1987 Raleigh 531c 'Race'

[RooKilo]

Here's my other Raleigh, the pictures were from when I bought it as it's currently stripped while I decide what to do with it - the wheels and components are perfect but there's a lot of chips to the paint that aren't visible in the pictures:

Frame: Raleigh 531c Race (this is what the frame is called in the 1987 Raleigh frameset catalogue), Prugnat 'Super Leger' lugs & Gipiemme dropouts. G.O.D. decal.
Fork: 531c, sloping crown & Gipiemme fork ends

Headset: Shimano 600
Stem: Cinelli 1R, 125mm
Handlebar: Cinelli 65-42 Criterium

Brake Levers: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Brake Calipers: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Brake Pads: Shimano 6401
Brake Cables: Shimano

Shifters:
Front Derailleur: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette: Shimano UG 15-21 7 speed
Chain: Sedis
Cranks: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Chainrings: Suntour 'Power' (was originally Biopace).
Bottom Bracket: Shimano 6401
Pedals: Shimano 6401

Rims: Mavic Open 4CD 32hole, no wear to the braking surface at all!
Hubs: Shimano 6401
Hub Skewers: Shimano 6401 tricolour
Spokes: Stainless d/b
Tyres: Hutchinson Kevlar 700x20C, starting to perish though.

Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo 'Bernard Hinault'
Seatpost: Shimano 600

 

[Stick Legs]

I'm liking that!

 

[klunkerbr]

That tricolour 600's is one of the most beautiful road gruppo of all times.

 

[roadking]

531c Race.

Hi bro,

nice ride, let me have the frame number (on the bottom bracket shell, underneath).

I'll send you some information.

Roadking.

 

[dookie]

That tricolour 600's is one of the most beautiful road gruppo of all times.

agreed. my first 'real' bike was 7s, downtube shifter tricolor, and it did look the business on my pearl white bike...but it also worked phenomenally well for its day.

alas, the bike was stolen...or i'd probably still be using it today!

 

[RooKilo]

Re: 531c Race.

Hi bro,

nice ride, let me have the frame number (on the bottom bracket shell, underneath).

I'll send you some information.

Roadking.

Cheers, I've got it written down somewhere. Can you provide information for SBDU frames also?

That tricolour 600's is one of the most beautiful road gruppo of all times.

agreed. my first 'real' bike was 7s, downtube shifter tricolor, and it did look the business on my pearl white bike...but it also worked phenomenally well for its day.

alas, the bike was stolen...or i'd probably still be using it today!

I agree also, it's a beautiful groupset (nicely detailed e.g. instead of washers on the brake block screws there are inserts recessed into the caliper - nice!) and it works really well, before I stripped it I rode it and was amazed that after sitting for 20 years the indexing worked far better than the Campag Synchro on one of my other bikes!

Problem I have now is I don't know what to do with it, the frame is a little bit too chipped to be immaculate but I could either:
1) Rebuild it as is and therefore retaining the original patina.
2) Respray as original colour.
3) Respray as a non original colour (pearl white is favourite).
$) Respray as a team replica, either Ti or Raleigh USA.

What do you think guys? :?

 

[jCymbal]

On those pictures the paint doesn't seem too bad but if you feel like making the investment/effort I'd choose:

3) Respray as a non original colour.

I'd change the bar tape as well but that's just me. That's a nice frame with lovely components. "She" deserves to be ridden and loved!

Cheers!

 

[MCsanandreas]

i would go for option 1,keep the original paint. gives a bike character i always think.

 

[montez]

Simular Bike

I think I have the same bike as this, where did you find the information about yours, cannot find it in any catalogues?

Here is my bike

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... e42dde4bbd

 

[toomski]

I like this bike alot

The Groupset is wicked.
Performance kicked campags ass!!

If that was my bike

First thought was I would spray pearlescent white.
But I would use two whites.

Where you have the yellow fade, I would use a white with a silver/grey in.

But now I'm leaning towards to straight pearl white.

I would have grey raleigh decals made to replace the black or
might be tempted to use one of the aqua colours from the tricolour bands to pick up with.

Change the bar tape to a solid yellow or pick up with the same colour with the new raleigh decals - Fizik

Put the biopace chainring back on -

I like the saddle alot...

But might be tempted with a Turbomatic 2 / Turbo Lite or
Something flash like a Selle Italia Giro d'italia