Rejuvinating a vintage bike - suggestions?

O Collective Wisdom:

I have a 1978 Raleigh Gran Prix (Walter by name) that is insisting that I Do Something for him this snowy winter, dagnabbit! So, I- - -

1) Got him out of the shed and into the basement.

2) Loosened the seatpost by means of chain lube and percussive maintenance and got the seat up to what might be a useful height - at any rate it is no longer at the absolute bottom of its range. I was surprised and pleased to find that it hadn't rusted in place. This was good. Unfortunately, the bolt holding the seat in place has gone to that great spare parts box in the sky so I need to find a replacement.

3) Ran out of inspiration. . .

So, I ask you. Now What? I'm open to suggestions.

More details; He was a 1st anniversary present from DH, he's a 10-speed, most equipment is original, and I'd like to keep as much of the original spirit of the bike as possible, if that makes sense.

Should I go with a more modern drive train? Can I do that on a budget?

My knees veto a fixie or single-speed set-up.

I'm pretty sure I'll need a new stem, as that never was quite right for me.

Or should I just clean him up and go with what I have?

What would you do?

The bike in question:

Upgrading the drivetrain from a 10 speed may be tricky, because of the spacing between the rear dropouts. You can measure that to see what your options are, but odds are you can't do too much without respacing the frame (if you can find an ultra 6 freewheel then it will fit in the space of a 5 speed, but you may or may not really change your gear options that way depending on what you have). To completely overhaul it and make it modern requires either rebuilding the wheels with new hubs (to use a cassette) or buying a new (or used) wheelset so you can use a cassette. From there, you'd basically need all the components of a new drivetrain - if you price this out, it's not economical at all. It's possible, it's just not cheap... you'd pretty much be treating the bike as if it were only frame and starting over.

I have to say though, I'm in the middle of "updating" my own vintage bike, and so far I have swapped out the saddle and seatpost (original was too short), bars, brake levers, cables, I taped the new bars, and I have put a rear rack on it. I've decided for now to leave the drivetrain alone.. everything is as far as I can tell in pretty good shape. Of course, all of the changes I've made to mine have added up to quite a bit too.. but not as much as a modern drivetrain. However, I am learning to wrench on this bike, so the experience I'm gaining along the way is priceless.. I've been afraid to mess with too much on my trek, but for some reason I don't feel like I can really 'mess up' working on an older bike :)

This image is prior to swapping out the cables and putting the "final" tape on the bars, but it shows what I did with the brake levers. I used Tektro R100's (this is the women's "short reach" version of the R200) and RL720's (which i wish i could move about 1" inwards from where they are, but the clamp bulge prevents that.. something I didn't even think about when I picked that bar, but defintely something I'll consider for the future). I thought I might want a shorter stem based on the bars that were on the bike when I bought it, but my new bars had a shorter reach and shallower drop and riding on the hoods or in the drops feels pretty good to me now.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/...b5dedb0ff0.jpg

All i still want to do is put fenders on it and maybe a front basket..

Walter is lovely! I love the gentle curve of the front fork.

I know nothing about fixing up bikes, though. A good cleaning, lubing, retaping the handlebars, and a seat I really like would be my start.

Knowing pretty much nothing about bike mechanics - I'd make the bike comfortably ridable. So replace the stem, seat, new tape. Also you want to make certain the brakes actually work. Stopping is good. If the gears are in reasonably good shape - not missing or bent, then I'd stick with what you have. A bike mechanic friend managed to repair my old college bike (about the same vintage as yours) that was long neglected, suffered being stuck out in the weather a bit :(. As I recall, the only thing he replaced was new tubes/tires, tape, seat, and the chain. That bike carried me on my first MS-150 like a champ, then carried a friend on her first (after I declared her current beater bike unsafe at any speed).

Maybe this will give you some ideas.

I just revived my mixte (check out the mixte thread) by replacing the wheels and tires replacing the saddle with my good old brooks, replacing the brake pads and putting on fenders..
I've been riding it since my custom bike is in the shop, and although it's heavier, it's kind of fun to have just ten speeds..

If you can clean and lube the drivetrain, and it runs without skipping, I'd say leave it as it is. Otherwise look for a new 5-speed freewheel and 8-speed chain. If possible, I'd definitely overhaul the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset with new ball bearings and grease.

I forgot to say that the old steel wheels were incredibly heavy. Replacing them with inexpensive (used) alloy (aluminum) wheels made a huge difference in the total weight of the bike and they're safer too because the brakes work better on alloy wheels.

Thank you all. I knew you'd come through! You clarified my thinking admirably.

OK, after reading your suggestions, cogitating on matters while staring at the bike in question and spending the night dreaming about shiny parts, I've come up with The Plan.

1) Replace the squishy foam grips that have lost their poop, but somewhere along the way gained black electrical tape, with the squishiest bar tape I can find. Black.

1a) Use the cute Raleigh bar plugs I found on line - if I can still find them.

2) Replace the old white-ish cable housings with new black housings. Right now, there is a mixture of black & old stained and yellowed used-to-be white that offends my eye mightily.

3) Those Tektro brake levers are sweet! I want.

4) Work with LBS to find a better stem for me (adjust my reach).

5) Just clean up the drive train, it's still running OK.

6) The seat never was a big problem. It has Brooks stamped into the side, though it is not leather. It stays.

