andydude Posted May 6, 2011 Posted May 6, 2011 I thought I'll share the project I'm busy with. My brother used to race pretty well back in the day (90s), but his racing machine has been basically hanging in his garage since the middle 90s. I've taken it over now to try and get the thing up an running again for three reasons - fun, learning more about a bicycle and to practise on it! And yes I know the bike isn't on the couch and this and that, but at least I've posted photos So far I've removed and cleaned the front and rear brakes, front and rear derailleurs, chain and cassette. Everything still looks fine, except the chain which I'll have to replace. The front derailleur is a bit rusty on the "holding cage", but I think still fine. Next and last step is the cranks. I'm leaving the shifters and cables, because not to clued up on how to dismantle and reconfigure. PS. "Le Jeune" is translated from French to "The Young"... well according to Google in any case!
DaLoCo Posted May 6, 2011 Posted May 6, 2011 Looks like we are agitating the same beehive....I also got myself an old skool bike, still wondering whether to restore or pimp it to a hot single speed. Hope you have lot's of fun with this, keep posting the pics
javadude Posted May 6, 2011 Posted May 6, 2011 That rust will polish right out. For stubborn spots I use fine steel wool and then polish afterwords with Marine Shine. That Le Jeune is the South African made one by Francois Du Toit. You also got a French Le Jeune from the 70's. Francois might still have a decal kit for the bike. If you want some help with the gears just let me know, I've done several buids recently with downtube shifters.
Azonic Posted May 7, 2011 Posted May 7, 2011 Are those 8 speed downtube shifters? If you want to swop for a set of Tiagra 9 speed STI's, lemme know!
DaLoCo Posted May 7, 2011 Posted May 7, 2011 Andydude....once it is done and you take it for a ride, be prepared to be surprised I did not expect mine to be so comfortable. I have decided to go the restoration route after getting some advice. My hunt for an old track frame continues.
Squishy Thingy Posted May 8, 2011 Posted May 8, 2011 Andydude....once it is done and you take it for a ride, be prepared to be surprised I did not expect mine to be so comfortable. I have decided to go the restoration route after getting some advice. My hunt for an old track frame continues. I have such a frame for you. I am not sure on the brand but i know its a 1980's model. I will give it to you, I just have to go and fetch it from the inlaw's sometime. It will need some paint stripper, metal primer and some 2K (my brother in law attacked it with your run of the mill spray paint), but it is in a reasonably good state.
Squishy Thingy Posted May 8, 2011 Posted May 8, 2011 does anyone know how to panel beat a cannondale steel frame? i'm going to build up a MTB using tedibear's old giant boulder parts, and the frame has a dent and two dings I suppose i could ignore it but when i got the frame it was the first thing i noticed.
onetrackmind Posted May 8, 2011 Posted May 8, 2011 does anyone know how to panel beat a cannondale steel frame? i'm going to build up a MTB using tedibear's old giant boulder parts, and the frame has a dent and two dings I suppose i could ignore it but when i got the frame it was the first thing i noticed.You take the head of the person who sold it to you, and repeatedly use it as a hammer as you ask why they ripped you off with it? Cannondale has never made steel frames. Only Aluminium and/or carbon fibre.
andydude Posted May 9, 2011 Author Posted May 9, 2011 Stupid me! I told HeartCoppi now that I was busy cleaning the frame yesterday and used the rough part of that yellow/green kitchen spongue with one side soft and one side rough and it actually scratched the toptube! Oops. I can't get the cranks off and the cables are also a bit old so was thinking of having that checked and cables replaced at a bike shop as I don't have the tools.
andydude Posted May 9, 2011 Author Posted May 9, 2011 Are those 8 speed downtube shifters? If you want to swop for a set of Tiagra 9 speed STI's, lemme know! Hehe no swap, thanks. It is a 7-speed cassette so I assume it's 7-speed shifters?!
andydude Posted May 9, 2011 Author Posted May 9, 2011 I think you told me you like blue bikes... Except after my fall earlier this year on the new Giant the replacement was all white with only black writing!
andydude Posted May 9, 2011 Author Posted May 9, 2011 Andydude....once it is done and you take it for a ride, be prepared to be surprised I did not expect mine to be so comfortable. I have decided to go the restoration route after getting some advice. My hunt for an old track frame continues. As velo correctly mentioned I have the Francois du Toit made Le Jeune, but on that note I also have a 80s Francois du Toit track frame - would you be interested in that? I was also thinking of getting it track-ready for use by myself or anybody else that want to come and try track out. It would be a large. Otherwise, see what you can get from Squishy Thingy.
DaLoCo Posted May 9, 2011 Posted May 9, 2011 As velo correctly mentioned I have the Francois du Toit made Le Jeune, but on that note I also have a 80s Francois du Toit track frame - would you be interested in that? I was also thinking of getting it track-ready for use by myself or anybody else that want to come and try track out. It would be a large. Otherwise, see what you can get from Squishy Thingy. Thanks for the offer I have sent Squishy Thingy a pm, just to figure out the logistics, but will keep you up to date. I want to build a Sunday beachfront bike, so it will have a bit of flair, chrome and bling You should be able to use an abrasive compound to polish the scratch marks out (normally at the hardware store in a white tube, or beg some from a panelbeater), but be carefull as the paint is fairly thin. Otherwise get you can wetsand with 2000 grit sandpaper, but again, two or three strokes, then check it. It is time consuming to get rid of scratches properly. I would first try the compound with a drill buff, but watch for overheating the paint
andydude Posted May 20, 2011 Author Posted May 20, 2011 Quick update - been busy with this project between work, social, cycling and being sick, but so far so good. Big thanks to heartcoppi for helping me Bike looks super! Scratches came out on the tob tube and the whole bike just shines and shouts to be ridden. Yesterday evening I installed the front and rear derailer using instructions from Shimano and Sheldon Brown, and after some frustration, seemed to get the gears right where it goes through every gear and it doesn't jump or anything. Still not 100% sure how I did it, but got it right through the H and L screws, B screw and cable adjusters. Next up the brakes. Still using the old cables as a sort of test run. If happy then I'll put in new cables that heartcoppi so graciously gave me. The only thing missing is the seatpost and saddle - does anybody know where I can find the ones meant for this bike or maybe equivalent?
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