TEAM RALEIGH TRACK/PISTA

Here is a Ti Raleigh Track bike I 

restored a little while back, but never 

got around to getting any photos of the 

finished machine.

I stripped this one by hand, 

it had a beautiful build quality, 

as you would expect from a SB frame set.

A lovely seat cluster, I have to admit this is one of 

the first places I look when assessing a frame.

I have painted a few Ti Raleigh's over the years

and have always used the one piece down tube

decal available from most suppliers.

This time I decided to paint the yellow and 

black, as was done originally.

I am happy that I did, it just feels better.

 Photographed outside it's new owners house.

I really enjoyed restoring this one.

1975 Raleigh Competition Mk II

Here is a 1975 Raleigh Competition Mk II

Model DL 165, for some reason these are rare

over here in New Zealand, in fact all the high end Raleigh's 

of this period are thin on the ground on 
these Shores.

I have a suspicion that this could well be because it

was right in the middle of the American bike boom

of the Seventies, and American was consuming all

 (at lest most) of Raleigh's high end bike out put?

I know that Hills Cycles In Auckalnd 
who had been buying Bertin C37's and track

 bikes direct from the factory since the middle fifties,

couldn't buy any for a couple of years

 in the late seventies because they had all

 been pre brought by an

American agent...first in first served I guess.
This one was originaly brought over in Australia
in 1975 by Barry O'Brien for $289.00.  

 Even though this is third down in Raleigh's range, it

is in my opinion, an exceptionally well appointed machine
straight out of the box.

Brooks professional on the early models, 
Huret Jubilee derailleurs.

 T.A. crank set, Weinmann 999 centre pull

brakes, with cool slotted levers.

Nice sloping fork crown, which it shares with

the top Raleigh Professional.

Only available from 1973-76, so quite a rare peice

of machinery from a company that made a LOT of

bikes.
Note that the wheel set and Cinelli stem on this bike
are not original equipment.

  

By the way if anyone out there knows of a reasonably

priced Raleigh Professional Mk IV, whole bike or frame set only

56-58 C-T and are willing to ship to New Zealand 
please let me know here

adrian@theflyingwheel.com

RALEIGH-CARLTON PROFESSIONAL TRACK

I have just finished restoring this very

early and I think quite rare Carlton/Raleigh track frame set.

Judging by the frame number C2720, I would hazard a guess

that this would be from about 1968, 
but could stand to be corrected on this.

It has a couple of unusual features, most obviously the chromed 
and drilled seat stays and the drilled drop outs.

I had the paint mixed to match the original Raleigh

"flamboyant" pearl deep red and pearl blue.

I have tried matching this colour before, but have always been a
 bit disappointed, however this time the guys at Topaz paints

really nailed it, and it looks perfect( thanks guys).

A very nice frame set all over.

IN DEFENSE OF CARLTON AND POMMY PRO BIKES IN GENERAL.

A few weeks ago I picked up

a late 1970's Carlton Professional for

a ridiculously small sum from Trade Me.

Anyway, it got me thinking about Carlton,

or more specifically about the 1970's

and later top end English Pro machines, and their place

in the scheme of things

 far as classic racing bikes go.

  Early 70's Professional much like it's stable

mate the Raleigh Professional, which proved so

popular in the USA.

 These late sixties/early seventies Professionals

have gained (and rightly so) a loyal following with

collectors/enthusiasts/riders.

Although other builders where of course using the Prugnat (?)

shot in stay lug sets at this time, for many, this will always

be strongly associated with the Raleigh/Carlton Pro's

 of this period.

 In this 1977 add for the Mk5 Professional, you can see Carlton 
has dropped the classic seat stay

and fork crown of the previous generation.

  These later Mk5 models and onwards

have been overlooked in large part by classic 

race bike collectors and riders. 

This brings me to the point of this post,

the fickle nature of what might be considered to 

be a valued classic/vintage racing machine, worthy of

much time and effort to track down and refurbish or possibly

fully restore to it's former glory.

As readers of this blog will know by now, I am a 

big fan of the 1960's/70's British Pro scene.

So I imagined that a Carlton Professional from

any period when Carlton where running a full domestic

team, would have a reasonable value, but (luckily!)no.

It seems that I am in a distinct minority when it comes

to appreciating these particular bikes from this particular

period. Remember that Falcon, Viking, BSA (one year only,1977)

Alec Bird, Sun and many others competed during this time, and all produced

factory race replicas,these were always of course the

 company's flagship model.

 Barras. Carlton-Weinman 1978

 Hefferman. Mid-Let/BSA 1977

 Harrison. Falcon 1977

Banbury. M.A.N-Viking 1980

So just to really bring home the point,

here is a comparison of a Team Raleigh

and a Carlton Professional from about the same years.

Keep in mind the value of the Raleigh would generally be

 about X3 of the Carlton, although I would hazard a guess

that there would have to be at lest 10-15 or more Team Raleighs

to every one Carlton Professional surviving today.

Pretty similar I think, well they should be
they where built in the same factory.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of the 

red devil Team Raleigh's, and in fact ride one regularly.

and I of course know that they have a serious competition

history etc. 

But I am just saying.......

...maybe can get yourself into a serious classic racing bike, with 

the right pedigree, all without spending too much coin.

 I know I have.