Latest addition to the stable …..

[Juliansou]

Picked up this little beauty a week or so back, it’s a Rayleigh Record Ace. Brought from the original owner who bought it in 1979/80. Completely original with campag components. Even had the original mudguards which I’ve taken off. It has a lovely patina to it but otherwise in excellent condition. Just done a 25 miler this morning which is it’s longest ride out so far. The friction shifting is taking a bit of getting used to, just about mastering the ‘art’ of trimming 😀
I’m amazed at how comfortable it is - lovely 531c frame although I can’t spend too long in the drops!!

 

[fossyant]

Very nice, proper gears too.

 

[biggs682]

A proper bike

 

[midlife]

Very nice . The drilled chainset hails from Sakae Ringyo

 

[Drago]

Ooh, faux drillium! That takes me back. Nice looking machine.

 

[Cycleops]

Record Ace, a fine top end bike in its day. Not too much of a slouch today either.

 

[Gunk]

That’s lovely

 

[Juliansou]

Cheers all, yep, I’m really pleased with it - rides like a dream! Stops pretty well too.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You soon develop muscle memory with friction shifting and post shift fine adjustment becomes no longer necessary.

 

[goldcoastjon]

Picked up this little beauty a week or so back, it’s a Rayleigh Record Ace. Brought from the original owner who bought it in 1979/80. Completely original with campag components. Even had the original mudguards which I’ve taken off. It has a lovely patina to it but otherwise in excellent condition. Just done a 25 miler this morning which is it’s longest ride out so far. The friction shifting is taking a bit of getting used to, just about mastering the ‘art’ of trimming 😀
I’m amazed at how comfortable it is - lovely 531c frame although I can’t spend too long in the drops!!
View attachment 705116

Julian-

Thanks for the eye candy and the ride report. I have a similar-vintage Raleigh Record Ace frame and fork that's yet to be built up. (I'm preoccupied with finishing a home we're remodeling.)

Was yours built by Carlton? What's the serial number?

What components are on your bike now?

My Raleigh Record Ace build will not be all-Campi (the apparent OEM spec) since I cannot push those 42 rings up hills any more, but I understand that these Record Aces came equipped "tutti-Campagnolo." ;-)

If your neck or back are keeping you from riding the drops much, you might swap the current stem for a high-rise one like a Nitto Technomic: I use them exclusively in the "Deluxe" quill height of 180-190cm rather than the "too-long-for-me" 225 or 240 cm heights. (Choose the height you need.)

Happy riding!

 

[Illaveago]

Picked up this little beauty a week or so back, it’s a Rayleigh Record Ace. Brought from the original owner who bought it in 1979/80. Completely original with campag components. Even had the original mudguards which I’ve taken off. It has a lovely patina to it but otherwise in excellent condition. Just done a 25 miler this morning which is it’s longest ride out so far. The friction shifting is taking a bit of getting used to, just about mastering the ‘art’ of trimming 😀
I’m amazed at how comfortable it is - lovely 531c frame although I can’t spend too long in the drops!!
View attachment 705116

A very nice bike. They are very nice to ride .

 

[Juliansou]

Julian-

Thanks for the eye candy and the ride report. I have a similar-vintage Raleigh Record Ace frame and fork that's yet to be built up. (I'm preoccupied with finishing a home we're remodeling.)

Was yours built by Carlton? What's the serial number?

What components are on your bike now?

My Raleigh Record Ace build will not be all-Campi (the apparent OEM spec) since I cannot push those 42 rings up hills any more, but I understand that these Record Aces came equipped "tutti-Campagnolo." ;-)

If your neck or back are keeping you from riding the drops much, you might swap the current stem for a high-rise one like a Nitto Technomic: I use them exclusively in the "Deluxe" quill height of 180-190cm rather than the "too-long-for-me" 225 or 240 cm heights. (Choose the height you need.)

Happy riding!

Hi there,
serial no is WL9 then a series of digits which I don’t think mean much. The W represents the Worksop workshop and the 9 is the year of the decade (1979). I’m not sure if it’s a Carlton build. Here’s the extract of the original components which mine’s got. Enjoy the project & I’d really like to see some pictures as you go along!
To be fair, I don’t spend too much time in the drops- mainly just for stopping & I can ‘scrub’ speed off from the hoods.