Raleigh Dynaflite SBDU 753.... 'Manager Special'

[torqueless]

With that number 1 on the Bb do you think that was the first or prototype? Are the other sequential or sb numbered?

This is speculation, but if you were working through a fatigue-testing regime for new frame designs, part of it might be to build a prototype for the managers to pootle around the factory on, and if nothing broke, you could take it from there.
If that was what happened, the next question might be: Was that a workers' initiative or a managers' initiative?

So, VCB, does the Campag. caliper at full stretch really have enough extension, or is it a near miss? This was going to be an issue I guess- fitting a Kwollity Kaliper , because none of them extend beyond 60mm?

 

[vcballbat]

This is speculation, but if you were working through a fatigue-testing regime for new frame designs, part of it might be to build a prototype for the managers to pootle around the factory on, and if nothing broke, you could take it from there.
If that was what happened, the next question might be: Was that a workers' initiative or a managers' initiative?

So, VCB, does the Campag. caliper at full stretch really have enough extension, or is it a near miss? This was going to be an issue I guess- fitting a Kwollity Kaliper , because none of them extend beyond 60mm?

Whilst I was researching my 1982 lugged Raleigh Dynaflite 753 frame.....

Thread 'RALEIGH SBDU 753 DYNAFLITE..'Lugged Aero Special'..' https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/raleigh-sbdu-753-dynaflite-lugged-aero-special.410688/

there was something i read on an old blog site always stuck in my mind and when I saw the picture of the complete machine on eBay it clicked....

"Apart from the image in that Raleigh brochure, I’ve only seen one other picture of a Dynaflite, that was in the article below. I’ve also heard recently from Mike Mullett, a former workshop manager at the SBDU, who mentioned a Dynaflite that was built for the Chairman of Raleigh, together with 2 others that he recalled. In the article written for Cycling Plus in January 2007 by Hilary Stone, he mentioned that there may have been no more than 25 Dynaflite frames built – that isn’t many! Adding together the Raleigh brochure image to the Dynaflite in Hilary’s article, the 3 mentioned by Mike, and mine, that is 6 frames that I know of."

This later 1981 SB4409 numbered frame also has the number 1 stamp.

 

[vcballbat]

Chairman and Managing Director of Raleigh Ian Phillips is featured in this short film along with Head of Product Design and Development Alan Oakley, Specialist Bicycle Development Unit Manager Gerald O'Donovan, Work Shop Manager Mike Mullet, Frame Builder Les Dennis and the team at SBDU at Ilkeston. I'm guessing that the film's shot end of July 1980 where they are seen celebrating Joop Zoetemelk's epic victory for Raleigh in the world's greatest road race The Tour dear France...... and a Special Guest Appearance featuring Raleigh Dynaflite..☺


https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-21071980-t-i-raleigh

 

[torqueless]

So, VCB, does the Campag. caliper at full stretch really have enough extension, or is it a near miss?

In your own time, then...

 

[vcballbat]

In your own time, then...

It's a tricky subject....I need to prepare..

 

[Peachy!]

Cheers for the offer Peachy great work, I'm thinking mine is more than re-touching as the paint damage is along the top surface of the tubes. Maybe the 40 years of dust that had settled on the top of the tubes had retained moisture that has then penetrated the paint. The bike will now be kept in a warm dry environment an used on dry days so will be a case of how to clean and protect the existing paint which is good on the sides and bottom of the tubes.

Ok, next option is Oxalic acid, this will work on the rust and be less aggressive on the paint & decals than other rust treatments.
Here’s my attempt;
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...raace-035210-finished-p16.409971/post-3016162

 

[Ally]

Interesting cool project you have there.

You could look at ACF50 for treating and haulting the rust as its a pretty benign method before looking at pickling and so on.

Looking forward to your updates.

 

[vcballbat]

The Weinmann AG129 Concave rims are showing almost no brake wear and should polish up nicely. Tyres are the original Raleigh Road Lite High Pressure 700c x 25mm with unworn tread but perished...

 

[vcballbat]

The wear or should I say complete lack of wear on the Campagnolo Pista 46T chain ring pretty much concludes that the Huret odometer reading of 70 miles (or could it be calibrated in kilometres?) is genuine..

 

[legrandefromage]

Hardly any use then stood somewhere damp