Why are people getting so shitty about the fact the Garmin website is down, and they cant upload thier stuff to Strava?
Seriously, can you not go for a run/ride/whatever without constantly looking up the number on a website…. what about running for the love of running?
Some pics…
Overall I’m really happy with with the finished bike, although I’m still on the lookout for a nice large flanged vintage front wheel to go on it rather than the temporary alloy one that’s on it at the moment, but other than that it’s all good.
Let it be said that it’s not a true restoration because although most of the original parts have either been refurbished and refitted, or replaced like-for-like, I’ve upgraded some bits that weren’t in the bike originally. ..
Modern brown tyres are new, and the French maker would never have put British made Brooks Saddles on their bikes.
Some great finds were the new Dynamo lights, they are exactly as the ones that came off it originally, and I was luck enough to find some 1970s stock, still brand new in the boxes in France.
New decals were made in Australia. And identical except in colour to the originals.
Also found a nice old Sachs 5 speed derailiuer to replace the modern retrofitted one that had been put in the bike.
Other lucky finds were the nice vintage 19″ pump that sits nicely in the brazed on pump holders.
New cables, outer cables, pedals , clips and straps finish the bike off nicely I think.
Right off to the pub on it me thinks!
the build has started!
Started out by sewing on the new leather handlebar grips and fitting the bottom brackets.
New Dynamo rewired, cranks on, starting on the cables…
After all the priming, sanding, spraying, sanding, lacquering, sanding. More lacquering and a final T-cut and polish… The frame is finished.
Looking good and very retro in its new Ivory colour scheme, with 4 coats of high gloss lacquer giving it I lovely deep shine.
And just in time, my new custom made decals arrived today from Australia.
Sneaky peek…
Bike frame now sprayed, sanded and lacquered.. I was hoping this nice summer weather would be perfect for hardening the paint of nicely before rebuilding it all..
The great british summertime has other ideas it seems… Cold, wet & windy..
Seems the warmest place to cure the paint is in the kitchen by the Aga
So after a few days… And I mean ‘long days’ sanding, stripping, wire brushing.. And more sanding… Every scrap of paint, every blob of rust was removed, every dint or bump smoothed out or filled in, the frame was taken back to shiny bare steel once more… Naked as the day it was born…
4 good coats of primer applied, ready for a final sanding tomorrow before starting to put some top coats on.. 😃
Added note, I’m having some replacement decals made, identical to the originals, but in brown to suit the new colour scheme.. Got the email today saying that they’ve been shipped… From Australia.. Hope they don’t take too long..
Also the bottom brackets have left the factory in China. Fingers crossed..
Nearly there… 
All primed… 
the forks are now stripped, sanded and primed ready for paint… The frame is also ready for priming.
Oh yeah, and my highly flammable cellulose paint arrived today… It’s a good thing my delivery man is on the ball.
*shakes head*
happily getting high on the fumes of the Nitromors paint stripper, when suddenly my new seats arrived…
Drool….
Crank restoration.
Am I being to anal by polishing each individual nut, bolt and washer?
Even Little things need some love
From this
And this
To this…
And this…
Mountainbasher 