> From: "Michael Schmid" <schmid@zunterer.com>
>
> 3. Raleigh Bike
> I also have a Raleigh bike which was made, according to the frame
> number, in 1975. It has Raleigh 20-30 tubing but no model-Sticker on the
> top-tube. I suspect ist a record or lower. It came with simplex gruppo,
> weinmann-brakes, Carlton hoods, GB-Stem and bars, non marked three piece
> alloy hubs featuring Gnutti skewers and Nisi-Toro-tubular-rims,
> 36-4-spoke. It has Stronglight cotterless cranks. I suspect that the
> wheels and the cranks were "upgraded". The colour is light blue and
> white (steerer tube and down tube sections)
> Can anybody verify the model and ist original setup?. I did not find a
> catalog on the net featuring this specific bike. I will leave the bike
> mostly as it is because it is just fun to ride, but would like to know
> the correct version.
hi Michael,
The paint job says "Gran Sport", as does the Stronglight crank. The Weinmann brakes and GB bars & stem were common on quite a few of the Carlton Raleighs.
The 20-30 tubing is a surprise, though, as the Gran Sport usually had Reynolds 531. 20-30 is a high carbon steel, instead of a good chrome-moly or manganese-moly, and is usually heavier. If you can tap the top tube and get a good ringing sound instead of a dull thump, then it's a better tubing (this assumes that brake cables aren't clamped to the tube).
I think Sheldon is still hosting the Retro Raleigh site, which has
catalogs that you can peruse. The catalogue will tell you what the
original components were.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
My first good bike was a '74 Gran Sport, which I rode happily for 14
years. Lots of good memories with that bike!
> How good are the Nisi-Toro rims considered? I see them around old bikes
> here occasionally and they seem to be light but nobody could tell me
> what reputation they have.
I don't recall these, and suspect that they weren't original. Don't know anything about them. Sorry.
regards,
Steve Kurt
Peoria, IL