SB518 is the third frame I have lined up this year to be painted in the TI-Raleigh colours (it’s nice to start the year with a plan). This is a solid frame and has no issues or rust, it needs no frame work and is perfect for a renovation. By the time 2020 comes around I should have this paint scheme well and truly sorted!
I’m going to try and follow my own blog post written specifically about the TI-Raleigh colour scheme. I detailed three different methods and stages depending on era for applying the red, black and yellow paint that created the head tube and seat tube panels.
Based on my current timeline and everything I know about the dating evidence of SBDU frames, SB518 was built at the very beginning of 1976.
I was lucky to receive this frame and actually swapped an original paint 1977 531 TI-Raleigh frame for it. The swap was mutually beneficial and we both ended up with what we wanted and a frame size that suited us both. I already had another 1977 Reynolds 531 TI frame in original colours so it wasn’t too difficult a choice deciding to let a frame go.
This frame added lots of extra detail to my collection because it had so many early features that I was lacking. It was a bonus that the chrome was also in beautiful condition.
SB518 has the slender early narrow oval blade that Reynolds used on their forks – and these are fitted to a lovely fully sloping internal fork crown. The fork only needs that little section of blue changed to red.
You will see in the next image that this frame sports the later Raleigh head badge; this type was used by the SBDU on their frames from 1985 onward, so an original 3 rivet type badge will be fitted once the paint is complete.
SB518 has some beautiful 1976 SBDU Reynolds 531 frame features. These include…
- Plain Prugnat S lugs
- 4 slot bottom bracket shell
- Narrow oval fork blades
- 3/4 chrome fork
- Campagnolo 1010/A frame ends
- Scalloped seat stay ends
- No braze on fittings except BB cable guides and a chain stay cable stop
I’m not sure if this frame will actually get built into a bike this year, but the ultimate plan for SB518 includes an early 1970s period Dura-Ace group set.
I’m thinking that a black Shimano Crane DB-100 rear derailleur would be ideal together with the GA-200 crank with black drilled rings. I’ve seen this set up on early TI bikes before and it is something I’ve wanted for a while. That idea is probably not the expected Campagnolo group, but that is me, I prefer to build bikes with parts that I like rather than parts that are expected.
So fingers crossed by the end of the year I’ll hopefully have JR178T, SB632 and SB518 looking good again in the red, black and yellow team colours.
I have SB310 in original paint (it was unused because one seat-lug ear separated), with these details, let me know if there is anything I can provide to help you in your restoration!