.@@BikeItUK I have collection of 12 of these era cycles sime of which require attention if you want any to film as restoration I will pay for parts of course. I collect 25" framed cycles only. Think working in a Raleigh shop as a kid deeply "affected me" !!
That’s stunning. I had one of these in 1978 bought for £40 for me by my mum. Same colour but mine was only 5 speed. Would so love to have that bike back as sadly was stolen from my garage around 25 years ago 😢. Thanks for the brilliant video.
Great job again Andy. My bike in 1984 was the Carlton Pro~Am in a pearlescent pale blue. I always remembered the writing on the frame looking like it was hand written. A super bike rescue there pal.
Came across your youtube channel from your bikes on eBay. So glad to hear from others who have the same passion for the old steel bikes from the past. My dad used to work at Carlton Cycles until it shut as we live just around the corner from the old factory, which is now a leisure centre. We had a least five bikes over the years 2 x 24" wheeled bikes that my dad put straight bars on for us when we were kids and 2 x Carltons and a Sunn. It really is a pressure to see your enthusiasm and skill in restoring these old beauties, also the way you educate us mere mortals in the art of restoring bikes.
Many thanks for watching and your supporting comment. Honestly through the support I receive from viewers like yourself really does keep me carrying on what I do on here. I also love hearing personal experiences of times gone by so thanks for sharing. A Sunn is one bicycle I still haven’t covered 🤔watch this space...hope you have a cosy Christmas all the very best Andy
Amazing work on this restoration. Beautiful chromoly frame and Golden Arrow components. Some people just don't know the value of the things they get rid of. Mad respect to you sir for bringing this vintage bike back to its former glory. It would be an honour to ride this bike.
hello again and sorry again for the late reply. The gold arrow is an amazing groupset Im currently doing another restoration at the moment with it. Watch this space thanks again Andy
Well... you have just pieced some family history together for me, I am a very keen cyclist, bike builder etc... My great, great Grandfathers brother was William Hanstock the father of a certain Fred Hanstock... I now know where my passion for this sport has come from for the past 35 years!! great show keep up the good work!! Richard Hanstock
Wow 😮 big thank you for watching and giving your support 👍 It’s a wonderful thing unraveling the history of these bike manufacturers. Great to hear your personal story. All the very best Andy
@@BikeItUK thanks for the reply Andy, you really have my dad piece some more history to the family tree!! Can't wait for the next builds!! Love the work 🚵♀️
A great philosophy! It really doesn't matter how fancy the bike is. The joy is in the restoration and saving a bit of retro history. Great job Andy! Cant wait for the next one.
Absolutely, yes, fabulous! I couldn't help thinking the Carlton has a distant resemblance to my Made in England Raleigh Grand Prix that I bought for $120 from a "Sharing Wheels" shop over here in the US. They had done the work needed to get it ship shape but I do treat it with loving care and attention. I agree entirely that just because such bikes are not "flagship" does not detract from the beauty and charm that is all their own. Well done, Andy!
Many thanks Roy, for the going support and watching! Great to hear all the stories of personal Bikes and tales. Nice to know I’m not a lone 👍all the very best Andy
I rode an earlier Carlson Corsa years ago and loved it. I rebuilt it from the wreck it was when I got it. It wasn't as light as my two hand built racing bikes but it was a great 'day bike' - the one I rode to work and on training runs. I am at the moment rebuilding two Carltons, a Grand Prix and another Corsa.
Thanks for watching and the support, love hearing about personal experiences. Great to hear about your own Calton bikes and your projects. Thanks for sharing all the best Andy
When I was a kid the first bike I built was with a Carlton 531 frame. A bike shop in Dublin was selling them new for 50 old Irish pounds, (same value as British pounds). Bought all the parts too, think it added up to nearly 150. Those little Reynolds badges are an eye-catcher, I still get excited when I see one. Crazy.
😂 So true about the green flash, yes John it is crazy and funny at the same time. Love hearing peoples past memories regarding bicycle 🚲 especially how the bikes were bought at frame only. Thanks again for watching and sharing your story 👍
I absolutely love the story of how you obtained this bike. Bringing these bikes back to life is truly a great form of recycling. Thanks for the entertaining video. Great as always!
Great to see you're back. What a great restoration! I love what you said "it's about preserving the bike" , it makes me happy knowing there's people like you saving bikes like this
II just discovered your channel, and I love the work you. I am a road Biker, and I can see a bike as a work of art that you can ride. Keep up the good work.
Great Job Andy, You are so right its not only the high end bikes that give you satisfaction. in fact most of my bike are not high end ones. Love your passion!
