1978 Raleigh SBDU Time Trial Special

serial no. SB 2208

Purchased on eBay on 11 December 2010 for $199 as a frameset. Back on the road 3 April 2011

Original condition evidencing little use but with a crease dent to the non-driveside top tube. This was kitted out with "drillium" style components which were all the rage at this time especially for time trial machines and, together with the very light metric gauge Reynolds 753 frame tubing, give a built-up weight of just 16.4 lbs.

An early example of the production SBDU Time Trial Special frameset, this is distinguished by:
lack of bottle cage boss drillings
non-threaded seat binder bolt ears
non-standard decals with only Heron's Crest decals on head and seat tube with no other decals evident (or removed) including the SBDU chainstay stickers and believed to have been delivered as such
lug lining and seat stay cap decoration

from a SBDU brochure c. 1977:

"753 Time Trials Special"
Designed specifically for R.T.T.C type time trials, these frames are built from the lightest standard gauge of 753, and feature vertical dropouts with close clearance as standard. Brazing range from a gear stop on the chainstay to the full team set, being optional at the basic price. We prefer to build these to customer specification, and as the 753 Team Road, we are always happy to discuss individual requirements. The frame comes fitted with a Campagnolo Super Record headset. Front and rear Campagnolo short brake pivot bolts with recessed Alan nuts can be supplied fitted as an optional extra.

Colours are Hot Red, Silver, Gold, Ice Green or Navy Blue. All TTs framesets take a 27 mm seat pillar"

In 1979, a Time Trial Special frameset sold for £188.65

Frame/Fork
Material: Reynolds 753T double butted metric gauge, code 801, 0.3mm wall
Braze ons: gear cable stop on chainstay, single cable guide on driveside bb top shell
Drop outs: Campagnolo vertical TT rear and Campagnolo front, both drilled
Bottom bracket: RGF
Finish: Ice Green (original) with gold lug lining and seat cap decoration.
Size: seat tube 58.4 cm (c to c), 60.5 cm (c to t) top tube 57.5 cm (c to c)
Chain stay length: 40 cm (centre of spindle axle to centre of dropout)
Angles: 75 head and 72.5 seat
Fork rake: 1.45"
Wheelbase: 98 cm/38.5"
Bottom bracket height: 11”
Rear spacing: 125 mm
Lugs: Haden Sovereign with cut-outs and Vagner fork crown
BB stampings: SB2208 60.5
Weight:
bare frame/fork/headset: 4.8 lbs.
built up: 16.4 lbs.

Components
Rims: Super Champion Medaille d'Or 28-hole rims (700c x 20mm, 265g)
Hubs: 28-hole Campagnolo Super Record low-flange hubs, double-butted 15/17/15g. Sapim stainless spokes with alloy nipples radial-laced front and 3x rear and Campagnolo Record skewers.
Tyres: Tufo Jet Pro 19mm sew ups.
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Super Record with titanium spindle
Chainset: TA Criterium 180.0 with 56t TA custom drilled chainring
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record Pista with titanium spindles, ALE alloy toeclips.
Derailleur: Campagnolo 1st Gen. Super Record pat. 77 with custom drilled pulley cages
Derailleur lever: single Campagnolo custom drilled
Freewheel: Maillard 700 dural Course five-speed 13-14-15-16-17t
Chain: Regina Extra SL Superleggera with hollow pins
Brakes: Weinmann 500 with drilled calipers, levers and housings.CLB alloy housing cables
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record (original)
Stem & handlebars: 3ttt 125mm stem with 3ttt Gimondi Superleggera 40cm 'bars, Benotto silver celotape up to brake levers only and Benotto plugs.
Saddle: Concor Superleggera, alloy undercarriage
Seat pin: Sakae Rinkyo Royal P1 Extra Super with titanium bolts 210 g.