Carrera B52 - Fixing a Broken Heart

[Lucidone]

My first build thread isn't going to be the one I ever envisioned. I'm building a bike I don't want or even really like that much, however, it's a bike build that I hope will make someone else smile and rekindle some good memories for them. It might even get ridden!

I've kept a (very lazy) eye out for one of these for quite a few years and when @sparkybhp bought one for it's groupset ( Thread 'Any love for the old Carrera’s here?'
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/any-love-for-the-old-carrera’s-here.494426/ ) an ask was made and he was good enough to do me both a great deal and put the effort in to safely package and send me the frame, forks, seatpost plus (with second sight premonition) the front mech.

So, without further delay here's the frame and forks after a quick wet wipe and the removal of about 1/2 Kg of aluminium oxide and crud from the bottom bracket.


All quite tidy bar a few scuffs and some decal wear. If anyone one wants the serial number for the B52 register please let me know!

It's not going to be a posh build, just something durable and rideable and hopefully not too pig ugly. Apart from cables the aim is to source everything from my parts stash. The one component I would have been short of, a bottom pull front mech, was taken care of by sparkybhp's telepathy.

Here's a first gathering of parts.


I have shifters and BB's, just need to sort out which ones to use.

To the bike stand.....

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

My first build thread isn't going to be the one I ever envisioned. I'm building a bike I don't want or even really like that much, however, it's a bike build that I hope will make someone else smile and rekindle some good memories for them. It might even get ridden!

I've kept a (very lazy) eye out for one of these for quite a few years and when @sparkybhp bought one for it's groupset ( Thread 'Any love for the old Carrera’s here?'
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/any-love-for-the-old-carrera’s-here.494426/ ) an ask was made and he was good enough to do me both a great deal and put the effort in to safely package and send me the frame, forks, seatpost plus (with second sight premonition) the front mech.

So, without further delay here's the frame and forks after a quick wet wipe and the removal of about 1/2 Kg of aluminium oxide and crud from the bottom bracket.
View attachment 969049

All quite tidy bar a few scuffs and some decal wear. If anyone one wants the serial number for the B52 register please let me know!

It's not going to be a posh build, just something durable and rideable and hopefully not too pig ugly. Apart from cables the aim is to source everything from my parts stash. The one component I would have been short of, a bottom pull front mech, was taken care of by sparkybhp's telepathy.

Here's a first gathering of parts.
View attachment 969050

I have shifters and BB's, just need to sort out which ones to use.

To the bike stand.....

Very cool looking forward to this.

 

[Y282]

Really like the shape of this. You can get a feeling of that generation from the beginning of soft square cross section chainstay and bridge area. Lot of potential for a cool looking bike

 

[Scott-S]

I never really liked the brand, but your reasoning behind this build is fantastic and is the mark of a true friend.
So naturally Im following the build.

 

[brocklanders023]

Great reason to build, very cool.

 

[Lucidone]

Thanks for the kind comments, much appreciated. I like to think that I'm a good friend and will always be there when it counts but I also know that I'm not as good as keeping in touch as I should be and, more often than not, it's the little things that count in relationships.

A bit more progress has been made.
First of all I cleaned up the seat tube bore with my precision honing device (ex blue paper roll holder) and made sure the post was clean.


Also got the headset in


And after cleaning up a few fixings for the stem in a drill


Got the forks in


Felt like I was flying and going to get loads done so I was pleased when the driveside 68mm bottom bracket screwed in smoothly only then to discover it was a 73mm shell! All my older bikes are steel and 68mm so didn't even consider it. Not got one in stock so rain stops play today!

 

[Y282]

Loving the wood aided design tools

 

[sparkybhp]

I love the attention to detail you’re taking with this already, it wasn’t a half bad looking bike when I got it - I think with the work you’re putting in it will look stunning.
The crankset you’ve chosen looks really nice and do I spy a race face headset?
This was actually fitted with a 68mm bb, the nds was wound way in, thankfully it came out ok.
Can’t wait to see how this turns out.

 

[Lucidone]

@Y282 - I think that's about my lot for wood based tools but the pine jaws in the vice are rather handy for good grip without damage... I'll see if I can squeeze them into the build (no pun intended).

@sparkybhp the crankset looks pretty enough but it's fairly heavy. On the flip side the steel rings should last forever!
Yes, the headset is a Race Face Thermo SP and will likely be the most exotic component in the build!
Not sure it's going to be a stunner but hopefully it'll look cared for and almost familiar to Simon when he trips over it.

New BB ordered.

 

[Lucidone]

While I was waiting for the 73 BB I refreshed some lazy pawl 8spd STX shifters and put them on some polished mounts rather than the standard black ones. Also cut the grips down to make a bit of room for the bar ends.


BB turned up and managed to get quite a bit done.



Wasn't sure about a black stem but don't think it looks too obnoxious and all my silver stems are longun's.
These are the only extra set of tan walls I've got and I thought they might be a bit wide but hoped for the best. Unfortunately no beans at the back....those pesky square chain stays definitely too soft for 2.25 rubber . Will be going out on some boring black tyres which won't really do it justice but I'm not a good enough friend to buy a new set of Panaracers.


Exemplary Carrera engineering below. Don't think a low clamp FD had ever been on there! Previous fitment witness above.