This 1974 Raleigh International was a recent restoration I did, starting with a customized frame.  It had downtube shifter braze-ons and bottle bosses added, and drilled for recessed brakes.  It was custom plated in bright chrome afterwards.  The serial number is WH4003641, meaning that it was number 3641 built at the Raleigh factory in Worksop, U.K., in June of 1974.  I built it up with all-original Campagnolo Nuovo Record components, and fresh tires, tubes, bar tape, cables, and a Brooks Pro saddle.

Read on for more about this restoration and Raleigh International bikes!

In April of 2022, I traveled to a suburb of Washington D.C. to purchase a collection of Raleigh bicycles and partial builds. It reflected the monomania of the collector: all fifteen of the bikes were Raleigh Internationals from 1972-1974, in sizes ranging from 52cm to 55cm.  They were all still in the boxes that the collector had received the frames in, many with printouts of the eBay auctions they came from.  Apparently this was just the overflow from his collection; he had dozens more of these bikes in his house and had run out of space to store them.

I returned to New York City with a U-Haul box truck crammed full of bikes and parts.  Over the following weeks and months, I stripped all of Raleigh frames of their Campagnolo Nuovo Record parts, and carefully cleaned everything.  Over the summer I sold off the parts and frames bike swaps and online, until I was down to the last and nicest of the bunch.  There were two: a complete Raleigh International in orange, and the chrome frame and fork.  I tuned up the orange Raleigh, and it sold at the Kutztown, PA bike swap.  I didn’t get pictures, but the buyer sent me this one afterwards:

With just the chrome frame remaining, I went to work building it back up from the remaining Campagnolo Nuovo Record parts I had.  The non-Campy bits were Gran Compe brakes and an ANPI seat post (a quality Spanish copy of the Campy 2-bolt). All components were ultrasonically cleaned before reassembly. The leather Brooks Pro saddle was in a rare khaki green color, one of their “custom” line. The cockpit retains the original GB Neta stem and handlebars, and adds brand new Newbaums cloth handlebar tape and new Cane Creek hoods on the brake levers. Simplex 5-speed freewheel, Sedis Delta chain, 27” Weinmann concave rims to Campy NR hi-flange hubs with pre-CPSC flat-lever QR skewers. Brand new tires, tubes, shift & brake cables, and housing.

Although the frame was too big for me, when I test rode the bike, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was.  The famous Reynolds 531 steel tubing and relaxed “sport touring” geometry make for a bike that is perfect for long rides.  The classy Nervex lugs, Campagnolo dropouts and chrome finish makes this bike a European cousin to the Schwinn Paramount.  I got lots of positive comments from folks just walking by while I took photos of it.

As expected, it sold within a few days of listing it for sale locally, and I hope the new owner (who was taller than me) is enjoying it.  I wish I knew more about this bike’s history, such as when it was customized, but I’m glad to have given it a new lease on life.  Check out the gallery of hi-res photos, below.  Please leave a comment if you’re a fan of vintage Raleigh bikes, or have any questions about this restoration.