Re: [CR]A Raleigh Complaint!

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

From: "jerrymoos" <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: "dan kasha" <dankasha@yahoo.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20031202034219.43157.qmail@web60601.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]A Raleigh Complaint!
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 22:32:26 -0600


The workmanship on Raleigh lugs, even on relatively high-end models, was famously "inconsistent" to put it kindly. Stories abound of visible gaps between lugs and frame tubes where no brazing material had been laid down. Didn't keep a lot of these bikes from riding nicely. The less than perfect lugwork is, ironically, one of the quirks that seems to endear people to Raleighs. One imagines that the lads at Nottingham had one pint too many before brazing up these frames. Sort of adds to the Raleigh legend. Rather like the British sports cars of the 1950's and early 1960's. An old engineering professor of mine, who owned several MGA's and MGB's used to say that owning British sports cars "builds character".

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Houston, Tx


----- Original Message -----
From: dan kasha
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 9:42 PM
Subject: [CR]A Raleigh Complaint!



> I have a small complaint about Raleigh's workmanship, but also wish to raise some questions about the lugs used on the bike. You might have to visit retro raleigh to know what I am talking about. On the International page, http://retroraleighs.com/international.html towards the bottom, there is a photo of an international with interesting lugs, not the nervex pro's as many have. They have more of a crown look from the front, with a large center spike.
>
> The other day I bought a Raleigh Competition frame, from 1973 I am told. I was most surprised to see these same lugs on it, as I don't recall seeing these lugs on the Competitions that I have seen. So, the general questions are, what are these lugs, and were they typical on Internationals and Competitons?
>
> Now on to the complaint portion of my post. If you look at this International frame, it is probably the 22.5" frame. And as you can see the points of the lugs just about touch the Raleigh emblem. So on my smaller frame, they simply used a hacksaw and crudely cut off two thirds of off those beautiful points! And whoever did the cutting must have just had a few pints, as the cuts are about +/- 10 degrees from square.
>
> Thanks in advance. Also, I was going to build this up as just a basic riding bike, not a perfect restoration. But if anyone has any Competition parts from this era that they want to part with, please don't hesitate to let me know. So far I have frame, bar, stem, headset (worn), brake cable hanger, seat, seatpost (no clamp yet). Though not correct, I have NR derailleurs/levers I will use until the price of Huret comes down. I also have nice campy side pull brakes to use and Weinmann levers. Will need to find wheels from the era, a seatpost (or clamp), cranks, BB, pedals, and a headset would not be bad. Oh, I should find some weinmann calipers for it too:)
>
> Thanks again, looking forward to hearing about those cut down lugs (I wish they were whole). If anyone wants a picture, I'll take one and can email it.
>
> Dan "did I violate any CR list rules?, don't think so" Kasha
> Salt Lake City, UT
>
> PS over 10 feet of snow in the mountains here, skiing and xc skiing has been great.
>
>
>
>
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