Saying hello and picking brains

[Ratscooter]

Good morning all.

I've bitten the bullet and picked up a few distinguished old ladies which are now locked safely in my garage. I'm planning getting hold of abandoned and unloved old bicycles, resoring them to safe and roadworthy spec and selling them on. This is only a hobby, not planning making any real money off of them (at present i'm only 40 quid in for buying the wayfarer). If i can rid the world of supermarket bike shaped objects one at a time i'm kind of a recycling superhero.

The current fleet

A 70s (i think) raleigh wayfarer
A raleigh stowaway folder
An old triumph with rod brakes circa unknown but it's beautiful.
Some 80s townsend MTB - annoyingly it 's near mint as it had single speed written all over it.

As my username suggests i'm not scared of the ratty side of life, but these old girls could be beautiful if restored. The triumph in particular is covered in surface rust but man she has some charm. Wondering what the thoughts are on keeping them original with war wounds or a full on restoration thus losing the original patina but making it as good as new.

Each one i'll post pics and updates as i go if anybody interested.

Just after peoples thoughts.

Love this site, been lurking for years and finally jumped in.

Cheers

Andrew (Dundee)

 

[keithglos]

Re:

Hello Andrew,

Triumph: If a Sturmey Archer gear present there should be a date on the shell, assuming that the wheel is original.
If you can do a few close up detail pics of the Triumph it should be fairly easy to confirm it is a Raleigh. Head lugs, front and rear fork ends, brakes, bottom bracket adjustable side are all distinguishable.

Keith

 

[Robbied196]

Hi Andrew and welcome to the asylum for bike addicts

If you surf through the forum there's all sorts of hints and tips for restoration or renovation. What can look pretty tired bike at first look can sometimes be vastly improved with some careful cleaning and rebuilding. My rule of thumb is if its pre war or rare it gets a renovation keeping it as original as possible and not repainting. If its post war and has paint beyond salvaging then I look at full restoration.

It would be good to see some pics. Heres a before and after 1956 Dunelt restoration...

 

[Ratscooter]

Re:

Oh yes I knew I was in the right place. Beautiful bike there, and hopefully still tucked up in the kitchen.
I most certainly will take pictures for confirmation sakes, I'm at the bottom of a steep learning curve, feels like you lot are privy to a language I don't get yet.

Enthusiastic amateur am I. Loving it.