drombat

Hello all!
Today I finished restoring this piece of Swedish bicycling history. I thought some of you would like it if I posted pictures of it.

I bought it from a man who had recently inherited it from a man who had ridden it a bit when it was new, and then stored it indoors for many years. I guess that is a common thing to tell potential customers, but I believe it's true in this case as the bikes drivetrain and components show very little wear.

The previous owner had put on some brake handles with an extra handle so he would be able to brake with his hands on the top of the bar. Naturally, I felt the need to replace them. A pair of campa handles now grace the handlebar, and although I don't know if they are period correct, they look good on there.

I have also changed the tires and a few minor things like wires and handlebar tape. Other than these things, I reckon it's as originally specced.

The frame is in great condition with no dings and almost no rust. The rust that was there I have removed and painted over. I have enhanced some of the red details with a little red glossy paint to make them more noticable so that the red handlebar tape blends in better.

The hardest parts in the restoration were the truing of the wheels, the installation of the bar tape and the gluing of the sew-up tires.

/Henrik

Rabid Koala

Very nice, thanks for posting pictures! Do you have any idea of the year the bike was made?

drombat

The serial numbers of MCB is a mystery even to those who work in Varberg today. There does not seem to be a straightforward way to decipher them. I contacted mr Ahlkvist of www.cykelhobby.com, who knows a lot about vintage swedish racers, and he told me it's probably of late sixties vintage, '68-'69.

javal

This is an old thread, but right is right and the pictured Monark is called 318 (not 918, `cos theres no such model).