Again, lovely work. I too, hate it, when I see a nice build , heading off to the scrap yard. What's important, is that you provide some history, to the bikes you refurbish , especially small brands . KB
Great job, Andy, and I see the same thing--bikes in a pile of scrap in the back of a pick-up truck, all on their way to the place where they pay a few bucks cash for the steel or aluminum or whatever. And it is great to see you back at your restoration station!
It’s great to be back and the support of you guys 👍 I’ve got some great projects to share with you all. It’s scary the bikes that are being lost to scrap. People not knowing their worth. Thanks again and all the best Andy
Thanks Richard, it’s a real shame I feel and I cannot imagine some of the treasured rides that have been cleared out by unknowing people doing house clearances. It should be made Criminal 👍
Great job, I love the rescue and rebuilds and the preservation of these old bikes. I like the way you add in a bit of history too that’s always nice to hear. Keep up the great videos. Cheers from Australia.
That's a peach of a bike Andy. Having had a brand new Carlton in 1980, and a second hand one before that I think this bike is a bit older than you think. Late 1970's I would say.
Your passion is showing through, it's awesome you were able to give this bike a second life ☺️ can't wait to get my hands on another one too, I had to sell one when I moved, I feel like it's in good hands
Hi and thanks for the support, it’s sounds like you have the same bug 🐞🚲🚲🚲🚲 good on you fella. It’s a win win you’ve had the pleasure of doing one up then knowing it’s gone to a good home and giving someone else pleasure. It’s a good thing, and allows you now to plan the next. All the very best to you fella 👍😉🚲
Andy, i´m watching you from Argentina, i have already watched all of your restorarion videos. I cant believe how people just throw away functional bikes to the garbage in countries like yours. I really enjoy your videos, nice work as always.
really outstanding it's exactly what I wanted to replace when I saw the bike ~ that stronglight crankset has to be one of the ugliest ones EVER made and the golden arrow is spectacular, please keep up the fantastic work making these old Carlton bikes (my favorite marquee) shine!
Another superb restoration. I have got an old peugeot bike for my first restoration project; the chrome chainstay strip is a suberp idea as my bike has got a lot of paint damage in that area. Thanks for sharing and the inspiration.
Great find mate. A work mate found me a ladies mid 1930s sunbeam in a skip last year. The only thing missing was a front mudguard. It makes me cringe when I think of all the bikes that come to an end like that. Well saved sir.
Many thanks 👍 yes it’s unbelievable it’s a shame because the people collecting the metal just had not got a clue of these Bikes 🚲 worth. Thanks for sharing and tuning in all the best Andy 😉
Love the golden arrow set. Got a full Shimano 105 golden arrow set on my 1984 Raleigh Corsa. Though it's not as lovely and shiny as yours, it did look about the same as the ones you bought so I imagine it would clean up beautifully if I was so inclined.
My first road bike and restoration was the Corsa check out the video it’s on of the very early ones. It’s one bike I will not part with. I’d say the gold arrow gear is the best for polishing, very rewarding.watch the Raleigh Corsa Video it’s in three parts, the final one is the ride thanks again Andy
I have a 1980s Carlton Cyclone that is in running condition but would like to restore. Knocks, scratches and rusty chrome. All original except saddle. Only 5 gears as originally sold, as I know its history. I would like to upgrade to 10 gears with period parts. Useful post and helpful. Looking to build knowledge and confidence before I attempt.
Great find and great restore ... these bikes are quality rides. Better quality than today's bikes . I think that raleigh used the carlton, factory in worksop to build their top end raleigh professional bikes so their frame builders certainly knew their stuff.
Thanks John, steel does feel more real that’s for sure. I love all the history behind these brands of bicycles 🚲 interesting stuff. Thanks for the input and support all the best fella 👍😉
Nice job Andy. You need to do more restore videos. Only criticism i have is that rear brake cable housing looks longggg id chop a couple more inches off the end so it isnt looped up like it is. But thats just me, bike looks great! And an awesome story to go with it, another steel bike saved. Good man!
Hi, I’m sure it must be either widows or house clearances when people have passed. It’s a real shame though and also a great opportunity to save one 😉 thanks for watching all the best Andy
I had a very similar looking Carlton when I was a kid but I think mine might have been pre-Raleigh buyout. Exact same colour and decals but didn't have Reynolds badges and chrome forks. Really cool badge on head tube, that was the same and the angular banding on the seat tube. Mine also had a nice kind of wrap around welding of the seat stays at the top.
