This is my 1975 Raysport.

The frame was recently purchased NOS from Bicycle Classics. The frame is a Cinelli Super Corsa copy with tightened geometry and vertical dropouts. They were commissioned as a house brand for A-1 Bicycle Sales & Service in Kirkwood, Missouri owned by the late Raymond J. "Ray" Florman. An internet search will bring information on the amazing career of this great man.

The frame was hand built in Mexico by Ian Alsop (a British cycling champion, former Olympian (1968 Mexico) and last I heard still competing successfully in Masters mountain bike.). Tubes are custom drawn Reynolds 531, lugs are Prugnat Type "S", fork crown is an internally lugged fully sloping Cinelli, dropouts are Campagnolo. The only braze-ons are a set of downtube bottle mounts and a cable stop on the chainstay.

The build started out as period piece, but became a little eclectic instead. The frame has been respaced to 130mm, from what I've read I think Ray would understand. The saddle is a Brooks Team Pro on a Kalloy 27.2 post, Handlebars are Sakae "Road Champion" on a "Made in England" stem, brakes are Shimano "600" side pulls, levers are Dia-Compe Weinmann copies, shifters Suntour "Power", Cables are retained and directed by Campagnolo hardware, bottle cage generic aluminum, Front Derailleur Suntour "ARX", Rear Shimano "105" with pulleys swapped, Crank Sugino "GT" with 52 and 36 tooth rings on Shimano UN53 BB, Cassette is a Ultegra 12-23 9speed, Wheels are Mavic CXP-22 on Shimano 2200 hubs (A Nashbar bargain originally intended for another bike), Tires are Continental Ultrasport 700x23c.

The whole thing without waterbottle or bag, tips the "not for trade" fish scale at 21lbs 9oz, not bad for no "weight weenie" parts. Maximum tire size would probably be 28mm. As one would guess with the short wheelbase there is already considerable toeclip overlap, and a rear fender would be difficult to mount even with Adel clamps or zipties but given the nature of the bike these can't really be seen as faults. The bike rides very well and seems to cope with bumps better than my other bike with a 38" wheelbase. So far with about 200km over the weekend on it seems well suited for fast country rides which was my intent.

- Marcus

marcoles@ody.ca

Note: Marcus was kind enough to forward more info on Raysport Bicycles which can be viewed here.