I know nothing of the ways of the dark side, but I’ve recently been needing to go out and about in the local area a bit more so have been using my hardtail with semi-slicks. Trouble is that it’s a bit spangly to leave locked up in the town centre (XT bits, Rebas etc.) so I was looking for something a bit more suitable. Waaay back in the 80s I bought a road bike (2nd hand) and used it for a summer, since when it’s been languishing in various sheds and garages. Anyhow, I finally liberated it from the shed it’s been in for the last 9 or 10 years to see if it’s worth reviving. I’ve done a bit of googling and all I can find is that Viscounts had a recall with a ‘death fork’ (not sure if this is or isn’t one of those) and had a few odd bits – but the BB seems free enough and the mechs & brakes seem to move, though the brakes are the wrong way round at the mo.
Anyone got any insight into this? Is it worth a go at reviving it? Clicky piccy for more – hopefully!
Use it and abuse it, but don’t spend lots getting it going. Be aware too that it might have rusted in various places, so I’d not be doing any drop offs of more than 2 inches…
There is nothing exciting about that particularly I don’t think. BUT it will probably work fine. The Weinmann Vainquer brakes are rather good, and allow fantastic tyre clearance. Experiment, but you can probably get soem very comfy rubber in there if the existing tyres are worn out. The old 5/6 speed blocks and chains just don’t really wear very badly, and with friction shifting you can get away with murder anyway.
I really, really wouldn’t turn it into a project. Compatibility problems will sap your morale and bleed cash. I have done this, and ended up turning a £68 eBay bargain into a £500 headache! (see pic below)
Hang onto it, read the Blurb about the A Homer Hilsen, on Rivendell’s website and appreciate it for what it is: a seriously practical, modestly priced bicycle from an age when most bikes were like that. The wierd loop behind the saddle incidentally is a support for a big saddlebag I think. Something from Carradice secondhand on the ‘bay would work beautifully.
This is my out of control project, a Freddie Grubb of roughly the same vintage, dne up for a weekend out. A great sort of bike for a relaxed weekend. 🙂
Cheers all – had a better look over it last night & looks like all it needs is new tyres & tubes, maybe a look at the brakes and that’s it. Maybe a bit of chain lube too if I’m gonna push the boat out!
Numpty question #1 (I did say I know nothing of the ways of the dark side…)
The current tyres are 27 x 1 1/4 – not a common size but I can find a few of them on CRC & the like, but I’m assuming a 700C inner tube will be OK do the job?