Top end vintage off-the-peg Raleigh tourers - Classic versus Randonneur...

[biggs682]

I quite like the idea of a proper steel tourer

 

[Methersgate]

I quite like the idea of a proper steel tourer

It’s the only way to travel!😉

Over the years I have had a Falcon, 1966 iirc, five speed, a 1978 Mercian Vincitore, and now the Raleigh Classic. I admit to owning a very nice titanium hardtail MTB and in the past I have also had the unstealable wreck that I had at university, the cheap old ten speed that I bought when the Falcon was stolen, an indeterminate and unmemorable crossover in China, and a Raleigh Superbe. But the rides that I remember were all on the tourers.

 

[biggs682]

It’s the only way to travel!😉

Over the years I have had a Falcon, 1966 iirc, five speed, a 1978 Mercian Vincitore, and now the Raleigh Classic. I admit to owning a very nice titanium hardtail MTB and in the past I have also had the unstealable wreck that I had at university, an indeterminate and unmemorable crossover in China, and a Raleigh Superbe. But the rides that I remember were all on the tourers.

I must admit to having a beady eye on a nice Condor 531 tourer

 

[Jameshow]

I must admit to having a beady eye on a nice Condor 531 tourer

Spill the beans!!

 

[biggs682]

Spill the beans!!

Not a lot to say at moment it's in my watch pile and just waiting till end of next month when I get chance to view it

 

[Methersgate]

I think I need advice:

Should I tart up the Classic with front and rear racks, or should I keep it as it is (apart from adding a bottle carrier and changing the non-original and hated saddle!) and spend the price of the racks to buy a Randonneur, which already has the racks, and will probably have a B17, and keep both?

The Classic is so very pretty! It isn’t original, but it has been nicely modernised with 700cs and Tektro 559s.

Edited to add: decision taken and I bought a Randonneur… I don’t have an excuse for this extravagance yet, beyond “I always wanted one”, but I’m working on it!

 

[Hover Fly]

According to the catalogue, Classics were originally fitted with Blackburn racks and B17 standard saddles.

 

[Methersgate]

According to the catalogue, Classics were originally fitted with Blackburn racks and B17 standard saddles.

Thank you very much indeed, and those are what it will get, as soon as my credit card has recovered from buying the Randonneur!

 

[biggs682]

Thank you very much indeed, and those are what it will get, as soon as my credit card has recovered from buying the Randonneur!

Credit cards never recover when you start buying bikes

 

[Methersgate]

Credit cards never recover when you start buying bikes

This is absolutely, definitely, categorically, my last bike! One owner from 1985, original apart from the front mechanism, so the opposite of my Classic which is the same year but is a total rebuild!

 

[Rusty Nails]

Thank you very much indeed, and those are what it will get, as soon as my credit card has recovered from buying the Randonneur!

This is my Randonneur from post #38 when I bought it a year earlier for not a lot. Are these the racks you are after? If so I will have a dig in the dust in my shed to see if I still have them. No guarantees as I have thrown a lot out the past few years.

 

[Methersgate]

This is my Randonneur from post #38 when I bought it a year earlier for not a lot. Are these the racks you are after? If so I will have a dig in the dust in my shed to see if I still have them. No guarantees as I have thrown a lot out the past few years.

View attachment 812784

Those are the ones. Thanks.