my wife's "new" Bridgestone bike
 

Hi,

New to forum
2 years mountain biking
enjoy working on bikes (still learning) as much as riding them


I got a 80's huffy road bike in decent shape and now is road ready, my wife liked the way it rides (she also have a mountain bike) with 26 x 1 3/8 tires. So I decide to get a bike for her easy to ride and cheap to build. my brother told me he had a women's bike and that I can get it for free, good enough! I'm starting to restore it and clean or replace what it needs. I already intalled the original handle bars that my brother kept in his garage. let me know you opinion.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293590 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293592

I will need a lot of work. If you have most of the required parts on hand, you might save money. If not, this bike could prove to be a money pit.

Unlike most restorations... :rolleyes:

Agreed, it looks pretty rough. However, it's probably a good bicycle to learn on, in that it's simple (i.e. no derailleurs) and if you screw something up drastically, well it was FREE. I'd consider moving the rack from the front to the rear, where it will have less affect on the handling and is less likely to cause an accident when heavily loaded.

It appears to be a city bicycle from the very early 1970s. Bridgestone wasn't widely distributed during this period, so I don't know the model. However, their sister brand, Kabuki, offered what appears to be the exact same model as the Commuter. Besides the handlebars, the saddle is a replacement, with the original being a mattress style. I'd appreciate the serial nuber for my database. TIA.

FREE bikes can often be VERY expensive! Looks solid enough, give it a good cleaning and lube, and see what is what. Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for your feedback!

It has almost all the original parts (just saddle is not original IMO), I put back original handlebars and it looks way better, last Saturday I replaced tires and tubes and take it for a very short ride, it rode great! I was not able to shift due to cables been fried. my plan is to take wheels to lbs to have the real hub checked and lubricated and both wheels checked/trued. it looks quite rough but almos all the paint is in good condition, I'll wash it and polish the paint very carefully and it will look better, most of the "roughness" it's just dust collected in my brothers garage. I'll post pictures before and after. I'll get the serial number for you T-Mar.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293665http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293666http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293667http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=293668

Spend some hours working on my wife's Bridgestone, here's an update:

-whole bike taked apart.
-cleaning the roofing tar on most of bike paint and chrome
-BB lubricated by LBS
-everything else lubricated by me and/or wife.
-new chain, new seat
-new tires and tubes
-new cables
-temporary pedals until I finish cleaning the originals.

not yet a money pit as noglider mention, just a good bike for my wife to cruise around. is not a classic but kind of vintage. cheap replacement parts used to keep cost down.

T-Mar: serial number for your record is: X259979

after picture:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298821

Much nicer! Somehow it's very satisfying to get things looking shiny again. If you REALLY want to shine things up there are car polishes like Meguiar's Color-X which have a light buffing compound and cleaner plus wax. They can make even a very dulled down finish look really good (by taking off the very top layer of worn paint admittedly). And there's Mother's for buffing metal. But the more important thing (?) is function, and it sounds like you have that pretty well handled. Looks like a great starter project.

Within a year we expect to hear that you now have five-to-ten bikes in your possession, in various stages of rebuild.:)

Very nice job!

I'd bet it will be around for another 50 years.

Cheers,

Nice job, looks great compared to the original condition. Cork grips for $11 and a wicker basket up front and you'll be her favorite VALENTINE all over again!

Thanks! watching surface rust go away and chrome shine almost like new kept me going, even my wife enjoy cleaning loose bering balls.
next step is as you said, paint polish and wax, fix the details (cables properly routed, etc) and ride it as much as wife can!! 3 speed hub is working nice!
by the way: to remove surface rust on chrome I used nevr dull and on tough spots nevr dull and steel wool, super fine 0000 polish steel wool. works great.

my wife is so afraid of this......

another pic to compare with the one above.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298841

Your step through frame looks to be one of the early Kabuki/Bridgestone/C.Itoh type frames with the casted aluminum lugs. Not really and idea that took off, but something to talk about with anyone who might stop and admire your bike. Nice rehab; looks like it's ready for a new lease on life.

http://oldroads.com/arch/pic1_865.html

I think so. according to label.
thanks for the info.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298880
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298882http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298881

True the wheels? Just need a $5 spoke wrench and a bit of oil for the spoke nipples.

Nice job on that bike. I bet your wife is going get a lot of use out of that bike and it looks really nice after the work you put into it.

It's coming along very nicely. :thumb: FYI, the serial number indicates a 1973 model.

Thanks!!!

I really wanted to know the exact model year!

awww I liked the front rack!

It looks like a rack for a Schwinn middleweight.