OK, I want to talk about my NEW BIKE!!!

[northstar]

Ooh, Sandra...I've been watching this thread...can't wait to hear how it looks when you get it. Crossing my fingers it's everything you've hoped for!

[sandra]

so....how should I go about cleaning it up when I first get it?

[sandra]

uh oh. I can see the weight of the package on FedEx. It is 40.9 lbs. This is not a good thing, huh? How much do you suppose the box weights?

Are almost all old mixtes heavy?

[Tuckervill]

It shouldn't be that heavy. But who cares how heavy it is if it's your kicking-around bike?

What you should do is tear it all down, keeping careful track of the parts, and re-grease the bottom bracket and the wheel hubs. Get all the rust off the aluminum parts while they're off the bike. Get new cables (and housing) if needed.

You may need a BB tool, or you can take it to your LBS and they can loosen it up for you.

For rust on aluminum parts I used wood bleach (oxalic acid from the hardware store). It's powdered. It takes less than a tablespoon per gallon of water (I just guess and don't mix it too strong). Soak the parts for a little while. If they're really rusty, maybe overnight. The rust will just rub right off. Don't leave the parts in the solution longer than necessary. Rub it off, dry them off, then put a little chrome polish on them.

I don't know what to do about superficial rust on the frame, but I'm about to find out with the Centurion Elite I'm about to start on.

I completely rebuilt the RD on my son's John Deere, because it had rust inside. While I was taking it apart I took pictures of each step with the digital, so I would have a reference for putting it back together. I wish he had done that when he was taking the rest of the bike apart, but we didn't think of it. It helps to know for sure what order the washers, etc., go in.

I wish someone would clean up the bike garage floor so I could get started on the Centurion. It's the only thing holding me back!

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's an old steel bike. It's going to weigh more than a new carbon or aluminum road bike. It's not a road bike, and it's not a modern hybrid.
You'll be able to change a few things like the saddle and tires for lighter new ones. Maybe new pedals, bars, new lighter rack, etc. All this will make a difference in weight. You don't want some floppy old huge plastic padded saddle anyway, or old cracked heavy tires.
My new lugged steel Rambouillet road bike weighs 25 pounds without the saddlebag. Yours will likely weigh at least 30. My ramb weighs 30 lbs with a loaded saddlebag and 2 water bottles- which is how I usually ride most days on all the hills and long rides.
Count on 5 lbs being the box and packing materials...hopefully more!

[DebW]

I'd love to try to do it myself. Maybe YOU can talk me through it.

What you should do is tear it all down, keeping careful track of the parts, and re-grease the bottom bracket and the wheel hubs. Get all the rust off the aluminum parts while they're off the bike. Get new cables (and housing) if needed.

Hubs, bottom bracket, and headset need to be disassembled, cleaned, and repacked with grease. If the grease is 80s original, it's not really grease anymore. I can walk you through that if you want. You'd have to buy some tools, but bike tool are pretty cheap. If the cables look old, replace them. Brake pads too.

Popukui Nui is the expert here on derusting and restoring frames. She helped me with my 1955 3-speed. I've now derusted and treated 2 frames.

[sandra]

Thank you! That is so nice of you. I'd love to learn to do it.

[uforgot]

Let us know when it gets here and your take on it. As far as the weight is concerned, I had a Schwinn Suburban a few months ago I picked up at a garage sale. That thing was so heavy that I could hardly lift it! It was upright and since I was only using it for errands, not serious riding, the weight didn't matter at all! Really! Then I fell in love with my Bianchi mixte, (well, it was a very superficial relationship as it was built only on looks, not comfort,) but that Schwinn was terrific to ride. Somehow it seemed really solid. I sold it at MY garage sale, and I see it around town all the time, so as far as the weight is concerned, if you are planning on putting a basket, flowers and a jug of wine in front, your bike is just going to be FUN! And I have yet to find a mixte that is as heavy as that 1976 Schwinn.

I'm excited for you! What does your DH think about all of this, and the fact that you may drag home 10-15 bikes on Friday???