Schwinn Prelude for a Raleigh Super Course?
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Doohickie
Nov 3, 2010, 9:00:16 PM11/3/10
to CycleBABBLE
I have an opportunity to trade my 1987 Schwinn Prelude for a 1983
Raleigh Super Course. I've thought it through somewhat and done some
searches, but I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has any info
or insights to share. More about each bike:
1987 Prelude
Catalog:
http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_06.jpg
http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_17.jpg
Catalog weight: 24 lb.
Frame Size: 23" (58 cm)
Frame Material: Columbus Tenax double-butted chrome-moly
Drivetrain: Shimano L525 Indexed with downtube shifters
Wheels: 700C/Presta
What's wrong with it: 1 size too small for me, black frame color
(catalog says pink or mauve)
1983 Super Course
Catalog:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/83-Catalog.pdf
(1985 catalog showing more detailed info about frame:
http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/catalogs/1985/pages/03raleigh-supercourse.html)
Catalog weight: 23 lb.
Frame Size: 25" (63 cm)-- JUST MY SIZE!
Frame Material: Raleigh 555SL (possibly rebranded Reynolds 501SL)
double-butted chrome-moly
Drivetrain: Suntour ARX friction with downtube shifters
Wheels: 27" (Schrader I think)
What's wrong with it: Current owner bought it from original owner who
broke the rear derailleur. Suntour VGT put on but cable never hooked
up (frame too large for current owner)
So basically, they are two comparable bikes. The Super Course is a
little higher up its company's ladder than the Prelude, but the Super
Course is older so the Prelude is about the same level due to
improvements over the 4 years. Prelude has SIS, versus friction
shifting for the Super Course, but the Super Course is my size.
Although the rear derailleur has been replaced on the Super Course
with a different derailleur, I have a Suntour ARX rear derailleur in
my garage just like the SC's original one. It came off the Nishiki
Olympic 12 I had for 23 years before crashing it two years ago and
I've been kind of looking for a comparable replacement for the Nishiki
ever since. I think the Super Course is about the same level of
quality or maybe one higher than the Olympic 12.
If you were me, would you give up a known quantity in the Prelude for
a better fit in the Super Course? I'd like to do it, but I wonder if
any of you can think of anything else I should consider.
Raleigh Super Course. I've thought it through somewhat and done some
searches, but I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has any info
or insights to share. More about each bike:
1987 Prelude
Catalog:
http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_06.jpg
http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_17.jpg
Catalog weight: 24 lb.
Frame Size: 23" (58 cm)
Frame Material: Columbus Tenax double-butted chrome-moly
Drivetrain: Shimano L525 Indexed with downtube shifters
Wheels: 700C/Presta
What's wrong with it: 1 size too small for me, black frame color
(catalog says pink or mauve)
1983 Super Course
Catalog:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/83-Catalog.pdf
(1985 catalog showing more detailed info about frame:
http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/catalogs/1985/pages/03raleigh-supercourse.html)
Catalog weight: 23 lb.
Frame Size: 25" (63 cm)-- JUST MY SIZE!
Frame Material: Raleigh 555SL (possibly rebranded Reynolds 501SL)
double-butted chrome-moly
Drivetrain: Suntour ARX friction with downtube shifters
Wheels: 27" (Schrader I think)
What's wrong with it: Current owner bought it from original owner who
broke the rear derailleur. Suntour VGT put on but cable never hooked
up (frame too large for current owner)
So basically, they are two comparable bikes. The Super Course is a
little higher up its company's ladder than the Prelude, but the Super
Course is older so the Prelude is about the same level due to
improvements over the 4 years. Prelude has SIS, versus friction
shifting for the Super Course, but the Super Course is my size.
Although the rear derailleur has been replaced on the Super Course
with a different derailleur, I have a Suntour ARX rear derailleur in
my garage just like the SC's original one. It came off the Nishiki
Olympic 12 I had for 23 years before crashing it two years ago and
I've been kind of looking for a comparable replacement for the Nishiki
ever since. I think the Super Course is about the same level of
quality or maybe one higher than the Olympic 12.
If you were me, would you give up a known quantity in the Prelude for
a better fit in the Super Course? I'd like to do it, but I wonder if
any of you can think of anything else I should consider.
Christopher Johnson
Nov 3, 2010, 9:34:27 PM11/3/10
to cycle...@googlegroups.com
I suggest placing a fair amount of value to the better fit, and compare frame geometry to see which one you like best. Think about brake flexibility if you decide to try wider tires and/or fenders.
Other than my own personal preferences, that's all I can suggest for now.
Good luck.
Doohickie
Nov 3, 2010, 9:49:13 PM11/3/10
to CycleBABBLE
From what I've seen in the Raleigh catalogs, it appears that there is
a lot of common geometry between Raleigh models, and my Marathon had
pretty good clearance.
On Nov 3, 8:34 pm, Christopher Johnson <cj.spin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I suggest placing a fair amount of value to the better fit, and compare
> frame geometry to see which one you like best. Think about brake
> flexibility if you decide to try wider tires and/or fenders.
>
> Other than my own personal preferences, that's all I can suggest for now.
>
> Good luck.
>
> > )
a lot of common geometry between Raleigh models, and my Marathon had
pretty good clearance.
On Nov 3, 8:34 pm, Christopher Johnson <cj.spin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I suggest placing a fair amount of value to the better fit, and compare
> frame geometry to see which one you like best. Think about brake
> flexibility if you decide to try wider tires and/or fenders.
>
> Other than my own personal preferences, that's all I can suggest for now.
>
> Good luck.
