over the years all my bikes have been fixerups , so Ive never had a new one ,but its been interesting to see how they have evolved . in the last 10 years Ive gone to 26" then front shocks then front and rear,
then along came fixed backs with fat tyres , by now were up to 21 gears
,alloy frames
all my kids have got derailluer gears in there first 20" bike.
A few weeks ago my daughter and i came across 3/4 of a 27" malvern star back pedal brake dumped in the bush ,and as it still had chainguards and mudguards I thought Id have a bash at a little restoration. we had to find from wrecks ,a gooseneckand front wheel 1 tyre and tube,. and had to buy a new set of handlebars, 1 new tyre and 1 tube.
a few nights of cut and polishing,2 cans of degreaser. and it was rebirthed.
when you walk into a bike shop, bikes like this seem tp be back in vogue, so i was wondering what everybody else likes to ride and just how many old 1970's are still up and going.
when i jumped on for the first ride I was amazed at just how comfy and easy this bike was to ride compared to my whizbang bikes
no way BF I found it!!!!!!
besides this is my therapy to keep me from building super cheap landyachts
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my first penny farthing wheel arrived today
Well I'm still riding my 1950s Dutch "Locomotive, tour de Italia" I don't know how old it is, I bought it second hand in 1960.
It's looking a bit rusty now but still rolls better than my wife's modern bike.
If I remember I'll post a pic tomorrow.
On reflection I probably bought this second hand in 1959 from Boans, cost me about 22pounds, almost all my life's savings. Probably the best buy I ever made, it's lasted me these 54 years, and all it's cost is a few drops of oil, and several tyres and tubes. It originally had a lace up leather chain guard and plastic rear wheel covers. I took these off soon after purchasing to reduce weight.
It's certainly an old bike but it's long way from being "New again"
one bit im missing is that black plastic reflector on the rear mudguard. if anybody has one please let me know.
today the greeny got its first ride into town.
kinda nice to cruise along on the flats , but a reminder of childhood when the first hill came along
it was nice to sit up straight again
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
On reflection I probably bought this second hand in 1959 from Boans, cost me about 22pounds, almost all my life's savings. Probably the best buy I ever made, it's lasted me these 54 years, and all it's cost is a few drops of oil, and several tyres and tubes. It originally had a lace up leather chain guard and plastic rear wheel covers. I took these off soon after purchasing to reduce weight.
It's certainly an old bike but it's long way from being "New again"
There really has not been much improvement on them since then has there crep??
we might have to get together for an old farts bike a thon
after lunch today I was back in the shed, plan was to start on the restoration of a disk braked 26" trials bike, but I looked over at the 27" mini farthing wheel that Id had built and just started cutting
after chopping up a 27" bennet,a 26"giantMTB a 20" unicycle and a 27" repco
I finally got the basic chassis setup brazed for our mini farthing
If your wondering where the bikes come from , I started collecting 20"and 26" bikes for building landyacht wheels a few years ago and now i seem to have a salvage yard /graveyard/recycling centre for bikes
Select to expand quotecisco said..
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There really has not been much improvement on them since then has there crep??
What modern bike is going to last over 50 years?
looks like its me you and cisco ,decrepit,every one else must be a youngster
today we did a fit out of wheels,brakes,tyres,handlebars.
the carnage of chopped bikes included an full suspension apollo,a 20"shwinn and a 24"omega. all for fiddly stuff like just the right calipers, or headstem.
just after lunch the riding lesson began, as well as tuning to little stigs leg length , but by 4.30 she was perfecting her first stunt
you have to test things before the kids !!!
and finish the day with the classic highwheeler pose
You do realise, all the kids are going to want one now!!!
You're going to be a busy little welder.
PS, is little stig going to do a custom paint job?
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
You do realise, all the kids are going to want one now!!!
You're going to be a busy little welder.
PS, is little stig going to do a custom paint job?
I had a look in the graveyard and reckon I could get another 5 out of the stockpile of wheels, but I need the 36spoke unicycle hubs to make it happen,
still saving for my 48" replica
we plan to ride it as is for a few days whilst the bronze welds sweat, then a good grind and clean and a coat of landyacht blue and some chrome polish.
. gotta have it shiny by september long weekend at the lake with the shiny revamped yachts
Great to see some clever re - cycling. .........Could be a market for those custom bikes
I still have the first bike I bought in 1970 (with money I earned picking mallee roots on the farm) hanging in my shed.
Nice work on the "Small change".
Select to expand quotelandyacht said..
looks like its me you and cisco ,decrepit,every one else must be a youngster
today we did a fit out of wheels,brakes,tyres,handlebars.
the carnage of chopped bikes included an full suspension apollo,a 20"shwinn and a 24"omega. all for fiddly stuff like just the right calipers, or headstem.
just after lunch the riding lesson began, as well as tuning to little stigs leg length , but by 4.30 she was perfecting her first stunt
you have to test things before the kids !!!
and finish the day with the classic highwheeler pose
That is not a penny farthing bike. It is a shilling thrupenny bike and knowing you that would be all it cost you.
Given the Tshirts all our locals wear in tribute.
i thought I might call this 55c
or fify fi cen eh whitey
I'm constantly on the look out for an old (70's 80's 90's) italian road bike.
I'm only interested in the frame really as i want to have a winter project with my daughter - but they are so hard to come by and then the people who have them believe that they are sitting on a goldmine - i can't begin to tell you about the overpirced complete crap i have looked at lately.
The best thing about it is that people drag these old classics out from the shed, put them up for sale way overpriced and then back into the shed to rust when they don't sell. Sad really.
Select to expand quotepoor relative said..
I'm constantly on the look out for an old (70's 80's 90's) italian road bike.
I'm only interested in the frame really as i want to have a winter project with my daughter - but they are so hard to come by and then the people who have them believe that they are sitting on a goldmine - i can't begin to tell you about the overpirced complete crap i have looked at lately.
The best thing about it is that people drag these old classics out from the shed, put them up for sale way overpriced and then back into the shed to rust when they don't sell. Sad really.
found a girls familystar 20" back pedal today. only missing the chainguard.
the handlebars look sooo right for my next effort. but if you want a girls bike for an up to 12 year old its just the freight cost to perth
here it is painted and on the road I had a blast at the skate park today,so Ive started building my own, but its not as easy for a big peson as it might seem
Select to expand quotelandyacht said..
if you want a girls bike for an up to 12 year old its just the freight cost to perth
Thanks Landy thats a kind offer. Would be too small for my daughter tho.
Bike looks brilliant great job :-)
Cant be a labour of love landy....min price would have to be $A600 + postage, still good value. a sweet machine......
Select to expand quotepoor relative said..landyacht said..
if you want a girls bike for an up to 12 year old its just the freight cost to perth
Thanks Landy thats a kind offer. Would be too small for my daughter tho.
Bike looks brilliant great job :-)
do have a working 27" peugeot,small frame that appears to be made in Australia under licence,and also a small framed chrome moly wheeler with 700 wheels( thats really nice and ready to ride as well
Select to expand quoteGreenroom said..
Awesome! I want one! Can I put my order in Landy?
the one Ive started today might scare you too much
this next one is getting complicated , with a 6 speed deraileur set up.
the frame will have to have the equivalent size that would fit a 60" wheel
that would be too easy chook,I want a bucket of gears and brake for doing front wheel stands
