Hi everyone! I’m getting back to you with the results of my full restoration of the trashed bike I posted about previously.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Vintage_bicycles/comments/1qpcpvw/comment/o2cfxmk/
This was my first-ever vintage restoration, and it was a massive learning curve. The bike was heavily neglected, likely for decades, so I dismantled it down to the last screw. My goal was to preserve the original patina while ensuring it was mechanically perfect and period-correct.
- The Bottom Bracket Struggle: This was the only defeat. I couldn't get the drive-side cup of the BB to budge. Despite soaking it in penetrating oil for days and using the proper wrench, I didn't want to risk marring the cap or the frame, especially since I don't have a full workshop or a bike stand (I live in a flat). I managed a full service through the left side for now and will leave the drive side for a professional down the road.
- The Stem & Bars: The original Cinelli stem had deep grooves from galvanic corrosion and was unsafe. I couldn't find an exact Cinelli replacement in the length I wanted, so I went with a near-NOS 3ttt stem and matching bars.
- The Headset : I damaged the original top nut during removal because it was so corroded to the fork. I found an identical replacement headset, but it was black anodized. I used a lye bath to strip the anodization back to raw aluminum to match the original look.
- The Wheels: The original tubular rims were in rough shape (the rear was badly dented). I made a decision to switch to clinchers for practicality, and managed to source a beautiful set of Mavic rims laced to Campagnolo Victory hubs.
Almost every single part went through an ultrasonic cleaner and thorough manual cleaning and inspection. I polished the components that were originally high-polish but left the character marks on the frame to respect its history. I even managed to restore the original saddle. No paint touch ups on the frame. I also treated the internals of the frame to prevent corrosion in the future.
I took it out for the first spin today. It rides incredibly smooth, and that metallic blue paint is stunning in the sunlight and the photos really don't do it justice.
I’ve attached a table with the full component breakdown I tracked during the build for those interested.
The final bill came to around 450 euros for parts, with the new wheelset and hubs being the largest expense. I also invested about 150 euros in special tools and wrenches. I’ve reached out to the original owner of the shop where the frame was assembled with some questions, but I’m still waiting to hear back.
Any feedback or suggestions are appreciated!
by pixmartin