Hi,
Only just found this forum! I've been having fun rescuing bike from being scrapped for a while now. I've never done a 'period accurate' restoration going more for 'modern parts convince and availability with old school looks'.
First project bike was a Peugeot OU-8 from (I think) 1976. This is what it looked like when I bought it for £10 about 5 years ago:
The bike hadn't been ridden for donkeys years. I pumped the tyres up and went for a quick test ride. The tyres fell apart, the breaks were seized, the bearings collapsed and a brake lever snapped (plastic part). I pretty much raided my spares box for parts to get going again as I was skint at the time. The only parts I had to buy were the tyres and handlebar grips.
Unfortunately this bike was stolen from my garage whilst I was on holiday earlier this year.
Next project bike is my 1980's Halfrauds Apollo Equipe. This was a freebie from freecycle. This is what it looked like when I got it:
I had this frameset powder coated and then I built it up with Campy components. This is what it looked like when I was finished:
It was a surprisingly good frame, with a modern design. 135mm OLN and dual pivot allen bolt brakes fitted without any modification. I loved it and it was my 'go to' bike. I did my first audax on this bike (100k) and regularly did 100k+ rides on it. I think I did about 1600km the first year I had it. This bike was also stolen at the same time as the Peugeot. Gutted.
Next project bike is my Raleigh Sensor fixie. I got this bike from freecycle at the same time as the Apollo. This is what it looked like:
The bike had a 26" front wheel and a 700C rear... I had this powder coated also. I laced up the rear wheel myself using a MTB front hub and a sprocket that attaches to the disc break mount. This is what it looked like when I was finished:
I used this bike to learn smooth pedal motion and go get the shopping. It was in the garage when I was burgled and was chained to the other two bikes... but they didn't take it! Burglars don't like fixed.
Next I built a bike for a friends birthday. He wanted something fast and fun for on the road riding (he usually rides MTB). I found this alu frame and fork on eBay:
The frame was in much worse shape than the description had lead me to believe, but time was running out as it took the seller 3 weeks to get their arse into gear (and only sent it after I complained to eBay). Anyway, this is what it looked like when I was done:
This was a rattlecan paint job. It was a real arse to fit the trigger shifters on aero bars, but he was adamant that he wanted multi hand positions but didn't want drops.
So, with all the burglary malarky I only have the Raleigh Sensor fixie left in terms of classic bikes. I used the money from the insurance payout to buy a brand new Genesis Day01 Alfine (in bright orange) and a Surly Cross Check in black. This left me without any geared classic steel bikes.
Until a friend of mine bought a house and found a couple of old bikes in the garage. Both appear to be 1970's vintage. One is a Dawes Galaxy and the other a Dawes Ambassador. All the bright work and bearings are shot, but the frame and forks seem OK. Stay tuned for the next project(s)!
Jules.
Only just found this forum! I've been having fun rescuing bike from being scrapped for a while now. I've never done a 'period accurate' restoration going more for 'modern parts convince and availability with old school looks'.
First project bike was a Peugeot OU-8 from (I think) 1976. This is what it looked like when I bought it for £10 about 5 years ago:
The bike hadn't been ridden for donkeys years. I pumped the tyres up and went for a quick test ride. The tyres fell apart, the breaks were seized, the bearings collapsed and a brake lever snapped (plastic part). I pretty much raided my spares box for parts to get going again as I was skint at the time. The only parts I had to buy were the tyres and handlebar grips.
Unfortunately this bike was stolen from my garage whilst I was on holiday earlier this year.
Next project bike is my 1980's Halfrauds Apollo Equipe. This was a freebie from freecycle. This is what it looked like when I got it:
I had this frameset powder coated and then I built it up with Campy components. This is what it looked like when I was finished:
It was a surprisingly good frame, with a modern design. 135mm OLN and dual pivot allen bolt brakes fitted without any modification. I loved it and it was my 'go to' bike. I did my first audax on this bike (100k) and regularly did 100k+ rides on it. I think I did about 1600km the first year I had it. This bike was also stolen at the same time as the Peugeot. Gutted.
Next project bike is my Raleigh Sensor fixie. I got this bike from freecycle at the same time as the Apollo. This is what it looked like:
The bike had a 26" front wheel and a 700C rear... I had this powder coated also. I laced up the rear wheel myself using a MTB front hub and a sprocket that attaches to the disc break mount. This is what it looked like when I was finished:
I used this bike to learn smooth pedal motion and go get the shopping. It was in the garage when I was burgled and was chained to the other two bikes... but they didn't take it! Burglars don't like fixed.
Next I built a bike for a friends birthday. He wanted something fast and fun for on the road riding (he usually rides MTB). I found this alu frame and fork on eBay:
The frame was in much worse shape than the description had lead me to believe, but time was running out as it took the seller 3 weeks to get their arse into gear (and only sent it after I complained to eBay). Anyway, this is what it looked like when I was done:
This was a rattlecan paint job. It was a real arse to fit the trigger shifters on aero bars, but he was adamant that he wanted multi hand positions but didn't want drops.
So, with all the burglary malarky I only have the Raleigh Sensor fixie left in terms of classic bikes. I used the money from the insurance payout to buy a brand new Genesis Day01 Alfine (in bright orange) and a Surly Cross Check in black. This left me without any geared classic steel bikes.
Until a friend of mine bought a house and found a couple of old bikes in the garage. Both appear to be 1970's vintage. One is a Dawes Galaxy and the other a Dawes Ambassador. All the bright work and bearings are shot, but the frame and forks seem OK. Stay tuned for the next project(s)!
Jules.
