At 02:24 PM 1/11/02 -0800, you wrote:
>
>Larry Osborn wrote:
>
>> Significant difference between the earlier Gran Sport and
>> Competition was usually just tubular tires on the Competition.
>
>Not disagreeing, just adding: didn't the Gran Sport have a Nervar Star or
>Stronglight 93 crank (I've seen 'em with both), where the Comp always had
>the TA 3-arm crank. Comps also had the Jubile rear mech, vs, some sort of
>touring mech on the G.S.?
As with everything, depends on what year we're talking about. And I never
use the word "always" with Raleigh. But from around 1973 and on, I agree
with your observation abot the TA on the Competition. Not sure about the
Nevar but it sounds horribly familiar. Not intimately familiar with all
the variants on the later GS, but mostly Campy Gran Sport components.
(Sorry, catalogs are at home). Prior to that, 69, 70, 71, maybe 72,
Competitions and Gran Sports (still looking for a 72 catalog, I think the
one on R-R labelled a 72 is really a 71, but not certain), I see Zeus alloy
cranks, both in the catalogs and in my admittedly somewhat questionable
"real" world. Not certain both models were always available in the US in
every model year. My 69 catalog shows just the Pro and the Competition,
then a jump down to the Super Curse. Wheels on the 69 Competition may have
been clinchers. A remarkable lack of detailed information in the those
earlier catalogs, and the only intact 69 Comp I've seen had clinchers.
27-inchers back then.
Your memories may vary.
Osborn
WV