Raleigh Professional '73/'74. Full Campagnolo.

[Chapeau! Velo]

Now that's a proper retro bike - free bump for a great piece of unmolested history

 

[Old Ned]

It's got a split personality, some badges/decals say Raleigh, others say Carlton. Is this a common feature on these bikes?

 

[blightyinfurs]

Not just common - every frame I've seen of a Raleigh Professional of these years has been identical, although there was the different colour scheme of mink-blue and silver. There have of course been many, many different incarnations of the Professional over the years.

I didn't know much about Raleighs prior to getting this, but I was under the impression that the top-end Raleighs were built by Carlton at the Worksop factory until 1974, when the Ilkeston shop was set up.

Some people I've spoken to claim that these were aimed at the US market, but the original owner definitely bought this new in the UK.

 

[bagpuss]

Same frame as the Carlton Giro d' Italia. here is mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 068133453/

 

[blightyinfurs]

@bagpuss Yes, I've read about similarities with the Giro and the Professional, but all of the braze-ons are different, and the dropouts have no mudguard eyelets.
I wouldn't mind comparing the two in the flesh if you didn't object - I'm close to Alvaston, Derby.

 

[bagpuss]

How about this one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4673051032
More pictures in the set of this bike.{not mine} I think it was been sold on again on the bay a week or so back.

 

[davendiz]

Raleigh Pro

A nice bike. Not sure if this is original colour. I have a Carlton Pro Mk1V I bought new in 1971 direct from Gerald Donovan. Since repainted (correct colours) and refurbed, but with simpler paint job since the original was gross.
Carlton has much fancier lugwork.
All pro team bikes had TI Carlton decals or TI Raleigh as the team evolved.
Link to follow

 

[davendiz]

Carlton Pro Mk 1V: http://davendiz.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Bik ... 51&k=AHxi5
Much fancier lugwork than the Raleigh!

 

[blightyinfurs]

@Bagpuss

That's a nice bike, I'd be interested in seeing how the geometry compares between the Raleigh Pro and that. The Carlton has braze-ons on the top tube though, where the Raleigh Pros from the early 70's (as far as I know) never did.

@Dave
That's a stunning Carlton. Being a Derbyshire lad I do have a soft spot for 'em. Those lugs were available on some of the Raleigh Professionals as well, I think *some* of the late sixties/very early seventies models had these lugs. Here's one:
http://bikeville.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03 ... ional.html

Most of the Raleigh Pros had the Italian-style pointed lugs, rather than the British fancy lugs.

This Raleigh Professional is definitely the correct colour though - I've bought it off the original owner, and it's never been altered. In 73/74 they tended to come in either Blue/Silver, or Black/Champagne-Mink. The blue ones are more common, as I think they're more aesthetic. This catalogue page shows the '76 model in the blue.
http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/c ... ional.html

Another one for sale on eBay, in blue
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1977-Raleigh- ... 2ec3596878

Refurbed Raleigh Pro in blue, standard lugged.
http://velospace.org/node/7415

And another in blue.
http://i-vol.com/bikes/raleigh_professional/

One on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Mint-Ralei ... 20b8da63ca

Original Raleigh Pro in Champagne-Mink/Black
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Profe ... 7675.l2557

Blue, frame only
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-62cm-Ra ... 3372a469cf


TI Raleigh didn't start until 1974; the Raleigh Pro didn't carry the TI stickering until much later, I think - the Raleigh catalogue linked early shows the '76 Pro without TI decals.


Another point of note: I've been messaged by Gary on here, that sizing is something to be mindful of on these, as it has a higher BB due to criterium races and the fear of pedal strike.