Re: [CR]Raleigh Gran Sports in general...

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]Raleigh Gran Sports in general...
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:14:03 -0800
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>


The Grand sport was an interesting model. When Raleigh bought Carlton in 1962, they scrapped almost the entire range of high-end Lenton and Record Ace models, giving the business to Carlton. Raleigh in the USA had just introduced the 'Gran Sport', in red and white, a 2030 steel-cranked machine with Campagnolo Gran Sport gears and GB brakes. So Raleigh kept this model name but looked to france for the grouppo, remaking the Gran Sport in the image of a Peugeot PR10, one model down from the PX10:

http://www.peugeotshow.com/images/1972_2.jpg http://www.peugeotshow.com/images/1973_3.jpg http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/72-Catalog.pdf

Both bikes were adorned with Normandy Competition hubs, Stronglight cranks, Simplex Criterium gears, and Reynolds 531 main tubes and forks. The Raleigh Gran Sport had slightly better forged one-piece cranks (either Zeus Competition, Stronglight 93, or Nervar Star, in that order of appearance), and Weinmann (rather than MAFAC) centerpulls, and in some years, Normandy Sport hubs. In 1975/6, it was Reynolds 531 tubing throughout, on models named "Grand Sports".

My blue-and-white 1974 Gran Sport has a butted main tubes decal on the seat tube, and stamped stays, so I think the catalogues are in error about the tubing for the 1974 models. I would find it almost inconceivable that a builder in the 1970's would make 531-throughout bikes with stamped stays, and indeed, on this bike the dropouts can tell you, in any given year, whether there was Reynolds 531 tubing in the rear triangle.

I'd be very interested to hear from any list members about the ride- quality differences between the Gran Sport and Peugeot PR10.

In 1969 the bike was offered in all-chrome with green and brown acryllichrome highlights (brown head tube and green lug junctions).

In 1970/71 (not sure which year) the white/blue model was offered as either a 'Gran Sport' or 'Competition'. The Competition had tubular tires and the model name repeated on the chain stays.

I have two 23.5" 1973/4 models, one is blue and white and the other is white and blue. The blue-and-white model is a head-turner at club rides and was one source of inspiration for Brian Baylis's Aerotour model. This is no surprise since Brian lusted after Peugeots in his youth, and many of his painted lugs are inspired by historic Peugeots.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA