80 year old bicycle chain!
04-27-18, 09:19 PM
#1
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80 year old bicycle chain!
Hi,
I have finally cut the riveted chain from my late 1930's bicycle. It must be almost 80 years old. I got the bicycle in 1969 from a man in California, in his 50s, who rode it in the Tour de France when he was 30 years younger. I knew the man reasonably well, and am confident that this was not just fantasy.
I have gradually converted the drive train to something more modern - finding a replacement for the French threaded bottom bracket was a challenge - but I managed to continue using the same solid riveted chain until now. I finally cut it off today, but wonder if anyone might be interested in having it, or at least seeing it. Just putting it in the trash seems, well, indecent. Over the years the chain stretched a LOT, and really I do not quite understand how I was still able to ride it, with nearly new freewheels and chainsets, but I was. Finally, I had to do something, because it was starting to jump cogs when I used much force on the pedals. I have not been using this bike constantly, but have used it for the few weeks a year I visit the US from the UK.
Cheers,
MidAtlantian
I have finally cut the riveted chain from my late 1930's bicycle. It must be almost 80 years old. I got the bicycle in 1969 from a man in California, in his 50s, who rode it in the Tour de France when he was 30 years younger. I knew the man reasonably well, and am confident that this was not just fantasy.
I have gradually converted the drive train to something more modern - finding a replacement for the French threaded bottom bracket was a challenge - but I managed to continue using the same solid riveted chain until now. I finally cut it off today, but wonder if anyone might be interested in having it, or at least seeing it. Just putting it in the trash seems, well, indecent. Over the years the chain stretched a LOT, and really I do not quite understand how I was still able to ride it, with nearly new freewheels and chainsets, but I was. Finally, I had to do something, because it was starting to jump cogs when I used much force on the pedals. I have not been using this bike constantly, but have used it for the few weeks a year I visit the US from the UK.
Cheers,
MidAtlantian
04-29-18, 06:38 AM
#3
Thrifty Bill
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Check eBay, people are looking for those old chains to complete restorations. You will be helping someone out completing their project and at the same time, making a little $$ too.
04-29-18, 10:50 AM
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If you can verify the provenance of the bicycle, the last thing I would be doing is getting rid of any OEM or era correct parts. Keep them, so you can restore it to TdF condition, when you eventually pass it on to the next owner.
Last edited by T-Mar; 04-29-18 at 10:54 AM.
04-30-18, 12:47 PM
#5
Thrifty Bill
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Excellent point here. Even on my relatively new classics, I have boxed up the original parts when I have made changes.
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Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
