It does sound similar, though I am not familiar with the raleigh grand prix. The Austro-Daimler is made with Reynolds 531, double butted tubing. It weighs about 25 pounds -- using the inelegant weighing method of standing on the bathroom scale while holding the bike. It's a 25" frame, which, while officially large for me (22" is ideal), makes for a very comfortable ride. I think most of the weight probably comes from the Nervar crank.
I don't know the model of the Huret derailleur. It appears to be a very crude one based on all the suntour and shimano derailleurs I have known, but it works.
I posted a picture of the bike on my blog: http://carfreefamily.blogspot.com. The picture isn't too clear. I have yet to learn the best way to photograph bikes for the blog.
Paul Cooley Santa Fe, NM
]
On Feb 20, 2005, at 1:36 AM, Mr Donald W Gillies wrote:
> i owned a raleigh grand prix in 1972. your bike
> sounds A LOT like what raleigh shipped on the grand
> prix from 1973-1976. normandy sport hubs. weinmann
> brakes. 3-arm steel nervar cranks (industructible,
> your legs will fall off berfore you wear out a steel
> chainring). raleigh 501 steel pedals. simplex
> prestige gears (yuck). high carbon steel. 28-29 lbs
> in 57 cm size.
>
> is this the sort of bicycle that you have ?? from
> your description i think it it. I loved my grand
> prix, but now that you can get an elite racing bike
> for $300 on ebay, i'd rather collect those than $50
> raleigh grand prix's.
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA
>
>
>
>
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Paul B. Cooley
http://carfreefamily.blogspot.com