Thanks for the photo link, Roy. I was tossing empty bike boxes out the back door of the Raleigh shop in Albany, NY one day in 1973 or 4 and noticed that one box, while empty, had not been opened. I looked at the end and saw that it was a Raleigh Pro Track in my size. I knew right there I had to have the bike, especially when I opened the box and saw that beautiful red, white and blue paint job. I paid cost for it, which I think was about $250.
The frame was almost identical to the one in the picture, except the lightening holes in the rear dropouts, as you can see in the one Sterling is selling. It had the CC BB cutouts, which I understand represent Carleton Cycles, since the Pros, Internationals, and I believe Gran Sports were still built in the Carleton factory. The frame was pinned, like all Raleighs, and not very well aligned. The craftsmanship of the track bikes was not as high as that of the Professional road model. However, even with those massive stay crimps, the Raleigh track bikes were stiff as concrete, and pretty much impossible to straighten.
The components were all Campagnolo Pista, with the larger bolt circle and SL pedals. The handlebars were GB road, a bit too small in diameter for the 3TTT stem--I think this was due to a shortage, and the rims were AVA full-ferruled road. The tires were stupid-light Clement track silks with bone white sidewalls, boy, do I wish I had kept them, but I was broke and swapped them for a new pair of d'Allesandro Giro d'Italias. Whatever happened to d'Allesandro, anyway?
The track bike was my only ride for about a year and a half. I rode it a lot, and eventually noticed a severe twist forming in the back section of the top tube. It took over a year of haggling, but finally the Raleigh rep agreed to replace it under warranty. I was disappointed to find that my replacement frame and fork had the new "circus" Team-Pro paint scheme, but it has grown on me over the years, and looks tame compared to what has since found its way onto bike frames.
Now, I only get to ride it on the rollers, as my wife throws a fit if I propose riding it in the road. She knows the insanity that would come over me if I were to try that again. There is truly nothing better than a fixed gear track bike for getting across a city in the shortest amount of time.
Steve Barner, Bolton, VT.
----Original Message ----- From: "Roy H. Drinkwater" <roydrink@mac.com> Subject: [CR]BB cutout on Raleigh track bikes
I'm starting to feel withdrawal pains since my track class ended last week, so I'm starting to look around for a track bike. Stopped at Larry Black's Mt. Airy shop today (man, does he have some nice stuff!) and been searching ebay. Looking at 70's Raleigh track bikes, the bottom bracket has a cutout in it that looks like some sort of design, but I can't make it out. Can anyone clue me in?
Links include:
http://bulgier.net/
Roy H. Drinkwater Lititz, PA
p.s. I'm looking for a classic track bike 54 -56cm center to center.