Just bought a Carlton Giro

[BOBU]

I always believed that Raleigh bought Carlton for a very good reason... they made very good bikes.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I always believed that Raleigh bought Carlton for a very good reason... they made very good bikes.

Yes, I think they wanted a good brand in their line up. Carlton had some great frame builders. @bagpuss had a stunning Carlton International? I think.

 

[BOBU]

So having rubbed and then used some vinegar and rubbed some more I then cleaned and gave it it a quick coat of lacquer. This highlighted the imperfections but I quite like the effect providing I have killed the rust. I also discovered that the 700 wheels will just squeeze into my Corsa frame and the brakes just had enough movement to accommodate that. If I haven't stopped the rust I can always strip it and paint the whole thing. Love your Corsairs. Both look like great.

I have a terribly soft spot for Carltons partly because of the earlier story but also because any machine that survives for 50 years and is still doing the job as well or better than when it was first made is a testament to how good the basic design was. I always seem to need to alter the freewheel to get a set of gears that suit me.

WRT 700 wheels, my Corsair has them fitted [see earlier post, FIR heavy wall] which Edinburgh Bike in Aberdeen did for me, they built them up to max strength at my request. The bike tech said the only issue was fettling the brakes but it's since worked perfectly for 15+ YEARS...

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

So having rubbed and then used some vinegar and rubbed some more I then cleaned and gave it it a quick coat of lacquer. This highlighted the imperfections but I quite like the effect providing I have killed the rust. I also discovered that the 700 wheels will just squeeze into my Corsa frame and the brakes just had enough movement to accommodate that. If I haven't stopped the rust I can always strip it and paint the whole thing. Love your Corsairs. Both look like great.

I have a terribly soft spot for Carltons partly because of the earlier story but also because any machine that survives for 50 years and is still doing the job as well or better than when it was first made is a testament to how good the basic design was. I always seem to need to alter the freewheel to get a set of gears that suit me.

I always fiddle with gear ratios, most bikes are over geared for me. Merckx broke the hour on 96", why would I need any more?

 

[Corsa of Course]

Seems I am no Merckx
My happy place on the chart below is flat road no wind assistance 103.6 inches, in a decent headwind the 89.8 inch gear is very useful, downhill I love that big gear 122.5 or with a good following wind. I can usually get the 37 inch one up most hills.
I always like to have a gear above what I am comfortable with on the flat. As where we are is mostly flat it also acts as my uphill training.

Teeth 52 30.0 %​ 40 11 122.5 94.2 18.2 %​ 13 103.6 79.7 15.4 %​ 15 89.8 69.1 13.3 %​ 17 79.3 61.0 17.6 %​ 20 67.4 51.8 20.0 %​ 24 56.1 43.2 16.7 %​ 28 48.1 37.0

 

[Corsa of Course]

The Giro had a top gear of about 90 inches

 

[bagpuss]

If you look at Raleighs history ,you will find out their reason for buying Carlton is that they had lost the art of building high quality frames .Their last quality 531 frame was CIRCA 1957 RRA MODERNE .
Post take over all quality Raleigh frames are Worksop built , until the Ilkeston special products unit opened .
I dare say others will disagree.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

If you look at Raleighs history ,you will find out their reason for buying Carlton is that they had lost the art of building high quality frames .Their last quality 531 frame was CIRCA 1957 RRA MODERNE .
Post take over all quality Raleigh frames are Worksop built , until the Ilkeston special products unit opened .
I dare say others will disagree.

Probably **** 'em

 

[BOBU]

About six months after I bought my Carlton Corsair I became concerned that I was using a touring bike too much commuting 14 miles per day, Aberdeen City to Dyce and home. After all, I'd bought it to tour. So, ... I bought a Raleigh Record Ace 1981 or 2 model. It was all 531 and Campag and it was awesome. In late 82 I ended up out of work and laid-up as I had broken my leg/ankle out in the Alps, climbing. My mate bought the Record Ace off me as it was a legend in the climbing crew for it's speed. He rode it until it broke in the early 2000's. The Raleigh Record Ace has a huge following due to the fact that they were really fine bikes. I also had a Raleigh Europa, I have no words for that.....

 

[Corsa of Course]

The 1981 Record Ace model uses the same lugs as my Super Course and has the brake cable routing along the top of the top tube like mine.