[CR]Is this frame a Raleigh International?

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2007)

From: "Bob Hanson" <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:23:50 -0600
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: jhndnn@gmail.com
Subject: [CR]Is this frame a Raleigh International?

My international is # F3195

You might check the length of the chain stays. The International had a rather relaxed geometry and long stays. My International's stays [on a 22 1/2" / 57cm (c-t) frame] measure around 46cm from the center of the bottom bracket to the very farthest reach back inside the dropout axle slot. That's pretty long. The Competition had shorter stays and a shorter wheelbase, more "race" geometry.

Of course I supose it would depend on the curve of the fork blades, etc., but my wheelbase is 103cm from the center of the front axle to a point in the rear drop out where the seat stays and chain stays would intersect.

Mine also had what they called "rapid taper" chainstays. The stays exited the BB shell and quickly narrowed down - INSTEAD of having the outer "crease" to allow room for the inner chainring or on the insides of the stays to make room for tires.. It's a Reynolds tubing not often seen and I think Raleigh only used these on Internationals, and only for a few years, around the same time as yours.

The semi wrap-around seat stay treatment also looks like my International.

The Gran Sport and Super course models in the 1970-71 US catalogs are also listed as having Nervex lugs, but NOT Campy dropouts...

John, to answer your last question: No, I don't think you're nuts.

If you're referring to digging for specific info on the bike, I think it's actually worthwhile. I think we are all fascinated with our bikes and eager to find any, and as much, verifiable data as we can. It's not even a matter of determining a specific value for a bike. I'd want to know everything about any of my bikes and they are not all 'original' or accurately restored, often not even the highest level bikes in a manufacturer's ranges. Besides, any information you are able to acquire may be of future use to other List members and enthusiasts seeking the same. Imagine if you could just type in successively what specific info you had on any bike and eventially a data base would be able to narrow down the DNA of your particular frameset to reveal everything about it. Kind of like Velo-forensics on the body of a discovered bicycle body. ~ Maybe someday.

Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA