[CR]Raleigh Super Course Mk II

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

From: "Alison, Sam" <sam_alison@kb.cz>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 17:22:11 +0100
Subject: [CR]Raleigh Super Course Mk II

Hi all,

A few years ago while still working at a shop, I managed to get my hands on a Raleigh Super Course Mk II. It was in pretty bad shape at the time, and while it would have been nice to try and keep it original, the main motivation was to get it up and running for my dad to ride. This involved rebuilding the wheels with new rims and spokes and a new front hub, brake levers and pads, cables, crankset, front derailleur, stem, bars, tyres and saddle. Where possible, I tried to keep to things that at least looked the part - and of course I've not thrown away any bits that came with the bike as I got it.

The frame is still in fairly nice shape, despite a few rust spots here and there showing through the paint. I believe the three main tubes are 531, and it's painted in a fairly bright emerald green with cream panels and gold lettering.

My dad has now got more into cycling and is buying himself a bit more modern and user friendly steed - having not ridden a bike regularly for over 35 years, and never having been a 'cyclist' that's fine by me. My question then is to try and get a bit more background on this bike, when it would have been built, what the original components might have been, and whether it is something 'worth' trying to restore to original condition. Otherwise, I'm thinking it would make a very nice winter/fixed gear bike. Also, short of a complete re-spray (which I don't want to do because I really like the paint job) what is the best way to prevent the rust from spreading and to maintain or enhance the existing paintwork.

Many thanks for any info, links, pics of similar bikes, or anything else of interest.

Sam Alison
Prague, CZ