1974 Raleigh Professional ~ Blue Mink/Silver
Frame & Tubing
'74 Raleigh Professional Mk IV DL-180 ~ 24.5/61cm C-T ~ DB Reynolds 531
Victor Fastback seatcluster ~ Spearpoint Latin Line Lugs
Fork and Headset
Reynolds 531 w/ Integral Sloping Crown - Campagnolo ends ~ Campagnolo Nuovo Record Headset
Handlebars and Stem
Cinelli Giro D' Italia ~ Cinelli 1A 120mm ~ Ambrosio Bike Ribbon
Brakes
Campagnolo Nuovo Record Calipers w/Pads & Nuovo Record Levers ~ Campagnolo Hoods
Front Derailleur
Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rear Derailleur
Campagnolo Nuovo Record ~ Pat 72
Shifters
Campagnolo Super Record DT (was Campagnolo Barends)
Gearing/Freewheel
Regina Extra 7 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Crankset and Bottom bracket
177.2 Campagnolo Record Strada 53/42 & Campagnolo Nuovo Record BB
Pedals and Chain
Campagnolo Superleggeri w/Campagnolo Alloy Clips & Alfredo Binda Straps / Sedis
Saddle and Seat Post
Brooks Team Professional & San Marco Concor Supercorsa / Campagnolo Nuovo Record Post - 27.2
Front wheel
Mavic Open 4 CD (36) ~ O.M.A.S. Hub ~ Michelin Pro 2 Race
Rear wheel
Mavic Open 4 CD (36) ~ Mavic 550 RD Hub ~ Michelin Pro 2 Race
Weight
21lbs
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I credit this '74 Raleigh Professional for really getting me back into cycling daily. I try to get
30-35 miles on it every day, moving to 50 per day on the weekends. In my opinion, this Blue
Mink Pro is one of the most beautiful bikes I've seen with its pristine paint/decals and near
perfect chrome that's setoff by the silver/blue mix. Even the lug work is pretty exemplary
with the thinned long points looking very refined. The fastback cluster and Cinelli crown
are highlights with both probably contributing to extra stiffness, the rear triangle a relatively
stiff affair. The fork on the Pro is still relatively raked, however.
You sometimes read negatives about Raleigh Pros being harsh; personally, I don't find this
the case although it's more rigid and thus could transmit road irregularities compared to
some of this era. It's no International, possibly one of the most relaxed geometry affairs
around. It's extremely responsive without being twitchy and gets the power to the
pavement due to the extremely stiff rear triangle. Simply put, it's a joy to ride and it gets
many compliments every time out from people that know. You can stay in the 20s on this
beast and smile wide while nodding to the compact frame clones. We have a plethora of
interval timing triathletes that ride daily and keeping up with the A-List can be a
turn-yourself-inside-out affair. Still, this vintage Raleigh Pro, in all its Reynolds 531 glory,
can hold its own.
In my opinion, the Campagnolo Nuovo Record is form/function/beauty combined, with it
taking a more industrial beauty over the Super Record that was soon to follow. I never tire
of looking at this bike and I hope that stays this way as it's stored in my living room, much
to my wife's chagrin. I just replaced the Selle San Marco Concor with a period correct
Brooks Team Pro that has now broken in to fit like a glove, even if it's a heavy as hell glove.
What a beautiful saddle that is much like topping on the cake. The Mavic Open 4 CD rim
anodizing has seen better days due to pad wear, but wheels are still going strong and the
Michelin Pro2Race are an excellent match (this tire rolls like a dream - too bad you cant
get them in black). I get some gruff from another vintage bike lover on the rims but this
is a DAILY RIDER, not a piece of wall art, although nice enough to exhibit as such. OK, the
rims are ugly as hell and this thing does deserve tub status, currently the setup on my De
Rosa.
I have an '80 Piaggio era Bianchi beater out of Columbus "Aelle R" that feels like inert
matter compared to this bike. The Bianchi currently resides in SS status while a Columbus
Neuron '01 Cinelli Supercorsa is waiting in the wings, wondering when it will ever be built.
Should be interesting comparing the Cinelli to the Raleigh on a number of fronts.
Meanwhile, I've yet to even straddle a carbon fiber anything as there is just something
magical about these vintage, hand-built steel rides that just feels Right. This bike was
finally usurped from "every day" status by my 83 De Rosa Professional, a Columbus SL
machine that is the best rider I have now, although this English beast is right up there and
gets ridden a few times a week (the Cinelli remains unbuilt). Just ditched the Campy
barends for Super Record DT shifters for a cleaner, more original approach.
kh