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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before - Top Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before - Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube Decal |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom bracket |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Chain Stays |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Fork |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blade |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Before -Fork Drop Outs |
I will admit that green is not my favorite color for a bicycle. I worked through a few polishing grits and a lot of hand buffing and I am extremely proud of the results. I don't like to toot my own horn so to speak but I am impressed with the work I did polishing the frame. The green came back to a sparkling shine and the green color really evened out. So happy with the frame polished.
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished - Top Tube |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Frame Polished
Drop Outs |
The headset and bottom bracket went right into the crock pot for a short time and then the polisher. I like the looks of a Raleigh headset a lot but as a bike mechanic I really do not like the 52 loose bearings in a Raleigh headset. Both the headset and bottom bracket polished beautifully and with new grease spin perfectly!
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset Cups
Pressed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset Cups
Pressed - Awesome Green & Chrome |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset Bearings
Packed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Headset
Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Bearings Packed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Packed |
I like the GB stems a lot, they just have nice character, The stem and handlebars cleaned very well and polished beautifully! I could not be happier with the handlebars and stem.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Handlebars & Stem
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Handlebars & Stem
Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Handlebars - Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem - Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem - Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem - Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Handlebars & Stem
Polished |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem - Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration
Stem & Handlebars - Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration
Stem & Handlebars - Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed |
One of the first mods people do to a Super Course is replace the cotter crank which makes a big difference in wait and ease but the original Strong Lite crank is still a beautiful crank. I disassembled the crank and cleaned and polished it and it turned out beautiful.
I was presently surprised that the old cotters came out with only a minor headache which I will take for how bad I have had stuck cotters before. However the cotter where destroyed in the process and replaced the cotters with new.
Man, I love that crank installed against the polish green paint!
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Crank - Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Crank - Exploded |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Crank - Polished |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Crank - Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Crank
Installed |
As I mentioned above all the Simplex plastic crap drive train is being replaced with Sun Tour. I like this Sun Tour derailleur a lot, its pretty much bullet proof and polishes beautiful, this derailleur is no exception, looks fantastic installed!
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Exploded |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Installed |
The original front derailleur was still on the bike, it was bent, broken and I believe the zip tie was there to keep it out of the chain to ride single speed in the front. The front derailleur is being replaced with a very nice Sun Tour AR, it polished great and looks fantastic against the crank and green paint.
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Old Derailleur & Replacement |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Derailleur
Exploded |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Derailleur
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Derailleur
Installed |
For now only the seat post and coupling is being installed, they all polished very nice and its a small pointless thing but I love the Made in England stamp on the coupling.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Saddle & Seat Post
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Seat Post
Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Seat Post - Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Seat Post & Coupling
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Seat Post
Installed |
I like center pull brake calipers a lot, they work so much better then the side pull brakes from the era and they look great installed with a lot more character. I cleaned all the pieces to the brake calipers and got to polishing. The only draw back is the 54 pieces to polish. The calipers turned out really nice and one of my favorite looks of the Super Course is the calipers against the green paint.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Calipers
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Calipers
Exploded |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Calipers
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Calipers
Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Brake
Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Brake
Caliper - Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Brake
Caliper - Installed |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Brake
Caliper - Installed |
I know I am one in a billion who have complained about Simplex components but really, is there anything dumber then plastic shift lever handles? The Simplex shift levers are being replaced with very nice Sun Tour shift levers. I cleaned, polished and lubricated the shift levers and they are stunning against the polished green and a perfect fit for the rest of the Sun Tour components.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Old Simplex
Shift Levers |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Old & Replacement
Shift Levers |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Replacement Shift
Levers |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Shift Levers - Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Shift Levers
Installed |
The brake levers are nice Die-Comp levers with white Carlton brake lever hoods. The white is very dirty but in great shape, I cleaned the hoods and they came back pretty nice, I wish just slightly better but they do have a nice patina. The alloy polished beautifully and installed the levers look really nice and classic!
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Levers
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Levers Cleaned
And Polished |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Brake Levers - Installed |
That completes the main body components, the Super Course is looking amazing.
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle So Far |
The wheels look pretty rough but I think they are pretty nice under there. I cleaned the wheels and polished the wheel hubs and rims. The rims polished amazing considering how old they are and the hubs look great. I like high flange hubs. I cleaned and installed the hub axles with in new grease and the wheels spin great. The wheels took some time to true with many spokes loose but are right on now. New gum wall tires are perfect for the Super Course, a classic look for a classic bike.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Polished |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Axle Components
Cleaned, Polished & Ready to Go |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - New Gum Wall
Tires |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Before |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Old Grease |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Polished |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Wheels - Complete |
New cables, cables housings and black handlebar tape are next. As I have been putting on everything lately Ice Gray cable housings it is, again a perfect look for the Super Course.
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - New Cables - Cable Housings
New Handlebar Tape |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Wired |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle
Wired |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Handlebar Tape
Complete |
The pedals are in rough shape but I removed the broken reflectors and polished the chrome. The pedals actually turned out pretty nice and lubricated spin pretty good.
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Pedals - Before |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Pedals - Compelte |
That completes the Raleigh Super Course Restoration, such a classic bike! Oh, I did install a Brooks saddle for the final photos, I only have brown and honey brown on hand right now but the Super Course really needs a black Brooks saddle. The owner has a saddle for the Super Course.
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
I did not get to ride the Raleigh Super Course because of the 18 inches of snow we got on Super Bowl Sunday but I was impressed how well the Sun Tour components shifted on the stand, With that snow of course the final photos are indoors.
