ren531
Veteran
- Location
- Lancaster uk
My Raleigh Randonneur 1997
Show us your Raleigh?!?
- Thread starter *Dusty*
- Start date
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wheresthetorch
Dreaming of Celeste
- Location
- West Sussex
Raleigh Equipe in front of Arundel Castle.
uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
My latest secondhand bargain, a slightly scruffy but mechanically low mileage 1985 Raleigh Royal tourer. Mudguards and rack had both seen better days, so were removed as I don't intend to use it for touring anyway. Pictured earlier today. Even the drizzle didn't spoil my enjoyment, and I had a nice little pootle of about 12 miles.
I've been pleasantly surprised by how easy-rolling it is on 1980's Michelin tyres, and compared to my flat bar bikes, it will ride 1 gear ratio higher and give more speed for the same amount of perceived effort.
The difference is really quite noticeable, especially against a MTB.
The bar tape is a lash up using insulating tape, as the proper stuff i ordered hasn't turned up yet.
I've been pleasantly surprised by how easy-rolling it is on 1980's Michelin tyres, and compared to my flat bar bikes, it will ride 1 gear ratio higher and give more speed for the same amount of perceived effort.
The difference is really quite noticeable, especially against a MTB.
The bar tape is a lash up using insulating tape, as the proper stuff i ordered hasn't turned up yet.
- Location
- London
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
The Royal came off eBay and now owes me the princely sum of £33, including the bar tape I've got on order.
There's a couple of very small rust spots on the frame tubes, plus the headset chrome is quite shabby although it turns smoothly. The chromed steel pannier rack also had quite a bit of surface rust, but that either isn't going to get used at all, or will only get used on a hack bike where the appearance doesn't matter. Mechanically there is very little wear, and the tyres are factory-spec so I suspect it has not actually been used that much, but has spent a good few years stored in a damp shed or garage. Not out in the open though, because the chain wasn't fused into a solid rusty lump.
The brakes work adequately well, for the sort of riding I'm going to be doing on it. The front wasn't great when the wheel was way out of true, but is now much better. They aren't going to put you over the bars, but they stop OK, and that includes braking in wet conditions. I haven't touched them apart from spraying some lube into the mech pivots and cable housings. The brake blocks are what were on the bike when I got it, and most likely the original factory fitments.
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
Tinker with it, ride it, and compare it back-to-back with the Dawes Kingpin?
You don't need an excuse to own another Raleigh, but if you did, running a comparison would be a good one.
Deafie
Guru
- Location
- So good they named it twice
Just added this to the herd, hub says November 88. I doubt if it's done 200 miles, the tyres looked unused but were badly cracked with age. I just added rear light, rack, tyres, seat post and cheap Brooks copy saddle.
Cracking bike, I love a Team Banana
Deafie
Guru
- Location
- So good they named it twice
If you don't mind me asking, how many bikes do you have?
EltonFrog
Legendary Member
Compared to some folks on CC not many, but currently six.
Deafie
Guru
- Location
- So good they named it twice
That's not so bad, I had six but gave two away, I'm back up to five at the mo'. They are so hard to resist
