Saturday, April 9, 2016

What's that in your Hand? (Raleigh Super Course Part II)

Dude is that a (gasp) bike wrench in your hand? Are you actually working on a bike? Do you even remember how?

Yeah its been a while but I am finally getting to my bike queue and in specific the Super Course of my friend Joe which has been languishing for an embarrassingly long time.  I figured it was finally time to strip the Raleigh down to the frame.
My bike stand had been a bit lonely and was happy to accomodate the Super Course.  Here goes....First off come the wheels.
I really hope neither the seat-post or stem is stuck..
Whew! I wonder what the frame looks like under the layers of dust and grime?
Left side treated with some armor-all wipes the right side left alone.  Hmm there is hope.  Wonder if those pedals are going to fight me?

Ok pedals are off now lets see about the fork and headset.

Ok finally down to the frame, the cranks were no problem with my trusty cottered crank tool,  so now only a few pieces to go the bottom bracket and headset cups...

and oh yeah you noticed that rear brake is still on, not sure why but it doesn't want to come out and I don't feel like brute forcing it, and its in a bit of an awkward place for a hammer tap anyway.  So the plan for now is to clean it up in place.
I had to review a few resources before tackling the bottom bracket but was able to successfully get it out- its gonna need a little cleaning

With the help of another bike specific tool I was able to make short work of the headset cups- they need a good soaking.

So having been lucky enough to avoid the dread of stuck; seat posts, stems, pedals etc, its now time for the real work. Lots of cleaning, polishing, lubing, adjusting and updating all the consumables -rubber, chain, bar tape etc. 

Until next time- Ride. Smile.Repeat.

9 comments:

  1. Your welcome Joe sorry its taken me so long to get going on this project.

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  2. Dude! I keep my bike tools in just exactly the same three drawer tool box, although I suspect you have more bike-specific tools than I do. The super-corsa is certainly a worthy project.

    I took the first long ride in what seems like forever two days ago and wrote it up over at the Park. I think I'm back.

    Forgive me for coming here to brag about it. I'm really just letting you know plus I would really like to do a collabo once in awhile...
    yr pal, tj
    .

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    1. He's baaack nice to hear from ya velo brother. Going to check out the TPC blog.

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  3. Ryan, This looks like a great project. The Raleigh brand alone makes for a worthy of your stand event and whomever this bike belongs to I am already a bit jealous. I had a friend in junior high and high school that rode Raleigh's. Always one step above me and my Peugeot. Plus he upgraded every couple of years. Good to see you working on bikes again.

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    1. Thanks Jim, the Super Course is a nice project a cut above the Grand Prix's and Records I have worked on in the past. An plans for rides in your gorgeous part of the world once the snow melts?

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    2. Ryan, I have a couple of trips planned for the bike this summer but with some travel involved this year. Heading to South Dakota in June for a ride on the Mickelson Trail. We start in Deadwood and roll south and end in a little town called Edgemont. 3 or 4 days of riding. Then in August I will take one of my Colorado tours. A bit of a repeat of last years tour except I am adding on. will go west out to Steamboat and then work my way back home. Driveway to Driveway tour. Then a few days of riding in September in Moab. Should be worth while to post up about

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    3. Jim those trips sound great and I hope you will blog about them, I always enjoy reading your trip blogs and seeing your photos. Certainly more ambitious than my planned 5 block ride to the farmers market on Sunday ;-). I visited in Moab in 1992 when I went on a bit of a "walkabout" and visited a number of National parks. Arches was gorgeous and I hear the riding out in Moab is great.

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  4. Ryan, I just picked up a Raleigh Super Course from the father in-law. It is in near perfect condition. Rear tire is the only item not original, I think.
    Trying to figure out what year it is... Can I send you some pics?
    Thanks
    James.

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    1. Sure James, usually the paint color, decals, head-badge and components help narrow it down.

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