Resurrecting a 1973 Carlton Competition

[Illaveago]

Here is a picture of a Carlton Competition that I have been putting together from parts sourced from a BSA that I
bought on ebay. Weinmann/ Raleigh centre pull brakes and levers, drop handlebars and levers which I changed
over today for a pair I had taken off of my Falcon. Raleigh/ Huret front and rear also came from the BSA. Although the stem I replaced was a forged GB alloy, it was a bit short and lively when I rode it. I think that the red handlebar tape goes well and is in keeping with the Carlton headbadge, red, white and blue.
The frame number is stamped on the rear dropout, that and the style of Reynolds sticker makes me think that it is
a 1973 model. The dropouts are not Campag but there is an S on the front ones.
The frame looks a lot better now that it has been cleaned with T cut but there is a lot of surface rust. I plan to respray it in the future.

 

[midlife]

Very nice

Carlton went onto the new Raleigh numbering system beginning with W in 1973, Between 1968 and 1972 the numbers are all over the shop so that wouold be my guess unless you can date it by some original equipment.

Shaun

 

[raleighnut]

Looks good ................................................................just needs a Brooks now

 

[biggs682]

@Illaveago why loose all that originality for the sake of a shiny finish it won't make you go any quicker.
Looks good though and well done

 

[Illaveago]

Thanks for your comments. It is work in progress at the moment, all of the parts are recycled I am going to let my brother use it while I respray
his Holdsworth Monsoon.
In its present state the bike weighs 11.2 kg about 24.5 lbs and it seems quite fast. The rear seat stays look massive?

 

[mikeymustard]

Very nice machine!

@Illaveago why loose all that originality for the sake of a shiny finish it won't make you go any quicker.
Looks good though and well done

Also if you respray it you'll be frightened to ride it in case it gets marked!

 

[Illaveago]

There is that to worry about if I was to respray it. The trouble is that rust never gets any better.I could do what is termed "blow ins" that is to treat and
spray the worst areas and fade the colour in. Initially I wasn't all that keen on the colour, it appeared a bit washed out but now it has got the red handlebar
tape it looks a lot different.

 

[Illaveago]

I am going to have to change that saddle it's a right pain in the "A".

 

[raleighnut]

I am going to have to change that saddle it's a right pain in the "A".

My most comfy is one of these


B17 n (narrow)

 

[HertzvanRental]

I don't "restore" anything unless it really is the only way to go.

 

[biggs682]

Very nice machine!

Also if you respray it you'll be frightened to ride it in case it gets marked!

very true and well spoken

 

[mikeymustard]

very true and well spoken

aye thank yow

 

[Illaveago]

My most comfy is one of these


B17 n (narrow)

Yes very nice. I have got one on my Holdsworth Record it came as standard fitting with the bike. They are painful until you both get used to one
another and then they are comfy. I could alwys

 

[Illaveago]

My tablet intervened and started writing gibberish.
I was trying to say I could always swap the saddles over when I needed to.

 

[raleighnut]

My tablet intervened and started writing gibberish.
I was trying to say I could always swap the saddles over when I needed to.

I think standard on a Carlton was the B5n (well it was on my 68 Clubman) but the B17n is the closest they still make (same shape)
The B5n had a 'dimpled' top and lace holes in the side 'skirts' supposedly made with inferior/cheaper leather but I suspect just hide that was blemished. I was given one not so long ago by John at Bob Warner cycles but that is currently fitted to my Raleigh Equipe and supports the Carradice Longflap I got from there.