$10 Flea market find

[uforgot]

I saw this bike hidden behind some stuff. It's a Raleigh Gran Sport. Saw the lugs, thought that was good, pulled it out more, a Raleigh, saw the price $10 and knew it was going home with me. I pulled it completely out and saw that the components were Campagnola. Rear derailleur say Campagnola Gran Sport and the front derailleur just says Campagnola. Brakes are Coureur 86. Brooks saddle. Looks like it would make a good touring bike, and I love the pink metal on the brake levers and in the center of the bars. The tires say clement 50, and I'm having trouble deciding the size. I think they are 700c. Anyone know anything about these components? I've come up with a little bit, but nothing on the brakes. Keeper?

[Zen]

are those leather straps on the toe cages? Those are worth $10 alone.

look at the RetroRaleigh page

[uforgot]

I just took the tire off, was going to put 700cs on it, and the wheel is not like anything I've seen before. They don't have the standard rims. They are smooth and just dent in a little. A standard tire would not stay on. I did a search on clement tires and found that they were flat. Not much out there about them, or that I can find so far. Here are a couple of pics. I tried to get it so you could see how smooth the rims are.

[DebW]

Those are tubular rims. Clement 50s are sewup tires. The tires get glued onto the rims. Old style racing technology, still used by some pro racers because they are safer if you flat at high speed. I've got sewups on one of my bikes - been using them for 30 years. East Hill got a bike last year with sewup and has used them. The tires are sewn around a tube, so if you need to patch the tire, you cut stitching, patch the tube, and sew them back up. New tires can be found for $25-30 if you shop around online.

[DebW]

They are 700c in size and you could replace the wheels with 700c clinchers if you wanted. But now that you've got them, you should try them. Are the tires they came with any good? You'll need some tubular cement. Ah, the fine art of gluing on sewups.... A 3 step process with a drying time of 12-24 hours.

[uforgot]

They are 700c in size and you could replace the wheels with 700c clinchers if you wanted. But now that you've got them, you should try them. Are the tires they came with any good? You'll need some tubular cement. Ah, the fine art of gluing on sewups.... A 3 step process with a drying time of 12-24 hours.

The tires that are on it are dry and cracking when I move them. Maybe I'll try them! After you responded I did a search and they ARE available. Any online resources for installing them?