What would you do with this?
Discussion
We did the Devon C2C ride from Plymouth to Barnstaple last weekend, which I can recommend! I used a bike given to me by my dad, which he bought in the late 80's at a guess.
It coped fine with this kind of ride, and tbh, this is the kind of riding I'm likely to do in the future - not really into MTB's or similar - leisure road & trail riding / touring is fine with me.
Anyway, here's the bike:
It was a good ride, but I'd appreciate your expert opinions on:
- Should I update the brakes, and if so, how?
- Can I change to indexed gearing reasonably easily?
- Drop handlebars ain't the most comfortable - worth changing to flats?
In short, would you bother trying to make something of this bike, or just go out and buy a newer one?
It coped fine with this kind of ride, and tbh, this is the kind of riding I'm likely to do in the future - not really into MTB's or similar - leisure road & trail riding / touring is fine with me.
Anyway, here's the bike:
It was a good ride, but I'd appreciate your expert opinions on:
- Should I update the brakes, and if so, how?
- Can I change to indexed gearing reasonably easily?
- Drop handlebars ain't the most comfortable - worth changing to flats?
In short, would you bother trying to make something of this bike, or just go out and buy a newer one?
I was restoring an old bike recently, I would say you probably don't need to update the brakes, just take them apart, give them a proper clean and grease them, if its still poor braking than get new pads and if they are stiff, perhaps some new cables?
Other than that I would clean it and oil well and save the money you would spend on a new bike for beer!
Other than that I would clean it and oil well and save the money you would spend on a new bike for beer!
Yep, a bit of TLC and use it how it is. Not worth the faff of changing parts for more modern stuff. Redoing the bar tape with some of the squishier new sorts will be much comfier on your hands too.
(although personally, as it's got horizonal dropouts I'd be inclined to bin the gears/shifters altogether and go singlespeed or fixed)
(although personally, as it's got horizonal dropouts I'd be inclined to bin the gears/shifters altogether and go singlespeed or fixed)
I like your thinking.
Yep, what they said. And get yourself on www.retrobike.co.uk for further inspiration.
The dropouts thing has got me thinking...to save a threadjack new topic on it's way!
The dropouts thing has got me thinking...to save a threadjack new topic on it's way!
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