Raleigh Boy
Retro Newbie
After much searching, last weekend I purchased a nice Raleigh 531c frame in the Panasonic Team livery at my local bike jumble. Alas not the SBDU version but the ‘Worksop’ stamp variety with a serial number starting “WA4”, that I take as January 1984. Although by this time I understand the Lightweight model production had move to the main factory in Nottingham rather than the one in Worksop.
I’ve looked at the Raleigh Lightweights catalogue for 1984 and see there were two ways of purchasing this frame, (a) as a full bike called the “Team Replica 12” or (b) as an off the peg frame referred to at the “Team Professional”.
Here’s a link to that catalogue →
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54329998@ ... 8854991233
My first question is was there any difference between these two frames and if yes how can I tell which my frame started life as?
My assumption is by 1984 the world had moved to 700c wheels and that’s what these bikes would have been built on or was it very much a thing of personal choice? Does anybody know what size wheels the Team Replica 12’s Mavic GP4 rims would have been as a 1984 factory build?
The ‘Raleigh’ head-tube badge on Panasonic bike is the type with 3 visible rivets, I also have a Raleigh Gran Course (only available as an off the peg frame) from the same year but this has the ‘hidden rivet’ version of the Raleigh badge. Does this indicate anything or was it a case that in 1984 they just fitted what they had in stock?
For information I think I’m going to build the Panasonic up in Nuovo Record, any other suggestion regarding group sets?
The final question for now, seat post diameter would this be 27.0mm or 27.2mm?
Many thanks
I’ve looked at the Raleigh Lightweights catalogue for 1984 and see there were two ways of purchasing this frame, (a) as a full bike called the “Team Replica 12” or (b) as an off the peg frame referred to at the “Team Professional”.
Here’s a link to that catalogue →
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54329998@ ... 8854991233
My first question is was there any difference between these two frames and if yes how can I tell which my frame started life as?
My assumption is by 1984 the world had moved to 700c wheels and that’s what these bikes would have been built on or was it very much a thing of personal choice? Does anybody know what size wheels the Team Replica 12’s Mavic GP4 rims would have been as a 1984 factory build?
The ‘Raleigh’ head-tube badge on Panasonic bike is the type with 3 visible rivets, I also have a Raleigh Gran Course (only available as an off the peg frame) from the same year but this has the ‘hidden rivet’ version of the Raleigh badge. Does this indicate anything or was it a case that in 1984 they just fitted what they had in stock?
For information I think I’m going to build the Panasonic up in Nuovo Record, any other suggestion regarding group sets?
The final question for now, seat post diameter would this be 27.0mm or 27.2mm?
Many thanks