I do not need this bicycle...

Ah thanks thats interesting to know! Do you know if these were 531c? I can take a better pic of the remaining sticker in daylight.

Thank you! Yes this cable routing just makes sense I think, if no DT shifters are used...

Most of these era and type Raleighs were 531. There are some very few 531c ones, but I think these were later in the model run and the Reynolds sticker should look different then. Also with this size, I doubt they would have gone for 531c.

I own three of the 1977/8 precursors of these. Nice frames. Could be definitely also used for light touring (esp. your later one, has got a more relaxed geo - but then, the size...but give it a try). I rode mine through Cuba and Vietnam plus eastern Europe...

very cool do you have pictures of the bike on that tour?

Yea the bike is very flexy, I dont think I would trust it with a lot of luggage at this point. But thats pretty normal with narrow gauge frames in these sizes I think.

Sure...Cuba+Vietnam.

From nowadays seen, not the best or optimal solution, but it worked out. Eastern Europe (Danube) was done with another frame like this, but fixed.

(preferring low-rider luggage on the rear now)

Looks awesome!

Makes me miss touring...

You're going to have to flip the chainring so you can't see the white branding, assuming it's plain on the back. Looking good though. Getting floppy rear mechs nice and snappy again is very satisfying.

Nice hack!

Going by the suntour rear drop outs it looks like 531 .bike looks fun.

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Ah yes that must be the one! Thanks for the catalogue.

Burdened Raleighs in the wild! Great photo. I can feel seasonal touring urges stirring.

vintage fix for all too flexy frames is to add lateral stays:

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I stole this idea. behold the half-man-half-mixte!!

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this made a huge difference! The bike now rides really well. No more twisting, no more death wobble when free handing. And handles much better with a box of groceries on the rack. Also this fits me much better with drop bars. the swept back bars made everything very cramped...

Outstanding

Great work

Amazing transformation, 10/10

Thanks for the kind words!

I rode it today with some weight on the rack and it's a joy. I'm surprised these lateral stays arent more common on large skinny steel frames. They completely transform how the frame feels, much stiffer without the harshness of a modern ali frame.

Love everything about this. Just read through the whole thread, great stuff!

Just now seen this thread, thoroughly enjoyable. "How hard it can be?", huh 🫡

Looks like it was designed this way, so good. Even better it works well too!

V cool

I fried up a lowrider rack for this

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I love how bikes with luggage up front ride like on tracks! Here it is on a short tour to a conference in Cambridge. Highlight was the guy fuelling up his van who yelled: yarr done a bi' o welding aye?

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and here blending in nicely among other gates with diagonal bracing

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