Comments on: A vintage Raleigh retrofit for long distance cycling http://readytoride.biz/?p=156 Long distance cycling Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:50:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-68956 David Wed, 19 May 2010 04:50:44 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-68956 Those pedals should turn like butter into those cranks. If they're binding, the TPI is too dense. If you're in love with the pedals, you'll need to retrofit the cranks. You can pick up a current set of Stronglights that will fit, I would think. Or you can look for some vintage pedals. As you can see from my Raleigh, I focused on preserving the frame, but retrofitted the components. That required that all the threads be re-tapped. It was worth it. If you were restoring a Professional or a International, I'd probably suggest that you don't use any components that aren't vintage. The components on the Super Course were spec'd with a budget-conscious rider in mind. The frame (with the exception of the lugs), is first class, even by today's standards. But the cool thing about the Super Course is, that it was an affordable mass distribution bicycle, so you shouldn't feel badly about bringing it current. Those pedals should turn like butter into those cranks. If they’re binding, the TPI is too dense. If you’re in love with the pedals, you’ll need to retrofit the cranks. You can pick up a current set of Stronglights that will fit, I would think. Or you can look for some vintage pedals. As you can see from my Raleigh, I focused on preserving the frame, but retrofitted the components. That required that all the threads be re-tapped. It was worth it. If you were restoring a Professional or a International, I’d probably suggest that you don’t use any components that aren’t vintage. The components on the Super Course were spec’d with a budget-conscious rider in mind. The frame (with the exception of the lugs), is first class, even by today’s standards. But the cool thing about the Super Course is, that it was an affordable mass distribution bicycle, so you shouldn’t feel badly about bringing it current.

]]> By: Jan Wimmer http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-68942 Jan Wimmer Tue, 18 May 2010 19:45:08 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-68942 David, What a fantastic retrofit - inspiration to get busy on restoring my 1975 Super Course. It was my commuter for several years and took a beating to the paint and rims but is still a solid ride. I hope you can help with a small problem. I just purchased a pair of MKS GR9 platform pedals to fit the original Stronglight crank (marked 9/16x20) on the bike. The pedals will just start to thread into the crank but then stop and I am afraid to apply too much force and destroy the crank threads. I have checked out Sheldon's site but am somewhat confused as to whether standard pedals should fit. I would appreciate any advice you may have. Cheers, Jan David, What a fantastic retrofit – inspiration to get busy on restoring my 1975 Super Course. It was my commuter for several years and took a beating to the paint and rims but is still a solid ride.
I hope you can help with a small problem. I just purchased a pair of MKS GR9 platform pedals to fit the original Stronglight crank (marked 9/16×20) on the bike. The pedals will just start to thread into the crank but then stop and I am afraid to apply too much force and destroy the crank threads. I have checked out Sheldon’s site but am somewhat confused as to whether standard pedals should fit. I would appreciate any advice you may have. Cheers, Jan

]]> By: James http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-63950 James Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:23:33 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-63950 I found my Super Course in a pile of bikes covered with weeds and paid $5 for it. The lugs on the head tube caught my eye. Spread the rear triangle and converted to 700C. It was always a steady ride and seamed to take care of me in those dark hours of a brevet. Road it for 4 rando seasons, PBP and Cascade. Last few years it has been hanging in garage though but I have be thinking about putting it back to work this season. A nice side story, the old guy I bought it from literally had piles of bikes surrounding his house, bikes in sheds, everywhere. He talked about fixing them up and selling them but I don't think that had happened in a long time. A year later I rode over to his place with the bike and showed it to him painted and fixed up and then gave him a picture of his bike in front of the Eiffel Tower. I really think it made him happy to see that one of his bikes had made it so far. I found my Super Course in a pile of bikes covered with weeds and paid $5 for it. The lugs on the head tube caught my eye. Spread the rear triangle and converted to 700C. It was always a steady ride and seamed to take care of me in those dark hours of a brevet. Road it for 4 rando seasons, PBP and Cascade. Last few years it has been hanging in garage though but I have be thinking about putting it back to work this season.

A nice side story, the old guy I bought it from literally had piles of bikes surrounding his house, bikes in sheds, everywhere. He talked about fixing them up and selling them but I don’t think that had happened in a long time. A year later I rode over to his place with the bike and showed it to him painted and fixed up and then gave him a picture of his bike in front of the Eiffel Tower. I really think it made him happy to see that one of his bikes had made it so far.

