PRESERVATION BICYCLE # 9: 1976 Raleigh Super Course MK II
This is a 1976 (43 years young) Raleigh Super Course MKII, hand built in the Carlton Factory in England. It has Reynolds 531 steel tubing (the good stuff), and the lug work (the joints that connect the tubes) especially where the top tube, seat tube and seat stays meet is simply incredible (see the photo below). Please come down and check this one out. The small details, the Huret rear derailleur, the French Nervar cranks… such a wonderful piece of bicycle history!
PRESERVATION BICYCLE NUMBER #9
MAKE: Raleigh Carlton
MODEL: Super Course MKII
YEAR/AGE: 1976
SIZE: 55CM 5’6 - 5’10 ( 5’8 WOULD PROBABLY BE PERFECT)
ADOPTION FEE: $50 (PLEASE! DON’T PART THIS BIKE OUT OR RESELL ON EBAY)
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
BASIC: Tires, tubes, new cables and housing, some work on the wheels and lots degreasing, regreasing should make this bike ridable. If you can salvage that vintage Brooks Leather Saddle, major props, but it might have to go. Pop a new chain on there, and have our mechanics teach you how to adjust the front and rear derailleurs. We’re talking $50 - $100 bucks and 3-4 hours of shop time here!
Pie in the Sky Deluxe Head Turner: A new 700c wheelset (currently 27 x 1 1/4) would make a big difference while allowing you to run a slightly fatter tire, and there’s a chance you might need to get some longer reach breaks to accommodate the slightly smaller wheel. A new/er Brooks Saddle might be necessary, but a refurb on the old one would be amazing if you can pull it off. Them, it’s really up to you. A small front rack with a handlebar bag (see this combo from Velo Orange) would really open up some possibility for longer rides. Now we’re talking about $150-250 of upgrades + the $50 adoption fee, which equals $300 for a bicycle that will make you smile and turn some heads for the rest of your life.
BICYCLE HISTORY:
Reynolds 531 tubing is made in England, and the frame was hand built in the Raleigh Carlton Factory in England. Not sure how it made its way to Boise. The original bike shop sticker is worn off, so you will need to do some investigating