>
> On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 8:00 PM, Doohickie <doohic...@charter.net> wrote:
> > I have an opportunity to trade my 1987 Schwinn Prelude for a 1983
> > Raleigh Super Course. I've thought it through somewhat and done some
> > searches, but I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has any info
> > or insights to share. More about each bike:
>
> > 1987 Prelude
> > Catalog:
> >http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_06.jpg
> >http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_17.jpg
> > Catalog weight: 24 lb.
> > Frame Size: 23" (58 cm)
> > Frame Material: Columbus Tenax double-butted chrome-moly
> > Drivetrain: Shimano L525 Indexed with downtube shifters
> > Wheels: 700C/Presta
> > What's wrong with it: 1 size too small for me, black frame color
> > (catalog says pink or mauve)
>
> > 1983 Super Course
> > Catalog:
> >http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/83-Catalog.pdf
> > (1985 catalog showing more detailed info about frame:
>
> >http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/catalogs/1985/pages/03raleigh-s...
> > I have an opportunity to trade my 1987 Schwinn Prelude for a 1983
> > Raleigh Super Course. I've thought it through somewhat and done some
> > searches, but I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has any info
> > or insights to share. More about each bike:
>
> > 1987 Prelude
> > Catalog:
> >http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_06.jpg
> >http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1987/Sport_Cycles/FULL/1987_17.jpg
> > Catalog weight: 24 lb.
> > Frame Size: 23" (58 cm)
> > Frame Material: Columbus Tenax double-butted chrome-moly
> > Drivetrain: Shimano L525 Indexed with downtube shifters
> > Wheels: 700C/Presta
> > What's wrong with it: 1 size too small for me, black frame color
> > (catalog says pink or mauve)
>
> > 1983 Super Course
> > Catalog:
> >http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/83-Catalog.pdf
> > (1985 catalog showing more detailed info about frame:
>
> > )
Pondero
Nov 6, 2010, 9:57:43 AM11/6/10
to CycleBABBLE
Well?
We are curious out here about your choice...
We are curious out here about your choice...
Doohickie
Nov 10, 2010, 10:21:53 PM11/10/10
to CycleBABBLE
Oh, sorry! I decided to go through with it. The other guy lives in
Frisco and is going to west Texas Friday, so I will meet him when he
passes through Fort Worth. The biggest downside in my mind is going
back to friction shifting, but I've located a Shimano 600 SIS set
(indexed DT shifters, freewheel and derailleur) through a contact on
BikeForums if I decide I really want the indexing. He's asking $50
which is a little more than I want to pay, but it is 600 which is
pretty good stuff.
Frisco and is going to west Texas Friday, so I will meet him when he
passes through Fort Worth. The biggest downside in my mind is going
back to friction shifting, but I've located a Shimano 600 SIS set
(indexed DT shifters, freewheel and derailleur) through a contact on
BikeForums if I decide I really want the indexing. He's asking $50
which is a little more than I want to pay, but it is 600 which is
pretty good stuff.
Doohickie
Nov 12, 2010, 5:43:40 PM11/12/10
to CycleBABBLE
Here's the new bike:
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10SuperCourse/?albumview=slideshow
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10SuperCourse/?albumview=slideshow
m T
Nov 12, 2010, 5:55:22 PM11/12/10
to cycle...@googlegroups.com
That's a great looking bike! What are your plans for it?
Christopher Johnson
Nov 12, 2010, 6:21:58 PM11/12/10
to cycle...@googlegroups.com
Very nice. Well done, Doohickie!
Doohickie
Nov 13, 2010, 1:12:23 AM11/13/10
to CycleBABBLE
First, Myles, I will get to know it. In my stable it replaces the
Prelude which was my "fast" bike. It currently has friction shifted
Suntour aRX derailleurs. I think I may put on some indexed shifters.
Before I do anything else to it, though, I want to ride it around a
bit as-is and get to know it.
Prelude which was my "fast" bike. It currently has friction shifted
Suntour aRX derailleurs. I think I may put on some indexed shifters.
Before I do anything else to it, though, I want to ride it around a
bit as-is and get to know it.
Christopher Johnson
Nov 13, 2010, 6:56:24 AM11/13/10
to cycle...@googlegroups.com
Who knows? Maybe you'll grow to enjoy those friction shifters...
Doohickie
Nov 15, 2010, 1:14:14 PM11/15/10
to CycleBABBLE
That's why I want to get to know it first. So far I've only taken it
on a couple short rides in the neighborhood, mostly learning the
balance of the bike and stuff. The shifters work fine. I need to
take it on some longer rides to wring it out and figure out how it
shifts under pressure.
on a couple short rides in the neighborhood, mostly learning the
balance of the bike and stuff. The shifters work fine. I need to
take it on some longer rides to wring it out and figure out how it
shifts under pressure.
Doohickie
Nov 26, 2010, 12:28:59 AM11/26/10
to CycleBABBLE
I did the Night Riders Pho Ride last night, including to and from the
Chat Room pub from my house, plus the ride, I did about 31 miles on
the Super Course. I've pretty much decided that indexed shifters
aren't necessary. Shifts like butter.
I may put aero brake levers on it though. I'm riding on the hoods
sometimes but they aren't made for it and they're uncomfortable.
Chat Room pub from my house, plus the ride, I did about 31 miles on
the Super Course. I've pretty much decided that indexed shifters
aren't necessary. Shifts like butter.
I may put aero brake levers on it though. I'm riding on the hoods
sometimes but they aren't made for it and they're uncomfortable.
Christopher Johnson
Nov 26, 2010, 8:15:47 AM11/26/10
to cycle...@googlegroups.com
Sounds like a great plan. More ergo non-aero levers would also be a
good choice for that bike.
good choice for that bike.
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