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198? Raleigh Sportif

I found myself riding more and more for exercise once I moved into my house near the bike trails. To compliment my Raleigh mountain bike, I purchased a Raleigh Sportif 10sp road bike off Craigslist for $60. This allowed me to travel much faster making it possible to use my bike as a commuter vehicle if I wish.

I don't know the exact year of this bike as it is not printed anywhere on the frame. Usually the serial number provides clues, but the numbers to not line up with anything I have found online. I do know that Raleigh didn't start making Taiwan bikes until 1983, so it's at least that new.

198-something Raleigh Sportif specifications:

  • 10sp Road Bike
  • 502 Chrome Moly Frame with “sport touring geometry” - made in Taiwan
  • Weinmann 27x1.25 aluminum wheels – Made in Belgium
  • Quick release front wheel
  • Suntour metal shift levers - Made in Japan
  • Suntour front derailleur – Made in Japan
  • Suntour HERO rear derailleur – Made in Japan
  • Suntour SR front crank sealed bearing two speed – Made in Japan
  • Suntour 5sp rear cogs – Made in Japan
  • Unsure of brand of pedals as they are unmarked, however they are metal and have serviceable bearings!
  • Raleigh symbols etched into the handlebars

I have added the following to make it a commuter:

  • Saddle post mounted Sunlite PakRack
  • Crate mounted to PakRack
  • small plastic container with spare inner-tube, patch kit, and tool kit
  • Sigma bike computer (speedo, trip, avg speed, ridetime, etc.)
  • Schwinn hand pump
  • Aluminum bottle holder from local bike shop (www.bikedoctorohio.com)
  • SKS Longboard fenders


198? Raleigh Sportif
This picture is before the fenders & crate were installed


198? Raleigh Sportif
Here it is as it looks now sporting (ha!) SKS Longboard fenders and a crate.

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