My 70/71 Raleigh Pro also sits fairly high (with 700 tubulars) I've noticed. It doesn't have wheels in it right now so I don't have a measurement but it's a noticeably higher BB than my 70s Italian and French bikes. Mine is the mink/champaign/fastback stay/campagnolo brake version that immediately followed the white Pro like Rich's and I'd assumed that the high BB of the fastback stay Pros was part of Raleigh's effort to make them "racier" and more "current" than bikes like the International. So it's interesting to see that the preceeding--and I'd assumed more traditional--white Pro shares the highish BB.
BTW, my Pro with high BB rides descends and flicks beautifully despite the high BB. The thing I'm not crazy about is the feeling with my Pro that the front end is tight and italianish while the rear end is rangey and feels like it takes a while to catch up with a turn. Doesn't feel as balanced as either a rangey Gitane nor a tight Italian bike from around the same time. Very different ride to me than an International from around the same time. This was true for me whether I put the wheel in the front or back of the drops. When you get some turny riding in on your Pro, Rich, I'd be interested in your impression of the ride. Also interested in Emily's impression since I think her Raleigh is the same model as mine (?). BTW, my Pro is the 23.5".
Great build, Rich. I wonder if they switched to cable clips as a way to make it seem more racey and continental, that perhaps in 1970 brazed on cable guides seemed too associated with English touring bikes to the Raleigh product managers?
--Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, UT
On Dec 7, 2007 7:54 PM, P.C. Kohler <kohl57@starpower.net> wrote:
> Rich, she looks really.. well white! Just beautiful. So completely unlike
> any quality Raleigh lightweight before or since. But what's the story with
> the bottom bracket height? It looks so high. What's the measurement? I don't
> recall the later Raleigh Pros having so much bb height.
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA