delete post. Thanks folks, will try to get new articles here soon.

Audrey Hull Rest in Peace.

Kimberley Yeong Sil Hull http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/120549294.html

This is a tragedy, it strikes so deep. At times, I have met Asian women in the Twin Cities and I think, you know, they must have been adopted. This is what we hear about "Audrey" or Kimberley Yeong Sil Hull, adopted at 5 months old, a girl from Korea. Passing away just days short of her 26th birthday in an accident that shows tragedy can strike at any time. She grew up some in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Switzerland and went to highschool at Highland in St. Paul.

One really has to contemplate safety, we do. Another cyclist was killed today in Winona Minnesota, barely 5 days later.

God Bless this girl and her family.

Record or Grand Prix or Gran Sport? Yellow??

Without a better view of this, it looks a lot like a Grand Prix, dressed up with a leather saddle additionally. The owner thought to do the unthinkable and convert it into a Fixed Gear, brake handles off as well but coming with it if purchased. All chrome front fork makes it being a Record a bit less likely.

There was also a Raleigh Record Hornet that was in the UK, unsure if it ever made it to the USA or other markets. Here is one at this website: http://velospace.org/node/1735

Next Plane To London, Leavin' on Runway # 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkeJ8zsWRBc

Just a short break from the action during this holiday season.

"Said that over here I wasn't in.
Down in Hollyword I couldn't find a friend
Would would help me get in
Or listen to me
I'm on the

Next plane to London, Leavin' on runway number five

Never Mind!!!

Oooops!

Vinyl Ribbon Handlebar Tape!! Don't Ignore it!!

Upon looking at these Raleighs and for example, this one that was just on display from Ebay, I think it is important to say if the buyer receives it, to not say, now I am going to "classicize" it even more and put on Elkhide, Brooks Leather or Shellacked cotton (handle) bar tape. There really is too much of a hurry to do away with the old.

Now in the case of your Hunt Wilde or Cello styled plastic handlebar or ribbon tape, perhaps it is not soft for the hands, that is a point but nothing really could look better than the ribbon tape on this Raleigh Grand Prix, leather? please! One might try it, I have one set of handlebars with bare tape and it may cause less hand and nerve pains than some others that are padded better.

All I'm saying is people owe it to themselves not to be that much in a hurry to make the handlebars look like something on a Randonneur pre-war bike to give it that "classy look." If I'm not mistaken a lot of Schwinns used tape like this as well.

I'm not sure if Raleigh strictly used Hunt Wilde ribbon, a company that still exists but they did use something similar.

Likewise, there is real no need to cut foam off of handlebars either and the rubber Hutchinson covers found on some Motobecanes? They sell those at auctions, I shellacked a pair of them and then covered them with some red handlebar tape and shellacked it again. Rather comfortable.

Those components are classic too and may merit being kept. Perhaps these new hand cushions could be placed underneath. Furthermore, the plastic ribbon can in all likelihood be taken off gently and used again.

Alternatives can always be had, there has to be a better way to track down this handlebar tape but if it is already on there, one might consider keeping it on there.

Foam would not really look that bad if ribbon tape can not be found. Foam is even available in colors now though who knows if it would be as comfortable as the traditional ones.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars/handlebar-tape.html Fair reference to see what is available. Tressostar Cotton Bar tape and just Cotton bar tape in general really, ever try hockey stick tape? Is very useful.

Top tube black band design, White vs. Blue

It appears on a precursory check of Raleigh Grand Prixs that a white model never came out that had a "black band" on the top tube. This would date any white models to being post 1975. Of course, the model in the picture has the Carlton hoods as well which likewise seemed to be out of use by this time period.

Compare to a Raleigh GP with the black band on top tube:

Likewise, in 1968, it would appear there were not blue models being manufactured according to the Retro Raleighs site. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/grand-prix.html

Likewise, a note for the 1977 listing, few bronze colored GPs have been sighted.

Also, though "white" Grand Prixs seem to be rare, is it any wonder that with the "Bike Boom" popularity of Peugeots and their famous white models such as the AO-8, Raleigh might come out with some white framed bicycles. Only things to be thought of while blogging I guess. If one observes the vintage bikes for sale out there, it seems obvious that white came out by many producers in the mid-seventies and it is highly likely they were likely emulating the success of Peugeot as shown by this example of a Belgian made bike. Looks a lot like a Peugeot at first.