It pays to ride Retro!

Hi and apologies for not updating sooner. Been working hard on my MA for uni and, more importantly, my other project, a 2003 Principia Rex E which is on this link, if you're intrigued.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=295779

I've done a lot of polishing on Eddie's bike. The frame is a work in progress as the chrome on the Reynolds 531 tubing comes up a treat but it's had the the drop outs and chain stays painted, what looks like, a gold colour which I think is beyond saving, so I think it's going to have to be scrubbed/polished off which may take a bit of effort.

I've removed all the brake cables and serviced and polished up the Weinmann callipers. It's amazing what a dab of Autosol, some tin foil and a bit of elbow grease can do. Here are a couple of pictures of a before and after of the levers. I didn't think they were tarnished too badly until I started giving them a good old scrub.

Before: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u03q0sd3nmddi ... 163322.JPG

After: https://www.dropbox.com/s/orrpvvq3x754d ... 163623.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v7hhyjty1lpoa ... 163241.JPG

At some point I think Eddie has painted the handlebar stem but the paint has worn off over the years so I'm going to try and get that stripped back to it's original state - I may be tempted to get a match for the red colour, but it looks as if it was hand painted.

I've stripped the old handle bar tape so that's going to have some vintage replacement. To be fair, the only pieces that need a good polish are the crank arms - but the cotter pins and the pedals seem to be stuck solid. That's about the only bit of this entire bike that hasn't moved freely, which considering how long it's been in storage is nothing short of amazing.

I'll try and keep the is thread updated more often. Thanks for your interest.
 
goo dluck with the cottered crank! or maybe leave it in place and do what you can without having to man handle it too much to get it out :)

looking forward to seeing this restored, and would love to see Eddie with it again - this has the potential for a really heart warming story.
 
Just a brief update for you and some new pictures.

I've decided I'm going to have to strip and re-paint the gold paint from the drop outs and around the crank as it's just too bubbly. As is the red paint on the stem. I've pretty much stripped the forks and have started on the rear drop outs but it's so time consuming!

I've re-wrapped the bars now and I'm waiting for delivery of some vintage Campag frame clips for the rear brake and also clips for the rear derailleur too.

It hopefully won't be too long before I can get 'round to Eddie's and show the fella the finished article.

Anyway, here's the link to Dropbox and the latest picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3j31nn7rfk3b5 ... .59.05.png
 
I've been away from RB for a good long while and have just returned to this thread today. How are you, the bike, and Eddie getting along?

HW
 
That looks like a Carlton Flyer that has had the rear track dropouts replaced with conventional Campagnolo dropouts.

That would explain both the gold paint (to hide the brazing) and the track forks.

Very nice.
 
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