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The Area I normally take final photos, those drifts are 6 foot but
don't show well in the photo. |
The Raleigh Super Course turned out to be a beautiful bicycle in there. Such a classic look and I am a sucker for chrome stays. A black Brooks saddle would make a huge difference but the Brown looks good too. The paint polished so nice and the gum wall tires are a great look. I like the Super Course a lot!
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Handlebars |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Brake Levers |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Stem |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Head Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front Brake |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front Wheel Hub |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front Wheel Rim |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Fork |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Stem |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Shift Levers |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front Half |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Top Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Saddle |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Down Tube |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Drive Train |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Crank |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Front Derailleur |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Chain Stays |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Rear Derailleur |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Seat Lug |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Rear Brake |
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1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete
Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 1972 Raleigh Super Course Restoration - Bicycle Compete |
Thanks for the interest, work and fun!
John Z.
Great Job! I really like those old Raleigh's, your post is timely as I am picking up a friend's old Super Course on Saturday for a rebuild. I've done a few Gram Prix but this will be my first SC.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ryan. I really like the Super Course. It reminds me of a kit car. Buy a chaise and body and build it up how ever you want but in this case it's a good frame and a blank canvas. I have the same Super Course waiting for work, I am going to heavily mod that one. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a 1973 bike, as Carlton apparently had a clean-out of the Capella lugs and offered them on Super Course, Competition, and International, all in 1973, and never again. Your bike should have some date marks, i.e. on the backs of the weinmann calipers (arches), and on the hub barrels. A date mark of 1972 suggests a 1973 bicycle.
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn some more tips about how to polish with polishing compound, I always scratch the finish to death with this stuff, and I have a 1971 Super Course that is in much worse shape. Incidentally, these bikes had an unusual blue primer coat, which shows through in every scratch.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy first bike was this bike's little brother, 1 year earlier, a 1972 Mocha Green Raleigh Grand Prix, with almost all of the same parts. Here are some notes. (a) A really cool front derailleur if you can find it is a Suntour SL which shifts backwards - push either gear lever forwards to go faster!, (b) This bike's main upgrade over a Grand Prix was the alloy rims, the Reynolds frame was not much lighter, (c) How did you clean the Carlton hoods? You can use acetone VERY sparingly to take off a layer of plastic, turning the yellow hoods back into bone-white hoods again. Be careful not to rub too much or the "Carlton" embossing will disappear! (d) Before building up the frame, it would be good to get some Michael's hobby model paint (acrylic enamel) and dilute it 50% and very carefully enhance the transfers, especially "RALEIGH" and "S_u_p_e_r_ C_o_u_r_s_e_". Get the finest brush you can find and cut it down 50%, then sit at the kitchen table pushing little droplets across the frame, wipe them away and try again if you mess up.
ReplyDeleteYou can make new Reynolds Decals using a laser printer and 3M packaging (clear) tape. Print out your decal artwork on very cheap 18-lbs white paper. Cover your image with packing tape and burnish thoroughly. Cut out the tape and run the decal + paper under warm water 3 mins, then gently rub away the paper with a terrycloth washcloth. Dilute down some white paint 50% and paint the backs of the decals with white paint (just for the green and brown areas), then cut them out with special scrap booking scissors to get a perfect look. Apply with Gold Size (Gold leaf adhesive) or equivalent.
Here is my decal image archive if you wish to make new decals :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ece.ubc.ca/~gillies/reynolds/
Raleighs from this era all came with white cabling.
Please rotate the Weinmann straddle carriers around 180 degrees, they are installed backwards and the Weinmann circle logos are not visible in photography.
superb restoration on this beautiful Raleigh Super Course. I think this one is a 1973 model because it has a different down tube decals compare to my 1972 coffee colored model that has a different font.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I am presently re-building a Super Course- I had one in 1973. Its coming out great. Hope you enjoy it. BTW, the polishing came out beautiful. Do you have a particular machine or method that you use?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow did you get the headset cups off the frame?
ReplyDeleteI have this frame - but no fork, I am located in Taiwan - and rebuilding it at the moment, however I can't find a Raleigh headset and fork so intend to buy something else - any help would be great. Nathan Miller nathan.miller@gmail.com Thanks!
I rode a brown/copper one x-country Fresno-Boston via Toronto and Montreal in 1974 and the shitty simplex never failed though I was envious of my friend riding the Nishiki with all suntour stuff. I hope you checked the rear axle condition. I broke mine but only discovered it in Kansas after breaking maybe 50 or more spokes. I became a mechanic on that trip
ReplyDeleteJohn, I'm about to restore a 1973 Raleigh Super Course (based on serial #) with same green color. How do you clean and polish the frame? I've used Nevr-Dull wadding polish for chrome and bare metal on a Raleigh International I restored but haven't tried it on painted surfaces. Perhaps you have better suggestions. Maybe the info is on this blog somewhere. Thanks in advance. -- Frank
ReplyDeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteI am just getting into bikes myself and am trying to fix up my 1972 Super Course which I've been riding for 3 years now but haven't gotten around to. It recently got vandalized and I'm taking it as a sign from the universe to finally start working on it. The problem is I don't know too much about what parts I need. Where did you find these parts that you replaced on yours?
hi, is this bike 27'' or 28'' weels?
ReplyDeleteGood post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Appreciate it! motorcycle adventure tours
ReplyDeleteAwesome Rebuild! I have a super course from the same time and I am planning on rebuildingredients it. It looks in much better shape the the one you did just hope I can do a good a job as you did. Very inspiring. This bike still rides super smooth! Hope I can get some pointers from you. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI do agree with all of the ideas you have introduced for your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for newbies. May you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post. collision repair near raleigh
ReplyDelete