Old 10-15-15, 12:45 PM
  #17  
Lascauxcaveman 
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
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Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.

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+1 on this bike shouldn't be wearing modern components.

I could go either way on the paint, would but lean towards keeping what you have and just cleaning it really thoroughly and giving it a regular waxing. The reason for this is you could keep all the old crappy-looking (but presumably functional, once cleaned and lubed) components and the whole bike would be "of a piece," a little piece of family history, as well as a joy to ride. Used bike parts can add up quickly if you can't save most of what you have, but are usually less expensive than replacement modern parts.

If, OTOH, you go for the full paint job and newish-looking old components and you'll spend a lot of money getting it right. Or go for the full paint job and modern components and you're spending a lot of money to build just another frankenbike.

If it was my granddad's bike, I'd replace the wheels with a decent set of similar vintage 27's (plentiful and cheap), get a freewheel that works with the type of riding I'd be doing on it, clean and lube everything else as needed, new tires, cables, bearings, bar tape and it's done. Have a bike shop help you with the frozen bolts and details you can't manage on your own.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●

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