PRESERVATION BICYCLE #29: 1975-ish Raleigh Carlton Competition (ALL ORIGINAL)!
About the Bike:
Preservation Bike #29 (2021: June Selection). I am a firm believer that bikes are meant to be ridden. “A bike on the wall is the saddest of all.” To comfortably ride an old/classic bike often requires switching out some of the “all-original” components to ones that make the unique bike work for your unique body. I’m giving the preamble here because this is a pretty iconic racing/touring bike that’s worth far more (from a capitalistic standpoint) in its current all-original form than it would be if more “comfy.” (there is an all-original listing on ebay for $1200). LOOK AT LUG DETAILS on this beautiful Reynolds 531 (type steel tubes) frame. That Huret Jubilee rear derailleur! That Brooks pro leather saddle. The gentle slope on the fork crown! This made in Nottingham, England, Raleigh Carlton Competition captures the best of the iconic 70s steel road bikes. And at close to 50 years old, it is far from hitting its midlife crisis!
With a little love, a few thoughtful component switches, and an appreciation of its existing tiniest detailed greatness, this Carlton is more than capable of becoming your main commuter or Sunday show bike. Heads up: it does have a small non-crucial dent in the top tube.
#29 Facts and Figures:
MAKE: Raleigh Carlton MODEL: Competion
YEAR/AGE: 1975 (give or take a year) The year Jaws made everyone afraid of the ocean. Also the end of the war in Vietnam.
SIZE: 59cm; for most folks 5’10 to 6’3
ADOPTION FEE: $350, and we’ll throw in a $50 BBP gift certificate to help with used parts.
OG Catalogue: Lots of pretty french bikes
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
BASIC: The tires are old, but I’m not convinced you couldn’t blow it up and ride it all the way to Parma with no extra work. With the $350 adoption fee and the $50 gift certificate + 1 hour of work, you should be ready to ride.
BETTER: Get some new tires, replace all of the cables (maybe housing too), degrease and regrease everything, maybe switch to an upright handlebar (which will also require new brake levers), and replace the brake pads…it will be riding as good as new! Add about $50 to your total spend.
BEST: The big thing here is switching out the wheels to 700c so you can make some room for slightly larger tires (this might require you to get a longer reach brake, but I think you’ll be fine). With this conversion, It could easily handle a 700x38c. I’d find a nice sexy and swoopy upright bar and maybe move the shifters from the downtube to the handlebar With all of these upgrades, I still think you could finish the project for under $600 and have one of the most beautiful commuters in Boise!
BICYCLE HISTORY:
Well…made in Nottingham, England, and extremely well maintained for nearly 50 years. Since nothing has ever been switched, component-wise, my guess is that this is a 1-owner bike. You could be #2!