Just joined the group and one of the first things encountered is some back and forth in reguard to the Raleigh. My first real road bike. Vintage 1979 Capri. A birthday present my wife gave me, on sale at the local bike shop for $169.00. Back then, and up to not too long ago, I didn't really know much about what I was riding, only that I was definitely not ridding a Jaguar in the bicycle world and that when I went to the bike shop to get a flat fixed, I'd see the new bikes evolve over the years. -steel, aluminum, carbon etc.
But the Raleigh keep me going; the after work relief from a high stress job ('s). I didn't even know the make of the derailer or brakes. I did find out that the frame was made in Taiwan, which was somewhat disappointing, ( I thought that I was riding an "English Racer"). But what the hell, I wasn't going to flip the bike over, with the place of origin up, if I could help it. I rode that bike, God knows how many thousands of miles, until my wife bought me a new Aluminum bike for Christmas in "97". (Caloi) Well, the Raleigh got moved to the garage, to collect dust, while the Caloi had a space in the hallway. What saved that Raliegh from the garage sale, or the giveaway was running into to a couple of riding buddies, that forgot more about bikes, than I will ever know. Unlike myself who looked at the bike I was riding as not much more than an means to the end for keeping in shape, these guys knew the details of what made a difference in your ride.
One is a dedicated mountain bike rider, who in between mishaps on the trails, sometimes rides on the road, on his fixed gear Motobecane. The other, an entrepreneur and historian of the road biking world. But both, regard the steel frame as supreme. But I'm riding the new affordable technology, an Aluminum bike! Time to resurrect the Raleigh. -- To the shop for a tune up and back on the road for a change. Can't say that it rode better than the Caloi, but the ride was different, easier, more comforting or perhaps I was just being nostalgic for the years of past, riding the Raleigh.
Well, a 1981 Benotto and a 1982 Gianni Motta later, I concur that steel is the best ride. The Raleigh lives on at my daughter's and her husband's place in Charleston. I still ride it when I go for a visit. No, its not the best ride now, but for the times when it was my only ride, it served me well. It hard to put an ebay price on that.
Lou Tripician
Biscayne Park, Florida