Well done Andy! I hope you find this Aventura both an interesting restoration project and an interesting ride.
The brake levers look like they are probably the originals; although they do look ugly and cheap, suitable levers (ie not bendy or too long) were not thick on the ground back then and these were one of the few designs available.
Likewise, handlebar stems were variable in price, but there was little difference in quality. The stem/clamp on this bike is not original, but it's not far off the original so, in terms of authenticity, it would be reasonable to leave it in place, since the original was no work of art. I don't think the very slightly longer extension will radically affect steering, as Graham suggests.
I originally fitted a very very cheap saddle with the idea that customers would fit their own choice of more expensive saddle; the ideal recommendation being a Brooks Conquest. In that sense, the saddle is appropriate.
The front gear cable arrangement is as it should be. On prototypes I used a full-length cable, which ran under the bottom bracket shell. However, this soon filled with water and the inner wire rusted. There were no top-run front mechs available back then, nor PTFE liners. I experimented with a little lever device to allow top-run. Considering that there were only two chainrings, and front-end shifts quite rare, running a bare wire under the shell, which has a thick polyester powder coating was, for the period, a good solution. Leave it as is, with the occasional addition of a little dab of thick grease.
If you PM me with your address, I'll send you an original set of decals and some sheets of mudguard extension material.
I also have one final pair of the original Oakley3 handlebar grips for a donation to my new prototype fund, if you're interested?
The brake levers look like they are probably the originals; although they do look ugly and cheap, suitable levers (ie not bendy or too long) were not thick on the ground back then and these were one of the few designs available.
Likewise, handlebar stems were variable in price, but there was little difference in quality. The stem/clamp on this bike is not original, but it's not far off the original so, in terms of authenticity, it would be reasonable to leave it in place, since the original was no work of art. I don't think the very slightly longer extension will radically affect steering, as Graham suggests.
I originally fitted a very very cheap saddle with the idea that customers would fit their own choice of more expensive saddle; the ideal recommendation being a Brooks Conquest. In that sense, the saddle is appropriate.
The front gear cable arrangement is as it should be. On prototypes I used a full-length cable, which ran under the bottom bracket shell. However, this soon filled with water and the inner wire rusted. There were no top-run front mechs available back then, nor PTFE liners. I experimented with a little lever device to allow top-run. Considering that there were only two chainrings, and front-end shifts quite rare, running a bare wire under the shell, which has a thick polyester powder coating was, for the period, a good solution. Leave it as is, with the occasional addition of a little dab of thick grease.
If you PM me with your address, I'll send you an original set of decals and some sheets of mudguard extension material.
I also have one final pair of the original Oakley3 handlebar grips for a donation to my new prototype fund, if you're interested?