Elbow grease.......cables/housings....pedals.....tires/tubes.....seat....grips......55$+/-......

Here's my $100 Tempo, brought home and wiped with a dry rag:



Here it is today. The stem/bars/brake levers/cables are taken from the Centurion Pro Tour that I recently sold. New bearings are the only actual expense thus far, so here's my $104 Tempo:



I still have to spring for new tires, and I'm test-riding the saddle for a while to decide whether or not it's a keeper. Other than that I'm pretty friggin' thrilled.

[/QUOTE] Other than that I'm pretty friggin' thrilled.[/QUOTE]

Nice find!! I would be friggin thrilled too!!

My first V&C with a lot to learn. Early 80's Olmo.
before


After my first attempt at bar tape & hoods. I fixed the cable routing after the pic was taken.

Pretty bike! Your Olmo reminds me of my Masi from the same era, wonderful era for steel racers.

Great starting point for your future C&V bike addiction... welcome to the family... of riders who have too many bikes!!!

Thank you for the kind words. I find that I have been neglecting my modern CF Bianchi and even my old Trek 930 to ride and work on the Olmo. I assume that this is a normal stage when entering the C&V realm.

Circa '72 Cilo Pacer

Before:







After:

I like the red highlights on the high flange hubs.

Even taking those wheels all the way down those hubs must have been a tough job to make them look that good. Nice job on the bike.

^Thanks, EddyR & Gdando.

What are the two things around the handlebar that look like clamps? Great looking bike by the way!

^Thanks. Those are pants clips.

before





after

Before (sellers picture):





After:

How did you deal with that rust (your bike looks really nice)? I am the owner of the black Miyata 310 above, the spokes were very rusty. I sanded them all with 220 grit sand paper (without disassembling the wheel), which got rid of most of the corrosion but also of course removed what was left of the chrome. Then I sprayed the spokes with a few coats of Rustoleum clear enamel in hopes that it would significantly slow the return/spread of the rust. I really don't know how well it will work in the long run so I am interested in other ideas for future projects.

just spit and polish. I was surprised. Trek 520.

Thanks. This one only had a moderate amount of rust (I've dealt with far worse). For the most part, I used oxalic acid for the rust. I usually keep a small bucket of OA solution at hand for various small non-alloy bits. The frame got a very brief oxalic acid bath, too. There wasn't much rust on the frame, just some speckling here & there where the paint was beginning to crack & dimple. Most of the alloy parts where wet-sanded and then polished with Mother's Alum & Mag polish. I didn't bother trying to spruce up the old, galvanized spokes. I rebuilt the wheels with a different set of rims and used new stainless double-butted DT Swiss spokes. There's another recent thread with more tips & tricks you might check out if didn't already see it: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-new-condition

I should have taken more pictures, but here it goes.
This bike looks like it had maybe 100 miles on it, but it was stored in a garage with what I assume were pool chemicals. All the non-clear coated aluminum was oxidized quite a bit, all the hardware was quite rusted. I wirewheeled the crank, then sanded, then polished it. Swapped out the oxidized altus gear for some suntour, put on a set of centerpulls (because I like them more) and swapped out the headset.



After:

Before, very clean, well-kept and well-maintained.


I didn't do a lot to it. Won't discuss the price of the leather. I'm better now.

How does it ride? They are very good looking bikes.

before (seller's pic)


after


was able to remove the latex house paint with goof off

Robbie,

I really like this one.

Every bit of it, including the color.

Way to go!

Fine work! Could you please tell me about your bar end shifters and any drive train changes? I'm working on an '80 Nishiki International. Thanks, Gary

before:


after:



after is something like a year and i'm thinking like 1000+ miles...