Retro Bicycle Thread

[Loose cog]

P.s. I have to mow the lawn before going to pick up the frame. I made liver & onions with scrambled eggs for the missus for breakfast this morning, probably only the second time I have made breakfast this year. Must get wifey credits or I am a dead man.

 

Spend a good couple of hours over the past few days with steel wool and Brasso restoring the wheels. Boy is it hard getting the glue off the rims after years of being caked on. Neither thinners or aceytone worked, they just softened the gunk.

 

Not withstanding EPS, carbon fibre, etc. I believe the greatest technology invented since the bicycle's development must be stainless steel spokes. I decided to sand the metal spokes to get the rust removed and boy what a job! It was toss up as to whether I rebuilt the wheels but that is such a job if you don't have a truing stand.

[HeyYou]

P.s. I have to mow the lawn before going to pick up the frame. I made liver & onions with scrambled eggs for the missus for breakfast this morning, probably only the second time I have made breakfast this year. Must get wifey credits or I am a dead man.

 

Spend a good couple of hours over the past few days with steel wool and Brasso restoring the wheels. Boy is it hard getting the glue off the rims after years of being caked on. Neither thinners or aceytone worked, they just softened the gunk.

 

Not withstanding EPS, carbon fibre, etc. I believe the greatest technology invented since the bicycle's development must be stainless steel spokes. I decided to sand the metal spokes to get the rust removed and boy what a job! It was toss up as to whether I rebuilt the wheels but that is such a job if you don't have a truing stand.

 

Not sure about that!!!

 

Went for a ride on my MTB yesterday. Had to travel about 6km on a gravel road to get to my main ride area. It's more or less a long 3km downhill, then a an even longer 3km uphill, starting off steeply, but easing out towards the top, last 1km.

 

Anyway, on the downhill I pass this older gentleman (probably same age as me, though I don't see myself that way), smoking his pipe and more or less freewheeling down the gravel hill on this 1960s ish looking bike, with carrier etc.

 

I reach the bottom, start peddling furiously to get up the steepest section. After about 2 or 3 minutes, I'm gasping and this bike comes past me, silently, with the dude still peddling occasionally.

 

I'm perplexed for a second or 2, then I realise it's an old electric bike, as the guy disappears up the hill puffing away at his pipe!!!

 

strue story

[Loose cog]

Not sure about that!!!

 

Went for a ride on my MTB yesterday. Had to travel about 6km on a gravel road to get to my main ride area. It's more or less a long 3km downhill, then a an even longer 3km uphill, starting off steeply, but easing out towards the top, last 1km.

 

Anyway, on the downhill I pass this older gentleman (probably same age as me, though I don't see myself that way), smoking his pipe and more or less freewheeling down the gravel hill on this 1960s ish looking bike, with carrier etc.

 

I reach the bottom, start peddling furiously to get up the steepest section. After about 2 or 3 minutes, I'm gasping and this bike comes past me, silently, with the dude still peddling occasionally.

 

I'm perplexed for a second or 2, then I realise it's an old electric bike, as the guy disappears up the hill puffing away at his pipe!!!

 

strue story

Living in London and commuting along Boris' (as in Boris Johnson, major of London) cycle highway paths i often used to get overtaken by an electric. Quite popular especially with the ladies. Must say I miss the commute in the cold in Dec before the snow, had some very hot rides lately.

 

Anyway, see what I have been up to this afternoon (if i manage to post photos).

[Fixer]

The hanger's mine, but not the helicopter.

I would be interested in the Shamals if Chro Mo takes the frame...

[Fixer]

 

I would be interested in the Shamals if Chro Mo takes the frame...

I mean if Loose Cog takes the frame

[HeyYou]

I mean if Loose Cog takes the frame

 

Not decided yet what to do with her.

 

She's really a beautiful bike, so may just keep looking at her for a few weeks and then decide.

 

Once I've decided I'll let you all know

[Chro Mo]

I mean if Loose Cog takes the frame

I'm way too fat too ride such a beautiful frame.

 

I'll stick to my newly bought Olmo, I think.

[Cippo]

Mind you, I need to stop buying bikes, period!

 

6 in the last 6 weeks. Used to be a hobby, then a passion, now I think a COMPULSION!!!

 

It's ok, I think you are normal.

[Loose cog]

Anyway, see what I was up to on Saturday:

 

Recall the DHC track frame with Zeus dropouts I acquired a few weeks ago?