7) Make a big mess of the basement (it can take it) and completely wash and maybe wax the bike.

8) Fiddle around and make sure things are adjusted.

9) Find a bolt, any bolt, that fits the seat stay. It isn't threaded in there, I can use whatever fits. (Big sigh of relief here.)

There, that should keep me busy, and my checkbook empty, until the snow melts.

As an aside, I'm glad this place is here so I have someplace to admit to dreaming about bike parts.

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

3) Those Tektro brake levers are sweet! I want.

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They're fairly cheap, too! I think I paid around $20 for mine.. I had ordered other goodies with them so the cost of shipping wasn't too big of a deal. They also come in solid black.

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As an aside, I'm glad this place is here so I have someplace to admit to dreaming about bike parts.

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Agreed :D

Where did you order the brake levers from? Details, girl, details!

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Where did you order the brake levers from?

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Take your pick

The original stock cable sheath was white. You sure you want black?

Yep, I want black. Half the original cable sheaths are still on the bike, which is why I want the black. The black just looks better to my eye.

For a long time I tried to maintain the brand-new just-out-of-the-box integrity of the bike, but I've finally decided that I don't want a museum piece, I want a working bike. There will be no hiding the age of either the bike or the rider, but hey, we can move with the times. We're cool that way.

I'll keep the down-tube friction shifters, though, 'cause I like them.

Oh, and Velo Orange has all sorts of stuff I need for this project. I asked too soon.

Velo Orange is a great little shop. All kinds of quirky stuff.

Here's you bar end plugs-
http://www.barplugs4u.com/catalog/it...89/1092427.htm

Those were exactly what I was thinking about. However, on the home page there is a notice that as of August they are closed to orders due to illness. It doesn't look good. Hope springing eternal and all, I'll keep checking back, but I worry.

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Yep, I want black. Half the original cable sheaths are still on the bike, which is why I want the black. The black just looks better to my eye.

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I tried to reply earlier but my computer was being cranky.. those tektro levers are available almost anywhere that sells tektro - your LBS may even have them (VO obviously does too if you looked). MSRP is only around $25.. you can find them a lot of places for $18-20 online, but you have to figure shipping into that 'discounted' price. They're available in black too - so you could match them to your new cables :)

I swapped out my old yucky cables and housings for chrome. I liked how it looked and I wasn't particularly concerned with keeping anything 'original' looking... I just wanted a bike I'd enjoy.

A cranky computer? Gosh, that never happens! ;)

I was just about to buy the levers online when DH mentioned that I'd be better off ordering them through the LBS - in case I need a bit of a rescue. Good thinking. I'll be going down there as soon as I have an afternoon off.

I'm still getting the toe clips and elkhide barcovers from VO.

And as for the old cables and housings. The white always has bothered my eye. I'm glad I'm finally getting around to swapping them out. They were an aesthetic mistake.

Surprisingly, DH is almost as excited about this project as I am. I guess his old Schwinn is next. :eek:

Well, the fix-up is coming along nicely. I'll post pictures when I'm done, right now all you'd see is bike parts scattered about my basement.

I think this project is blessed by the cycling gods - or someone. I had been trying to ignore the probability that the bottom bracket needed some attention. Finally, I gave up on the ignore part, loaded the bike into the car, and took it to the LBS for bottom bracket work.

Yep, it needed work - as in the whatchamacallit (what? that's not what it's called???) had stripped threads and needed replaced. The problem is, the bike is a rare-ish vintage model, built in England, and the part is no longer made. The wrench (I LOVE that guy) found the exact part in a dusty bin in the basement. I think he was as pleased as I was about that.

So now, all I gotta do is put all the parts back together in a bike-like configuration, take it to the LBS for final inspection, and ride off into the sunset - or somewhere.

I've never had so much fun.

That's a good man. Be sure to treat him well, maybe some good beer or brownies.

I just realized that I haven't yet gotten around to posting pictures from this project.

I also now realize that I haven't taken a pic of the entire bike. Oops!

Anyway, what I'm showing is the elkhide bar covers, with pearl bling, and the cleaned up derailier. I'll get out and get a complete pic of the bike soon.

I took off the rack, the kickstand, changed out pedals, and basically went weight wienie on this bike. I have no idea why, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. I can always put the stuff back on if I decide I need it.

I'm toying with the idea of building up a wheelset now. :eek: The inside of the rims is showing some nastiness. That should be a good winter project this year.

Since this is no longer my main bike, I feel free to learn/play this way.

Did you sew on the elkhide? How difficult was it?

Yep, sewed it myself.

It wasn't hard. It was picky, if I wanted the covers to be straight and nice, and it did take some time. I just sat in the basement with my tunes, a heater, a good light source and an adult beverage and had a great time. I think they turned out well. They feel fantastic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

I took off the rack, the kickstand, changed out pedals, and basically went weight wienie on this bike. I have no idea why, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. I can always put the stuff back on if I decide I need it.

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Well, if you're going for light, you could take off the steel spoke protector. :)

Hmmm, good idea. Or not. I kind of like the vintage feel of the spoke protector. I'll think on it.

Anyway, I've got this odd notion to build up a wheelset for this bike. I didn't notice the unmatched spoke colors in the basement, but it really stands out in the light of a summer's day. We'll see what happens. I may never get done with this bike. :)