Raleigh Randonneur 531

[lae]

^ hrm.

Frame number is WD4000651 - So 'worksop' March '84? Apparently the 'W' was discontinued 1990 so it's definitely an '84 rather than a '94.

Dropouts are Suntour. No spoke carrier or front rack braze-ons. Lugs have teardrop-shaped windows. Has cantis. Not a Randonneur then?

 

[one-eyed_jim]

This one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Randonneu ... 0484759295

 

[lae]

^ that's the bugger. Now you can all look at the embarrasingly high price I paid for it, too.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Sorry! He made a quick profit on it too, eh?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0560488889

I've noticed touring bikes fetching some surprising prices lately - the best part of £600 for this early nineties Super Galaxy, for example:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0540298508

 

[lae]

Ffffffuuuuuuu....

 

[lae]

ss

 

[roadking]

^ hrm.

Frame number is WD4000651 - So 'worksop' March '84? Apparently the 'W' was discontinued 1990 so it's definitely an '84 rather than a '94.

Dropouts are Suntour. No spoke carrier or front rack braze-ons. Lugs have teardrop-shaped windows. Has cantis. Not a Randonneur then?

Aaarrgh!

I give up.

Roadking.

P.S Worksop factory closed in 1980, Raliegh continued using the W prefix at Nottingham for Lightweight Unit frames and bikes.

 

[lae]

Yeah I know. That's why I said 'worksop' and not Worksop. Learn some forum manners.

 

[gapyeargerald]

Raleigh Randonneur

My recollection is that the Randonneur replaced the Classic as Raleigh's top of range tourer in the late 80's. The early Randonneurs used a 531ST frame, with spare spokes on the drive-side chainstay. These bikes were a deep aubergine colour as I recall. Later models featured a Reynolds 708 tubeset and the spare spokes moved from drive-side to...the opposite. I think the rationale for the latter change was that drive side mounted spare spokes became brittle (work hardened) by chain contact....I have a blue 708 framed version, it's a nice and very capable machine. I think the Ridgeback Panorama is the nearest current equivalent.

 

[roadking]

You're right the Rand' replaced the Classic 15 in the lineup.

Classic 15 was same/similar colourway as the Rand'too.

Rk.