A bit of inspiration for all you bargain hunters out there:  this is Ed H‘s $5 Raleigh Gran Sport.  Sure she’s a bit rough, but with a seat post that has most assuredly never seen the light of day, can you really turn your nose up to one such as this?  Just think how new and shiny looking it has to be in there!

I got another one for you. I spent a week up in Hayward Wisconsin and picked up this Raleigh Gran Sport for $5 at a thrift store! It was ridden hard and put away wet lots of grime, the forks were bent, seat ripped up, tires are rotten and the tape was torn and the list goes one. My kids took one look and said it looks like a bear attacked it! I am in the process of cleaning it up a lot lighter than my Schwinn, it is a nice change for just pocket change! I can not figure out the year from the serial number although it appears to be early ’80s as it is made in Japan.

Thanks again Ed