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1973 Raleigh Professional MkIV |
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1973 Raleigh Professional MkIV |
| I picked up this
Pro as it had low mileage and was a good deal for a complete bike. A few
tings I noticed when I received it were that it had been "upraded"
to the first generation of Shimano Dura Ace brakes with very nice Shimano
600 non-aero brake levers. The rear rim was pretty much toasted and the
original GB bars had been replaced with Cinelli. Unfortunately, it is almost
impossible to get the larger Cinelli bars into a 3TTT record stem, so the
bars were quite scarfed up on one side. I replaced the above mentioned parts
with period-correct replacements. I had another AVA rim, so I relaced the
rear wheel with it. I had picked up a rare NOS 3TTT Record stem in the 85
mm length, which is perfect for me on this bike. I matched it to a set of
3TTT bars that have been hanging up in the basement for 20 years or so.
Now I know why I hung onto them for so long! Purists will note that the
correct handlebars for this bike are the GB "Map-of-England" road
bars, but I like the bend on these better and the GB bars are a little small
in diameter for the 3TTT stem. The bike rides like a dream. Like the trailer trash that it is, it's been kicked around some and generally poorly used for such a diamond in the rough. It is nicely tarted up with gold pinstriping all around and my aging eyesight tends not to notice all those filemarks below the chrome. But it has a nice, comfortable feel. It is an excellent climber, yet a predictable handler with its long fork rake and 73 degree angles. Frame builders will scoff, but that fastback Victor seat cluster really does seem to make the bike quite stiff in the rear triangle. Now if my butt can outlast the break-in period of that Brooks saddle, I'll be all set. |
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