]]> By: David http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-63032 David Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:13:50 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-63032 No problems with the spacing on the forks that we weren't able to overcome with a little pressure, Liz. It has worked out great. No problems with the spacing on the forks that we weren’t able to overcome with a little pressure, Liz. It has worked out great.

]]> By: Liz http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-62836 Liz Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:43:44 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-62836 Lovely bike! I'm very interested in the use of the dynohub. Did you have any problems with the front spacing? I have a 70s Raleigh and want to upgrade to a Shimano dynohub but the front spacing is only 90mm and I don't know if it's possible. Would be great to know if someone else has done it. Thank you, Liz Lovely bike!

I’m very interested in the use of the dynohub. Did you have any problems with the front spacing? I have a 70s Raleigh and want to upgrade to a Shimano dynohub but the front spacing is only 90mm and I don’t know if it’s possible. Would be great to know if someone else has done it.

Thank you, Liz

]]> By: The Dude http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-59206 The Dude Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:40:17 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-59206 Wonderful. I'm about to undertake similar on a '74 Coffee Brown. Planning to spread the rear triangle 5mm and go all modern Campagnolo Centaur alloy. Wonderful. I’m about to undertake similar on a ’74 Coffee Brown. Planning to spread the rear triangle 5mm and go all modern Campagnolo Centaur alloy.

]]> By: Ken http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-55796 Ken Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:23:40 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-55796 Bought my Coffee Brown Super Course from Hans Ohrt Cycles,Beverly Hills in 1973 after getting a broken heart. Used it to ride away from my pain. Rode same bike today with my son to celebrate that I still could. All original, except tires. Love this bike. Thanks Bought my Coffee Brown Super Course from Hans Ohrt Cycles,Beverly Hills in 1973 after getting a broken heart. Used it to ride away from my pain. Rode same bike today with my son to celebrate that I still could. All original, except tires. Love this bike. Thanks

]]> By: Gustavo http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-54073 Gustavo Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:59:47 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-54073 Beautiful bike! I bought one in 1973 for $165 (which I thought was very pricey) and rode it while going to college. I lived in Guadalajara for 2 years, and when I left in 1981, I sold it for $180! Great memories. Beautiful bike! I bought one in 1973 for $165 (which I thought was very pricey) and rode it while going to college. I lived in Guadalajara for 2 years, and when I left in 1981, I sold it for $180! Great memories.

]]> By: Tom Forhan http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-52858 Tom Forhan Mon, 04 May 2009 21:52:22 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-52858 Nice ride. Besides my bought new 1971, restored and now semi-retired , I've got a 1974 MK II that I used for a rough urban commute for about ten years. I've been thinking of bringing it back to modern life, and yours is a great example of how to do it. Thanks. Nice ride.

Besides my bought new 1971, restored and now semi-retired , I’ve got a 1974 MK II that I used for a rough urban commute for about ten years. I’ve been thinking of bringing it back to modern life, and yours is a great example of how to do it. Thanks.

]]> By: David http://readytoride.biz/?p=156&cpage=1#comment-52275 David Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:40:39 +0000 http://readytoride.biz/?p=156#comment-52275 Funny you should ask. I just pulled the cranks today ... bottom bracket is toast. Got about 4000 miles out of it, not bad for 30 bucks. I'm re-ordering it. I used the matching Sugino part (#BB105), measuring 68 x 103mm. I don't think you're 110mm will do it; seems too wide if you're using the Sugino crank arms. BTW: the Sugion cranks come standard at 48t. I found that the combination of the 19t cog and 48t chainring were a bit too much of a grind on the hills around my house. I installed a 21t cog. I'm considering using a 42t chainring, as well. Funny you should ask. I just pulled the cranks today … bottom bracket is toast. Got about 4000 miles out of it, not bad for 30 bucks. I’m re-ordering it.

I used the matching Sugino part (#BB105), measuring 68 x 103mm. I don’t think you’re 110mm will do it; seems too wide if you’re using the Sugino crank arms.

BTW: the Sugion cranks come standard at 48t. I found that the combination of the 19t cog and 48t chainring were a bit too much of a grind on the hills around my house. I installed a 21t cog. I’m considering using a 42t chainring, as well.

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