Raleigh Randonneur 708 1997

[MOB]

I’ve got a Royal/Randonneur catalogue but need to get it scanned at work...

 

[Captain Stupido]

I’ve got a Royal/Randonneur catalogue but need to get it scanned at work...

Nice!

 

[legrandefromage]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Rand ... SwI9le07cQ

 

[delle discese]

Love the comprehensive write up.
Nice bike too.

 

[mynchiboy]

Re:

Chuffing bargain that

 

[peetee]

Re:

Alas my 708, mentioned earlier, has died.
No incident, no accident, just simple metal fatigue....
Or was it. Closer inspection shows some curious facts.
1. The lower seat tube should have multiple facets on the internal profile - it has none
2. The chain stays have the multiple facets. Reynolds make no reference to this.
3. There is a zinc rich primer inside and out and no corrosion whatsoever
4. It has done 5000 trouble-free road miles in my ownership, never crashed, bashed or pot-holed.
Raleigh cooperated with Reynolds to develop this tubing. I am going to investigate and see if this frame was part of that process.

 

[Rapparee87]

Been meaning to post some details of my recent Raleigh Randonneur build.




The idea was to build something to use for audax rides and commuting. I’d had a Randonneur frame a few years ago, but it was a bit long in the TT [long legs short body syndrome].

The old one:




What that build did show me was how good the frames are. The 708 tubes are heat-treated mang mol like 753, but with a larger diameter top tube and ‘special section’ internal bracing to increase strength [8 internal flat sections according to wikipedia].





Here’s a bit of background:

Raleigh’s Randonneur production was born out of the demise of the SBDU works and subsequent birth of the Special Products Division around 1987. According to cycling historian Tony Hadland:

The demise of the European team in the early 1980s led to the closure of Ilkeston but resulted in Gerald O’Donovan and Melvyn Cresswell teaming up on product development at what became known as Special Products Division. Shortly before this, and supported by his ‘indulgent boss’ Yvonne Rix, Cresswell had designed and launched the Randonneur tourer. It was based on personal experience and inspired by his first ‘serious’ bicycle, which Gerald O’Donovan had built for him many years previously. Although Raleigh’s most expensive complete bicycle, it was an instant success. The Randonneur proved that Raleigh could still sell high-end product if it was thoughtfully designed and manufactured.

Hadland Link

There isn’t much certainty about the various incarnations of Randonneur from the late 80’s to the close of RSP in 2000. As far as I can make out earlier ones are made of 531 ST, later ones of 708. Hilary Stone employed a useful breakdown in recent advert for one of his:

… the second series Raleigh Randonneur frames [were] built from Reynolds 531ST tubing. The first series did not have cantilever brakes and the third series were built from from Reynolds 708 tubing with a 1 1/8in diameter top tube.

708 was available in Classic or Touristique flavours. I’ve no evidence what the difference was: logic suggests that like 531ST, Touristique was somehow a stouter more touring version; anyone know more?

It’s worth noting that 708 frames were available as full bikes badged Randonneurs, and also frame-only with custom options, badged as Gran Tour.



Towards the end of production, Randonneurs were spiffed up with top level components including hydraulic rim brakes (thanks to one-eyed_jim for the link posted on one of the other threads).




link to full size pic

For me, it it’s the 708 versions that epitomise the marque: innovative materials worked into a great design with brilliant signature touches that add a bit of iconic cool: oversize seat stay caps, spoke holders on the left stay (531 frames were on the right, 708, left); no chainstay brace, but instead a cool "pip" for mudguards; 135mm rear end.



Mine is an H serial number which likely equates to 1997. serial no. linky But I’m not wedded to catalogue correctness and it’s been built with a, er, retro flavour: Specialized BB1 flared drops held high on a nitto stem; non aero brake levers, Swift Ti saddle and 9sp Dura ace shifters on the down low; MKS flats with clips and straps. Wheels are stock, and while the black parallax hubs don’t really fit, they can stay until they wear out or I splash on a dynamo hub.






oops, pic limit reached ....

Beautiful, as is your AGA! We have the same model and colour.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re: Re:

Alas my 708, mentioned earlier, has died.
No incident, no accident, just simple metal fatigue....
Or was it. Closer inspection shows some curious facts.
1. The lower seat tube should have multiple facets on the internal profile - it has none
2. The chain stays have the multiple facets. Reynolds make no reference to this.
3. There is a zinc rich primer inside and out and no corrosion whatsoever
4. It has done 5000 trouble-free road miles in my ownership, never crashed, bashed or pot-holed.
Raleigh cooperated with Reynolds to develop this tubing. I am going to investigate and see if this frame was part of that process.

Whoa Peetee!
That's not good, not good on any frame but especially on a good frame that has served so well over so many miles.

Jamie

 

[peetee]

Re: Re:

Whoa Peetee!
That's not good, not good on any frame but especially on a good frame that has served so well over so many miles.

Jamie

That’s 5k miles no 50k. I think that’s pretty lousy and less than a years use for many people. Sure it might have had a hard life before me but it’s condition when I received it didn’t tell that story. It’s a tubeset that is designed to be loaded up with luggage and rider. It’s never been loaded in my possession and I am only 75kg. But given what I said in the previous post, maybe the gauge of tube isn’t standard after all and it’s not as durable as you might expect.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Hi Peetee
I had misread that as 50 000 not 5000! My mistake.
That changes my opinion pretty much as that’s a poor amount before something like this.

Jamie