1974 Raleigh International - Gone but not forgotten

I just found one of these in silver with almost all original parts. almost no rust. iv never ridden fixed gear but a friend convinced me to build it as such. it turned out so cool, and i think iv found a new addiction.

i thought i spotted Nervex lugs...so nice!

When I was in high school and college (1978-1983), I had a 1973 International that I bought off a friend. It was the sort of 7-Up bottle green that Raleigh called chartreuse, and most of the original Campy parts other than the BB and headset had already been stripped off by the time I got it.

But I loved that bike, in a way that I've loved few other inanimate objects. Really comfortable and responsive, and much better for long miles than anything I'd ridden before - or since. I did a half-century in the Berkeley Hills on that one, a pretty big achievement for a riding-around-town guy.

When it got stolen from the back of a restaurant where I worked, I was heartbroken enough that I didn't ride again for over 20 years. I kept my eyes open on the street, at flea markets, at yard sales and in free classified papers for years, waiting for the thief to off it. I've gotten past that, but I'd still spend a bunch of money to get That Bike back again.

...sigh...