 

I had the frame resprayed and assembled a few bits and pieces collected over time.

 

Picked up some Faimme double eyelet rims on Suntour Superbe hubs. Boy did I have a battle cleaning off the old glue and getting the steel spokes sanded!

 

Campy Pista 165cm crank with 51T blade and no name 15T sprocket. Refurbished Campy Gran Sport pedals with NOS Lapize toeclips.

 

Campy 26.2m seat post (still with "patent"stamp) holding the borrowed Rolls saddle off my Colnago (still to find a period saddle).

 

Steel Cinelli stem and track bars. These were painted yellow when I acquired them for a swap for a American Classic rear wheel! They weigh a ton but should keep the front end down in the sprint (hahahaha)

 

Managed to find some old handlebar ribbon which looks nice. Now looking to buy some shellac to complete the look. Any Hubbers know where one can get shellac from?

 

Bought new KMC chain but it's too short and going to shops later this afternoon for another try.

 

Acquired some expensive Richley racing slick tubbies (manufactured by Vittoria) to round off the rebuild.

 

Now to reattach the DHC badge and take the bike for a spin around Hector Norris park.

[Loose cog]

I'm way too fat too ride such a beautiful frame.

 

I'll stick to my newly bought Olmo, I think.

 

Please download some pics of the Olmo!

[Chro Mo]

Nice job.

 

Very cool result!

[Chro Mo]

Please download some pics of the Olmo!

Respraying in mid January.

Frame is a bit rough at the moment.

Have sourced parts I wanted to make this a daily rider.

 

[Loose cog]

Respraying in mid January.

Frame is a bit rough at the moment.

Have sourced parts I wanted to make this a daily rider.

 

Very, very nice. Love the "squared"BB lug.

[HeyYou]

Anyway, see what I was up to on Saturday:

 

Recall the DHC track frame with Zeus dropouts I acquired a few weeks ago?

 

I had the frame resprayed and assembled a few bits and pieces collected over time.

 

Picked up some Faimme double eyelet rims on Suntour Superbe hubs. Boy did I have a battle cleaning off the old glue and getting the steel spokes sanded!

 

Campy Pista 165cm crank with 51T blade and no name 15T sprocket. Refurbished Campy Gran Sport pedals with NOS Lapize toeclips.

 

Campy 26.2m seat post (still with "patent"stamp) holding the borrowed Rolls saddle off my Colnago (still to find a period saddle).

 

Steel Cinelli stem and track bars. These were painted yellow when I acquired them for a swap for a American Classic rear wheel! They weigh a ton but should keep the front end down in the sprint (hahahaha)

 

Managed to find some old handlebar ribbon which looks nice. Now looking to buy some shellac to complete the look. Any Hubbers know where one can get shellac from?

 

Bought new KMC chain but it's too short and going to shops later this afternoon for another try.

 

Acquired some expensive Richley racing slick tubbies (manufactured by Vittoria) to round off the rebuild.

 

Now to reattach the DHC badge and take the bike for a spin around Hector Norris park.

 

A true labour of love LC.

 

She's beautiful, what size sprocket are you using? Anything smaller than a 25 would be too much for me!

 

 

But an excellent job, I hope she takes you many miles.

Edited December 23, 2013 by heyyou

[HeyYou]

Respraying in mid January.

Frame is a bit rough at the moment.

Have sourced parts I wanted to make this a daily rider.

 

 

Man that's one lovely OLMO!

 

I must say I'd be tempted to restore rather than respray, but I'm not the man on the ground, so difficult to make any call.

 

Reading up on Olmo it seems their frames ranged from the sublime, of which yours CrMo seems to be one, to the bloody rubbish. I bought a Competition Olmo from LC a few months back, a nice frame, but nowhere as nice as yours.

[Chro Mo]

Yup.

 

Web-wide that seems to be the consensus.

 

The grey panel in the middle bothers me.

 

Was thinking the same blue with a cream panel to hold the decals, which I have also ordered and will be receiving in a day or so.

 

This bike has - more than any project I have undertaken - had me thinking backwards and forwards as to what to do. I'm still vacillating.

 

Period restorations are just not my thing...I want to ride it as much as possible. It must be beautiful and functional in a real sense.

 

I'll probably change my mind again, though.

 

The fork will definitely be re-chromed - this much if a certainty.

 

I'm always up for any suggestions, so feel free to dispense advice.