Possibly the best touring bike in the World

[doug]

Not my Thorn but a bike that served me well from being a teenager to the early 1980s when I left it in Nairobi. 

[Matt2matt2002]

Is it a Carling model?

[triaesthete]

Probably not.

[Danneaux]

Aw! What a terrific photo, Doug!

Some of my past touring bikes live on in my memory as among the best, also.

Dan.

[jags]

go on spill the beans what is it.

jags

[Andre Jute]

go on spill the beans what is it.

jags

Thanks, Anto, you're a great man. I wasn't going to expose my ignorance by being first to ask. I was going to say it was a... and then I saw that long head tube and decided to wait until somebody with more knowledge, or a bunch of historical catalogues, identified it.

[Danneaux]

Wrapover seatstay caps look (now) vintage Carlton to me. I'm guessing a Corsa, circa 1970 or so.

Perhaps similar to this one: http://glorydays.org.uk/shop/carlton/carlton-corsa/

As my backup guess (edging to the front in this guessing horse race), the 1967 Raleigh Rapide used the same treatment: http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/878973-lets-see-your-seat-clusters-4.html Doug's drivetrain is more recent than that, so it may have been a drivetrain update on the original frame. Just added this tertiary guess: There was also one version of the Raleigh Grand Prix that employed the same treatment, but the head lugs don't match: http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/ricardo-os-raleigh-grand-prix-and-an-old-frejus/#.VGV_eD0kq-0 ...and... http://www.sailnut.com/raleigh-grand-prix

We'll see as soon as Doug relieves our curiosity.

Best,

Dan. (...who is pulling out all his detective skills on this one)

[doug]

Seems like I've raised some curiosity and thank you for your interest!  I realise I should be typing with a deep American voice announcing it is indeed "probably the best touring bike in the World".

The bike, however, is nothing exotic I'm afraid and is of crude gas pipe vintage but nevertheless it fulfilled the purpose. Danneaux is getting pretty warm with the Carlton suggestion and I loved seeing the link. I guess the Carlton was a little more upmarket with those half chromed forks and pump pegs.   In fact I acquired it in the mid 1970s, second hand from a school friend and was a typical kind of "racer" all teenage lads aspired to. 

The bike itself was a BSA frame (a.k.a. "Bloody Sore Arse"). I guess it might have come from the then Raleigh stable, arguably a kind of cycling version of British Leyland?

I have gone into more detail about it here http://tinyurl.com/nw2arza as I remember it well and this post preserves it for me. 

The important thing for me is that I got my money's worth from it; I had some fantastic tours on it even though it was woefully inadequate by today's standards.  The bike's shortcomings were simply compensated by a generous case of wanderlust and a sense of adventure.

[Tiberius]

The bike's shortcomings were simply compensated by a generous case of wanderlust and a sense of adventure.

[/b]

......glad you got THAT sussed as a youngster......No one NEEDS  a £3K pushbike ........

[AndyE]

Dan, Just the word Carlton has made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!!  Had a 5 speed Carlton Continental in the metallic green with half chromed forks and foil transfers for Christmas in 1975, that old bike served me well up to me leaving home to join the Army in my early 20's. A popular cycle in my youth locally as the Carlton factory is or was in Worksop, just over 15 miles from where I live now.  

Doug I like to think, having been in Nairobi back in 1983 that your old bike would have been put to good use and possibly still in service today.

Andy

[freddered]

I had a Carlton Corsa when I was...hmmm..14 or 15.  That would be 1976/77.  My first proper 10-speed (and kids, that's 10 speed in total, not just the cassette).

[IanW]

I bought a Carlton Corsair when I was 14 in 1978.

Metallic brown with chrome ends to the forks,
Reynolds 531c butted main tubes,
27" x 1 1/4 wheels
2 x 5 gears (52/42 front x 13/34 rear freewheel)
Dropped bars with "extension" (a.k.a. "suicide") levers,
Suntour Power down-tube levers (ratched one way friction the other way),
Chromed steel rear rack,
Brown suede-covered saddle,
Weinmann centre-pull brakes.

It was described as a "fast tourer".

I used this bike 'til 1985, when it was "loaned" to my younger brother for him to use at university.

I got it back in 1989, minus rack and minus saddle.
(Retreiving it cost me a reconditioned Raleigh Record, similar spec in black.)

At this point it got converted to cantilever brakes on 700c wheels.
I did not bother to replace the rack and used a rucksack instead.
Saddle replaced with a Selle Italia Turbo Special.

In approximately 2009 I added a Thorn 531 expedition rack for use commuting.

I then continued to use it for commuting until 2012 when it was beginning to cost too much in NOS parts to keep going.

It was a lovely bike but I traded-up to a Raven Sport Tour
which I hope will [out]last me for another 34 years.