Thanks Simon for tuning in and sharing. I hope it’s brought back some fond memories I love hearing about them. The welded wrap sounds like an older model. 👍
such a nice job! Makes you wonder how many of these have been/are being scrapped. Would be great to see how you clean and service the wheels/hubs one day please :)
Yes it really is scary how many classic road bikes are being lost, such a shame. Wheels yes I’ll note it down I have a few videos already in the pipe line and will be producing them a bit more frequently 😉thanks again Andy
Hey Andy, it's good to see a new video ☺👍loved the piece of history in the bike, looks great the frame cleaned up real nice, another great restoration and video, what no kit for to ride this one? Lol , I see you are back to the original set for your videos ☺, great to see you in action again
Hi pal, hope life’s treating you well 😉 thanks as always for the support I’ve got a few cracking projects on the go at the moment. It’s good to be back doing what I enjoy the dressing up I keep to those extra special bike projects 👍 take care, all the best Andy
Hello Chris I recently did an update video showing a home extension the Wife has some how convinced me to do. So nearly their now with that so I can refocus on the Bikes again 👍
Nice quick video on restoration.You didn't mention the wheels which in most cases need working on but I guess wheels are a separate job all of their own.
Hi and thanks for watching the wheels normally just get a rub down with metal polish as long as they are running true. Same with the spokes or may even use a fine sand paper if they are I a bad state. Really I should dedicate a video to cleaning 🧼 wheels 🤔thanks again and all the best Andy
@@BikeItUK Your bike restore was in good condition so an easy one to do.Not often one will find a bike in such good condition.I am restoring a Carlton I got off the local market. Lots to do from paint stripping to repairing wheels to getting BBracket out and regreasing.
Hi :-) May I ask which was the cheapest build you ever featured? Of course I also appreciate your perfect, original, high end builds, but sometimes you need a cheap fix. Would you make a dirt cheap bike for once? Kind of sweep up the garage floor for parts and make it work brilliant still? Just based on a vintage lugged race bicycle frame. (I built my Atala, and I just wonder what you would come up with.)
That was Amazing, I found one where I live and interested on rebuilding it as well but my Experience is almost Nil! I'm sure this bike has being sitting outside in our Winter weather for awhile now and unsure how rusted the BB is going to be. The Crankset is still on but wondering if you have any thoughts.
Regarding the bike in question, my experience if the bike is in such a state then you have nothing to loose. I have done a video on removing square taper bottom bracket and cranksets that may help you out. If you are new to this then take photographs of parts before removing the parts. I hope this helps good luck 😉🚲
Nice job, I have a 1984 Raleigh rapide hanging on the wall of my garage, capagnolo gears, wienmann brakes Reynolds 531tubing and the original wheels. This bike was originally my brothers and I would love to see it resurrected but I don't have the money to do it. Anyone looking for a resto it's for sale.
whats the price of the bike.. I am searching for something to make it like it is new.. I have already a raleigh but I make a mistake with the size (it is very big for me)
Blue Magic metal polish can bring aluminum parts back to mirror-brightness without the use of rouge and polishing wheels. I use it on calipers with amazing results.
Back in the 70s before indexing, "groupsets" really didn't matter ... manufacturers and consumers mixed and matched shift levers, derailleurs, cranks, brakes, brake levers to whatever was best or best for the budget. Precise indexing systems spelled the death of many smaller manufacturers. Go to flickr (zbillster) and check out my albums with old Bikecology and Palo Alto catalogs from the late 70s and early 80s! These are scans of my personal catalogs I got in the mail as a teenager. :)
Great restoration but you have about 2" of extra cable for the rear brake and for the rear derailleur vintage derailleurs don't need such a large loop of cable as modern ones.
Im going to be restoring a Raleigh Super Course. When using a polish should you avoid going over the decals, and have you ever used a clay bar to lift the grit and grime prior to polishing? Thanks and cheers.
Hi and firstly thanks for watching! Regarding polishing and your question yes avoid decals, and no Other haven’t used a clay bar sounds interesting 🤔 all the very best Andy
I agree that these bikes should be saved. Can you comment on why Raleigh continued to put "Carlton" decals on the seat tube of bikes like, say, the 1978 Super Course? Were former Carlton facilities employed?
As far as I am aware, Raleigh produced bikes in the Carlton name knowing Carlton had a huge following and my guess is that they wanted to retain that loyal customer following.
Hi buddy have a look at the Colnago Master build I’ve done 😉1980’s frame Delta brake callipers with Potenza 11 speed 👍 it’s one build I frequently ride and love
Oh my giddy aunt! That Colnago's a *real* beauty! What is it the kids say these days - well jell ?! Definitely a best-of-both! For anyone reading this who's interested, it's here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zaGq-S42gQg.html
Hey Andy love your videos! It inspired me to get back on the bike so to speak. I picked up a Carlton Kermesse on eBay and have been restoring it over the past couple of weeks. I have one question!? do you recall the seat post diameter by any chance? Keep it up man! great stuff
