Rejuvinating a vintage bike - suggestions?

[bmccasland]

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).

[Zen]

Maybe this will give you some ideas.

[Biciclista]

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..

[DebW]

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.

[Biciclista]

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.

[MomOnBike]

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.

[sarahspins]

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

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.

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

Agreed