About a decade ago I acquired a 1970 Raleigh Grand Prix. I replaced most of the components, including the whole drivetrain. When first opening up the bottom bracket, I noticed that oddly, it was filled with seeds. I kept them with the intention of planting to see what they were, but unfortunately lost track of them along the way.
The drivetrain is now in need of a cleanup and lube, so to prepare I found a video on YouTube of a vintage Raleigh overhaul. The mechanic in the video opened up the bottom bracket, and… seeds! Is this a thing?! Some sort of Raleigh time capsule? I can’t find much on the internet, but it’s such an odd coincidence.
[The seed discovery moment](https://youtu.be/ebo4DOK4MVc?t=151)
by DJG513
8 Comments
Pretty regular with old bikes. Things find their way in and store things… like if they get in the hole in the top of the seat post 😬
I’ve opened up dozens my collection (almost all vintage Raliegh) flipped a number as well and don’t recall finding seeds. But to be fair, I wasn’t really looking.
The seat tube drains into the BB (its how you lube the BB without removing the cranks – TBS of straight 30 weight motor oil) , so I could imagine a bug or something living in there or something fallen in if it was saddleless for a while.
Chipmunks living in the seat tube?
Mice. The thing sits in a barn or basement for a while with no seatpost in it, mice get in and store stuff. I certainly find mouse seed caches in my shop regularly. I recall seeing photos way back of a dried out mouse someone found in a frame at some point.
I’ve found seeds in my Motobecane, it’s just various rodents stashing things down th seat tube.
I found pieces of an acorn in mine.
Ha, I have a circa 1970 Grand Prix. When I open up the bottom bracket I’ll see if there are any seeds.
Critters once filled the airbox on my motorcycle with acorns.