raliegh resto
 

I have inherited my dad's truly beautiful 1970 raliegh touring bike. Was top of the line in it's day, and works great even today. There is no major rust on the aluminum frame, but a little more on the steel fork. It looks like the chrome (the bike appears to be chrome) has peeled a little and rust is setting in near the top of the fork. I am going to hit it with some Oxalic acid, and I think that will get most of it. Otherwise, I may have to get it stripped and re-chromed. (I really hope not, because I'm a poor college student...). But the biggest problem, is that on top of the chrome, there was black paint in spots over the chrome (like for decoration). My dad toured all around the U.S. and Europe with it, and I know it has alot of sentimental value to him, and I would like to restore it. The main question I have is, how is the best way to touch up the black paint peeling off the chrome? I can attach some pictures of it later.

Thanks alot!

1. The frame is steel, not aluminum.

2. We want pictures! This sounds like a great bike and a worthy project and we want to get our vicarious jollies from you!

my dad kept telling me it was aluminum, but I secretly had my doubts because a) most touring bikes are steel and b) it has rust, even a little, which suggests steel... but I will take some pictures tomorrow and upload them, for sure. He told me, he toured so much on it, the only things original left on it are the frame, fork, handlebar and seat. (but do I get looks from having a leather seat, especially from college kids haha).

Easy way to solve this is to see if a magnet sticks to it.

It's steel. Here's some pictures. It looks to be a gran sport, I believe from 1970. I know the drivetrain is not original, it was put on when the old one broke and he was touring. Is it worth it to find the original parts on ebay or something? What would be the best way to touch up the paint?

Thanks,

Alex