Raleigh Randonneur 708 1997

[doctor-bond]

Re:

Peteee, that’s such a shame - your variant is so rare.

I can’t be sure from the photos: has it gone where the down tube meets the bottom of the head tube lug, and at the chainstays?

The BB area on yours is different to mine - no doubt for the Cyclo-X requirements: the crimps are more pronounced, no ‘pip’ and a different BB shell.

Although it looks bad, is it worth looking at repair? A bit like the ancient AGA, steel frames are endlessly rebuildable.

 

[peetee]

Re: Re:

Peteee, that’s such a shame - your variant is so rare.

I can’t be sure from the photos: has it gone where the down tube meets the bottom of the head tube lug, and at the chainstays?

The BB area on yours is different to mine - no doubt for the Cyclo-X requirements: the crimps are more pronounced, no ‘pip’ and a different BB shell.

Although it looks bad, is it worth looking at repair? A bit like the ancient AGA, steel frames are endlessly rebuildable.

Yes the down tube crack has started at the tip of the head tube lug. It’s a rounded edge, not a point and not especially thick so not an excessive step-change. The chain stay crack has migrated from the rather thick bracket shell.
It is repairable With two new tubes but given the apparent non-standard tubes it’s probably not economically viable. Who’s to say any of the others won’t go the same way? The fact that the failed ones did is a bit of a mystery, after all.
Whilst it was undeniably, a great frameset, the lack of a second set of bottle bosses and mudguard and rack eyes made it less than perfect for what I needed.
As for being endlessly rebuildable, that’s not strictly true. Heat-treated steel such as 708 is not tolerant of excessive heat either in terms of absolute temperature or repeated exposure.

 

[doctor-bond]

Re:

Hear you about the practicalities of repair.

What are your plans for it? There maybe someone out there willing to buy it as a project; or put it on the wall as a memento mori?

Please don’t scrap it; if push came to shove I’d give it cave room.

 

[legrandefromage]

have a chat with danson67, he still has his 753 builders certificate

 

[peetee]

Re:

I am hanging on to it until I can establish whether or not it is built from a standard set of frame tubes. There is a slight possibility it was a frame built during the development of the 708 Touristique tubeset. Information is scarce but Reynolds themselves have promised to get back to me.

 

[vcballbat]

A very interesting 708 blog with some very constructive comments...or should I say reconstructive.. :?

https://midlifecycling.blogspot.com/201 ... o-708.html




____________________________
Rocking all over the world

 

[peetee]

Re:

Nice one VC. Well spotted.

 

[vcballbat]

Wish I paid more attention during my French class...too busy reading the 'Comic'...
https://www.bikeboompeugeot.com/Brochur ... 1000PC.jpg
https://www.bikeboompeugeot.com/Brochur ... ynolds.jpg

 

[satkin55]

Looks great out in scenery

 

[David708]

Bought this Randonneur second hand and have gradually replaced parts. Kept the original Raleigh Passport too. Lovely touring bike.