1985 Raleigh Competition?

[KenG]

Hi
This is my first post on the road section, as long as I can remember I've had MTB,s but have today acquired a Raleigh Competition, 1985 I think, it needs a little love and attention and will be my first road bike rebuild, it's not going to be a strip and repaint just a strip and rebuild to get it on the road as soon as possible. I have a couple of questions I hope someone can help me with -
What is the widest tyres I can use on this frame?
Are the brakes, weinmann 405, easy enough to set up, what's the little levers on the side for?
Any idea of the seatpost size, headset size.

I'm really looking forward to rebuilding and riding this one, I've had a little ride and it's so much different to how my Kona Explosif rides.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Re:

Road bikes are just...better. The little levers on the brakes will more than likely slacken/tighten the cable. This enables you to remove/fit the wheels without deflating the tyres.

If the wheels are 700c, 25 on the tyre width is a good starting point. I have always gone for 23 but the state of the roads and me not being as young as I was, I'm going to go for 25s this summer.

 

[KenG]

Re:

I did open and close the levers a couple of times and can see now how they'd be an advantage when changing wheels, the bike is a 25" frame and I'm a big lad, 6ft5, so the wider the the tyres the better for me, so 25 width would make me feel more comfortable, thanks for the reply.

 

[MrW]

Re:

Morning

This bike sounds very 'familiar'

Here's mine:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=267608&hilit=raleigh+competition+1985

I've got the original brochure details somewhere, I'll dig them out later and post them for you.

Tyres when it left the factory would have been 700c x 20

I find 23c tyres give the best in terms of 'look' and handling

Post some pics up of yours, we'd all love to see it

 

[KenG]

Re:

It is indeed almost identical apart from the colour and condition, yours is gorgeous, unfortunately I'm not going to be able to keep this one so will be posting it later in the for sale section , I'm looking to get around £100 pick up, I don't want to let it go but I'm getting a bit of ear ache from the missus, quite rightly I suppose, about these impulse buys.

 

[KenG]

Re:

Hers a quick photo for your perusal

 

[MrW]

That's a 1984 model:

http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalo ... l84_04.jpg

http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalo ... l84_05.jpg

I think it's 'probably' worth more than £100, but like anything, it's a case of what someone is prepared to pay for it

It looks all original, which is good thing