I am restoring an early 70's Raleigh Super Course and the alloy handle bar and wheels have some oxidation. How do you treat oxidation and what cleaning chemicals to use? I'm thinking of vinegar or chlorox but before I do so, maybe someone out there with a better idea to approach this problem. I rode the bike yesterday and seems like everything works except I need to replace the rear tube and tire since it is cracking on the sidewall. Have done the replacement on the front wheel so far and the new tire look good.

I would remove aluminum oxidation by polishing only, unless it's really crusty. You can use fine wet-or-dry sandpaper (600, 800 or 1000 grit) or brass wool, then automotive rubbing compound, then automotive polishing compound, then Simichrome polish. Start with the finest of the above materials that will remove the pitting or corroded surface conditions you have, and try to work in the opposite direction with each successive one. There are a couple good webpages on this subject -- I have links at home.

Don't try to polish anodized surfaces, since the anodizing is itself an oxide layer; if the part is really corroded through the anodizing, you'll have to remove that first with oven cleaner, apparently -- again, there are a few web resources for this. Once it's gone, it's gone; unless you pay a finishing shop to re-anodize.

I would imagine that polishing rims around the spokes could be a real PITA. Seatposts and stems are pretty easy, and I suspect that bars are too.

I have had the best luck with stuff called 'Barkeepers Friend' which is sold at williams sonoma or some other home stores like bed bath and beyond. I think they also have it at shoprite... it really works great on a damp spunge and just rubbing the metal until all the oxidation is disolved and polished away. Not sure if anyone else used it on here, but it works for me.

Thank you guys for the suggestions. I have some "Barkeepers Friend" and will try that and post the result.

you'll find that Barkeeper's and Zud are both cleansers that list oxalic acid as active ingredient...that's why (combined with abrasives) they remove rust and corrosion on many metals. Barkeeper's is usually available (at a much lower price than Billy Sonoma's) in hardware stores and such, cheaper than Zud, too. I follow up the cleanser treatment with a polish like Simichrome and then automotive wax.