Raleigh Team replica...

andy162

Hi,

I've decided I'm going to live out my 1980's retro fantasies & build a Raleigh Team replica. It's going to be in the Panasonic colours of the time.

Authentic team frames in 531c/753 appear as rare as hens teeth so I'm planning on finding a Raleigh frameset of the correct material and having it repainted in Team colours.

I guess eBay is the appropriate starting place to begin the quest but do you chaps know of anywhere else that might be of help?

I would love it built with early indexed Dura ace but vintage Campag seems easier to find. I'm not too bothered about every detail being correct but I want to capture the "feel" of the time( jeez, how pretentious does that sound!)...


The plan (eventually) is for the bike to be used and not some ornament so it needs to be usable and not some fragile relic. I guess in the same way as classic car? Have your modern bike( a Scott Addict R1) then when you fancy a change get the oldie out for a spin...

So .... What would be your suggestions regarding a. Where to buy a frame b. who can you recommend for repainting c. what sort of spec would the build take( componenents, wheels etc) and where from?

Cheers

Andy

lae

If you like the idea of restoration/customisation, learning to paint yourself is great fun and cheaper than paying a pro to do it.

I have a compressor and couple of spray guns, I got the compressor for £60 with a load of cheap air tools including a cheap gun, then got a detail gun at a car boot sale for £15. Works fine for spraying cellulose paint (you could spray celly paint with a football pump and still get a good finish) as most of the work is surface preparation and sanding. My local man at Halfrauds will mix me up any colour for £15/l (although we have been friends for years, I'm definitely getting mates rates) so the paint is cheap. If you don't have a garage you can do what I did and buy a little gazebo and paint in there, I've even painted a classic car with it and got decent results.

Get a couple of books on how to paint cars or restore classic cars and for under £100 you'll be fully set up to paint whatever you want for a fraction of the price of getting a paint shop to do it.

Be warned that it is very addictive though. My girlfriend came home one day to find the fridge had been painted Porsche red.

bagpusscp

A friend of mine has this for sale. 231/2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 675787816/

Let me know if you are interested.

andy162

I have bought the bike. It's a Raleigh Services des Courses 753r in Panasonic team colours. It's an authentic Ilkeston SBDU frame from 1984. Its got Super Record throughout. The best bit is the condition. It's hardly been used.

I'm planning on keeping it under wraps til next year then I'm going to use it. Can't wait to see folks faces when I turn up on the chaingang on it. It's going to see some Sportive action too. Up the North Yorks climbs on a 42/23! If it was good enough for the pro's in 84 it'll do me.

It does need some fresh tyres though. I'm after something modern & sporty but with amber sidewalls. Any suggestions?...700c btw

markos1963

PICS,PICS,PICS!!!!!!

Splottboy

My father in law, then brother in law, had the Raleigh TdF bike, bright orange, 70's.
I did it up, resprayed it lime green and sold it to my boss for Triathlons.

In 1985, I bought a Raleigh Team Banana copy bike in Essex.
Was white with cheapo g/set but rode great!

Love the old Holdsworth's, Sun's, BSA's etc.

geoff_ss

andy162 wrote:

I have bought the bike. It's a Raleigh Services des Courses 753r in Panasonic team colours. It's an authentic Ilkeston SBDU frame from 1984. Its got Super Record throughout. The best bit is the condition. It's hardly been used.

I'm planning on keeping it under wraps til next year then I'm going to use it. Can't wait to see folks faces when I turn up on the chaingang on it. It's going to see some Sportive action too. Up the North Yorks climbs on a 42/23! If it was good enough for the pro's in 84 it'll do me.

It does need some fresh tyres though. I'm after something modern & sporty but with amber sidewalls. Any suggestions?...700c btw

Looks a very nice bike as long as Bagpuss's big dog hasn't had his teeth on it

I think the operative word is 'professional' (and probably 'young' as well) when it comes to riding N Yorks Moors climbs on 42x23. How about Rosedale Chimney - piece of cake?

Good luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Though I must admit 1980s seems quite modern to me.

Geoff