parts that will work.... any ideas?

Thanks for looking!

Andy
Arvada CO USA

steelbikeguy

that frame is in amazing condition! Very nice!

I've always been fortunate enough to get the rear brake adjuster barrel with the bike, but have heard that Simplex adjuster barrels work. Never had to find out, but thought that there might also be an adjuster on a derailleur?? In retrospect, I'm not sure why any derailleur from the era of friction shifting would have an adjuster.... but I do recall that a SunTour V series rear derailleur has adjusters (too big for the Raleigh brake bridge, though).

On the subject of brakes... is there actually a source for the ribbed style of brake cable housing? I've got modern white housing on the rear brake on my International, and it might be nice to have some housing that appears a bit more correct... not that anyone really notices this, though.

Steve in Peoria

jasoninohio

Nice. Those brake hoods look to be in great shape for being white.

mpetry912 

those white hoods will last pretty much forever which is a good reason to have them.

altho they are not as cool as the gum hoods, admittedly

/markp

nlerner

Yes, relatively low end Simplex Prestige levers had a barrel adjuster that will work: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...104&AbsPos=268

poprad

That's going to be a lovely build. I coincidentally just posted a thread in here on the one I built up over a vacation in September. Reach out if you run into anything odd, I just went through all of it but mine was fairly straightforward. I noted both brake lever pivots were cracked and I replaced them with Campy ones, but still used those lovely centerpull calipers. Enjoy the build, that frame looks well-preserved.

My Int'l post

Oh, and you can fit 27X 1 1/4 Paselas on it if you install the rear tire deflated. It'll clear the stays if you run the axle well into the dropouts. Mine will see fire/logging road use, so it was important to me.

Sir_Name 

Nice, enjoy!

repechage

for the ribbed housing, Sturmey Archer repair kits have it. But it was a long while ago that I bought it.
Might refer to Yokozuna "italian type" housing, decent look and lined.

75lechamp 

Making some progress on my build.....



Built up a set of tubies with Super Champion RdM rims. I know these came stock with tubulars but I think they were Mavic sprint, and this I would consider a little upgrade... though period correct still...

Campy low flange - a departure from the original high flange....


NR rear derailleur with bullseye pulleys, again a bit of a departure...

The original GB stem and bars...

Paint and decals are original, and really in great shape, other than corrosion on the fork...

The decal was about 95% gone, so I worked with Gus Salmon to get a new one... this looks exactly like what I could see on the old one still remaining...


Here is a big departure.... Campy side pulls I had laying around .... in the 70s I rode with a guy who had one of these, and his mods were a triple Campy crank and a set of Campy side pulls.... people did that back then if they could

Yes, I know that cable holder is cool and looks a little orphaned here... also the routing is a little strange, but it does seem like this way offers the best routing possibility...

qcpmsame 

That cable stop always bugged me too. I went with Superbe Pro side-pull calipers on my International, finally had the shop remove it. Left the mounting sleeves but they took the bridge rod out and smoothed the two sides out. Now, I’d just run the center pull brakes.

Those Campy look good on there👍

Bill

noglider 

I have an International with side-pull brakes, too. I didn't like the cable crossing over or under the frame, so I mounted the rear brake backwards, in front of the seat stays. It works well that way.

poprad

Wow that bike is looking good! Neat to see a different approach with the tubies and sidepulls. I like the quirky look of the cable stop myself, but even with the original centerpulls it barely gives you enough room to have sufficient cable pull. Running the sidepulls is a good call. I can't wait to see this one finished, keep posting!

repechage

creative, nonconformist.

John E

The only thing I would change is the brake pads. (I am a KoolStop fanatic, because they work.)

75lechamp 

Tom, I love the creativity on the rear brake mounting. I may try that!

75lechamp 

John E, agreed on the Kool Stops. I have those on most of the other bikes with Campy. However, I am willing to give these a try. I think the pads are from a later version - Victory maybe? - and they're not petrified. I probably will go to the Kool Stops eventually...

noglider 

You can see the brake cable routing here.

natterberry 

I recently moved to the Centennial/Greenwood Village area - a springtime International Cruise seems appropriate.

I use this.

steelbikeguy

well, there should be some sort of spring ride. An International theme might be nice.
You should have come up for my vintage ride in September... I brought my International...




that is a nice bit of texture!

Is there a source for the ribbed housing such as what was original on the International?
This is what came on mine. This is the front brake. I've replaced the cable housing for the rear brake with something that is lined, but kept the housing in a box.




Steve in Peoria

jimijames

I know about this Jaoanese brand. I was thinking to use this one for my old Super Course. It's pretty cool!

https://www.yokozunausa.com/shop/category/components-cable-housing-brake-shifter-kits-2795

75lechamp 

Rounding the bend on this build.....



Bottom bracket install, using newly acquired Campy tools, such a pleasure to use...



Binda Extra straps and orange REG buttons, acquired during a recent business trip to Portland, that guy had some very cool stuff!

New 531 decal from Gus Salmon....

Gus decals... fair amount of corrosion on the fork crown....

Super Champ RdM tubulars....

The only items remaining are the chain and the bar tape.... I am partial to black, but know original should be white.... thoughts?

daka

Original would have been white hoods and cable housing too, so I think you can try whatever you like for bar tape. Unless it's plastic like the original, white isn't very practical anyway, what about trying a color that plays well with the copper paint?

Personally, I would have saved those Campy sidepulls for another project. Not only does the rear brake make an orphan of the brazed-on cable stop but the arms on Campy brakes are on the opposite side from the cable guides making for an unavoidable cludge with the routing. In my experience, Weinmann centerpulls with Kool Stop salmon repro pads brake quite well. If you decide to convert, I have the adjustor for the cable stop and will donate it to the cause.

It is a beautiful machine!

75lechamp 

Daka you make a good point there.... My Weinmanns are actually in great shape, so I might revert back... I may take you up on your offer, sending PM.

Thanks,

Andy

steelbikeguy

the new decal is nice, but does suggest that it's not original. To each his own, of course, but I find originality in the flaky remains of a Reynolds decal, since that is the nature of those waterslide decals. That was certainly my experience on my old Gran Sport, and is why I haven't touched the decal on my Raleigh Team....


I suspect I've already mentioned it, but white tape, cable housings, brake hoods, and perhaps shift lever covers really complement the white in the Raleigh logo.
The folks at Raleigh knew how to put together an attractive bike, and you could do worse than stick with original.



Steve in Peoria

natterberry 

September was a heck of a month for me. Most of my bikes were packed up in boxes, with all my time spent either working or working on my house to sell.

Unfortunately, not that I’ve seen. When preparing my bike, I figured this was the next best option. Not a big fan of smooth housing on these bikes.