Milk Race Special

[endlessmike]

I made a post in the readers road bikes section, I'm currently stripping down and respraying my old Raleigh Milk Race Special frame, It wasn't in the best condition when I got it.

I'm Interested in its background though, the only place i seem to see them is eBay. When were they produced? Looking at the head badge and some other components I would say the 80's. But im trying to find out the original groupset that they had, I'd quite like to do a proper restoration, to original specification minus the decals, because i think I'll struggle to source them!

Also is the frame reynolds tubing?

I'm a novice with bikes so any help/information would help a lot.

Does anyone have any information? It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[cotterpin]

The tubing is Raleigh's own 18-23 high tensile steel and they were produced around 1985/6.

 

[endlessmike]

outstanding, thank you very much!

does anyone now original components?

 

[bagpuss]

Have you tried here for transfers.?
http://www.hlloydcycles.com/

and here for spec.
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

 

[keithglos]

Mike, you may be able to search for the original spec or a catalogue.
Tubing: in the 1950's Raleigh made a marketing ploy, and badged tubing 2030 later 2028. This was heavy cold rolled electric seam welded. A 531 tube would be approximately twice as strong and half the weight.
Later other meaningless names emerge, like Peugeot Carbolite 103, particularly for the US market.
The tubing had to stand the mass production brazing.
If you can measure the diameter of your saddle pin/pillar you will find the inside diameter of the 1.125 inch seat tube is about 1 inch, where butted 531 is about 1.07 inches.
Those with 531 or other drawn tubing often refer to the welded tubes as "gas pipe", but many millions of frames were made from it, and gave good service. The feel of a bike on the road is partly subjective, and it is possible to make quite decent bikes from heavy tubing. But if you tried a decent light hand built with light rims and tyres you would not believe the difference.