grumpycommuter
Senior Retro Guru
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In December 2010 i bought this frame and forks from 'frinkmakesyouthinnk' for the princely sum of £80 - http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... aud+butler - with the intention of building a bike to improve my maintenance skills.
From the outset there would be two major considerations, Money and Time. Firstly money of which there wasnt any and two small children ensured that it was always in short supply. I would have to buy the best bits i could afford as i didnt have any other bits to speak of. As for time i wanted it on the road for spring 2011 which meant a full and painstaking restoration wasnt going to happen, i just wanted it on the road to enjoy.
After years of very dull miles i discovered single-speeding in Jan 2010 and was completely besotted. Towards the end of the year i began to fancy getting a fixed wheel bike together and the Claud Butler seemed perfect. I fell in love with the metal look and decided to run with that and see what happened.
The saving began in December and then all the money went on Xmas pressies...Bugger. Of we go again. March arrived and i finally had all the bits from here (thankyou wired99), ebay, friends and t'internet. I stripped all the laquer from the frame and then sanded, polished and a friend of a friend clearcoated and stoved it.
The build day was a doddle, i use the word build lightly as even i put it together in a couple of hours. Spencer13 was on hand to supervise, pass beer and make sure i didnt get too excited and forget to tighten stuff up.
I scared myself silly going home (all very downhill) but anyway here she is......
Ps more pics in next post....
From the outset there would be two major considerations, Money and Time. Firstly money of which there wasnt any and two small children ensured that it was always in short supply. I would have to buy the best bits i could afford as i didnt have any other bits to speak of. As for time i wanted it on the road for spring 2011 which meant a full and painstaking restoration wasnt going to happen, i just wanted it on the road to enjoy.
After years of very dull miles i discovered single-speeding in Jan 2010 and was completely besotted. Towards the end of the year i began to fancy getting a fixed wheel bike together and the Claud Butler seemed perfect. I fell in love with the metal look and decided to run with that and see what happened.
The saving began in December and then all the money went on Xmas pressies...Bugger. Of we go again. March arrived and i finally had all the bits from here (thankyou wired99), ebay, friends and t'internet. I stripped all the laquer from the frame and then sanded, polished and a friend of a friend clearcoated and stoved it.
The build day was a doddle, i use the word build lightly as even i put it together in a couple of hours. Spencer13 was on hand to supervise, pass beer and make sure i didnt get too excited and forget to tighten stuff up.
I scared myself silly going home (all very downhill) but anyway here she is......
Ps more pics in next post....