Hello there!

I posted on the bike mechanics forum since I just got a 1968 Robin Hood that I'm trying to fix up so I have A bicycle to ride. That's right, I'm not only fixing up a bicycle for a first time, but it's also the only bicycle I own and will be the first time I own and ride a bicycle since I was a kid. I know it's ambitious, and probably a bit crazy, especially since I'm in law school full time... I really think I inherited my grandfather and mother's mechanical inclinations though, so hopefully I'll have a beautiful rideable bike after some time.


I don't know how the protocol works here, so I wanted to introduce myself. I'm sure some of you probably have a lot of opinions about what I should do and how I should do it.

First, I'm not sure if I should re-post my post from the bike mechanics forum here? Here's the link. I'll let you guys decide and tell me so I know for next time what to do or where to post.

Second, I'm planning on going to get new tires and tubes this week, but in the meantime I took a break from studying and removed the chain (it had a master link of some sort). It looks pretty rusty and definitely dirty and dry, but I don't think it's totally corroded through and I don't think I have any shark tooth sprockets, so I'm thinking it might still be a good chain? I tried measuring it but it actually measured under what Sheldon Brown's site said it normally would new, so now I'm wondering if 3speed chains are slightly different or the same chains used on newer bikes. Do you all think it's worth trying to clean? If so, given how rusty it is, what should I use? Citrus degreaser? Dawn dishwashing liquid? Something else? Should I soak it or just wash or do something super involved that someone mentioned by cooking it in the cleaning liquid? Or, am I totally bonkers and should I just be replacing it? If I do clean it, what should I use to lubricate it afterwards? I know that's a contentious issue, but I'm thinking I might have to do something more heavy duty since I might have to "strip" it in some way to really get it clean and "de-rusted." Am I totally off? Sorry for the crazy rant, I've been doing a lot of research and am still pretty confused.



Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing whatever advice and opinions and comments you'd like to send my way!

Cheers!