Hello, everyone. This will be my first experience of rebuilding a bicycle, and I don't have any knowledge about it. I want to transform an old bike I have into a usable road bike. It's a steel-framed bike that has been sitting in the basement for years, and it has a nostalgic value for me.
I'm planning to replace almost all the parts, especially the wheels, brakes, and gears. Since I don’t know where to start, I wanted to consult you. Do you think it's worth rebuilding this old bike or should I consider getting a new one? Also, do you have any recommendations for affordable yet quality parts? Where can I buy these parts? I'm looking for advice on everything from A to Z.
Thanks in advance for your help!
by phoboscnk
24 Comments
1. It will always cost more to restore a bike than to buy a comparable / slightly better used one. If you want to replace most of the drivetrain incl. wheels etc. it’ll add up.
2. Think about the tools you will need, if you don’t have any that’ll add up. For most parts you don’t need very special tools and there’s good workarounds, some others are necessary, e.g. bottom bracket adapter / tool will be necessary.
3. Decide on old vs new; restoring the given parts is mostly doable (obv. depending on state). Converting the bike to modern components is doable, but you need to know exactly what you’re aiming for with the build given the limits of your bike. This might be a different bottom bracket threading / standard or hub spacing.
4. Be aware of research time. Be sure you’ll enjoy it. I’m on the same journey since around two months altogether. I’m rebuilding a Peugeot Aspin with a complete modern STI drivetrain. It’s amazing fun to start researchinb all the bits and parts and plan everything before starting. It’ll definitely be more expensive than buying a comparable used modern one, but I’m in it for the journey and learning part.
[https://www.sheldonbrown.com/](https://www.sheldonbrown.com/) is always a good start. There’s a good amount of videos out there explaining everything better than most of us redditors ever could.
The decision to commit is yours in the end 😉
The quick thing is can see: you cannot mount modern race bike brakes because you don’t have the recessed bolt holes
Ok…. What size are the wheels? Freewheel or cassette? Brakes look to be long reach, so you will have to keep that in mind if you want to replace them.
My advice would be: if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Make it so that oy the frame is gonna remain the fork the seat the oedels the gears even the Handel change all of it
Don’t. It’ll be cheaper to just buy something rideable. Or if you’re dead set on doing this restoration, just make it a single speed.
I’m all for rebuilding old bikes and love quality old steel road bikes. This bike is unfortunately not that. It looks like a super low end department store level bike. If you want something worthy of rebuilding you need to start with a nicer vintage frame. 80s steel road bikes used some really nice steel and are really quality bikes to build up.
Nobody can give you all the advice from A to Z in a reddit comment when your background knowledge is limited. Go check out RJTheBikeGuy on youtube. His channel has all the resources you need. You’ll watch a lot of videos and if you’re still confused it means you haven’t watched enough of his videos yet
It is missing the derailleurs and, as you know, it is currently a single speed.
What is it you really want? You say there is nostalgia value, but was it for the 10 speed it once was or for this single speed that it has become?
Do you just want the experience of overhauling a bike?
If you are just nostalgic for the bike, cheapest way is to get a more damaged bike cheap and use it as a donor- move the useful parts to this frame.
As others noted, it would be a lot cheaper and easier to buy a used good quality bike than to try to do anything with this one.
Waste of time, effort and money on such a rough shape, low quality bike
That’s a REALLY WEIRD BB. I would make it into a fixed gear only, it would be very hard to put modern stuff onto that bike
My taint shrank at the sight of those wheels.
Will be cheaper to buy a used bike in good working condition
Start with a better bike
Bro that is not a bike worth putting a single dollar into. It’s a piece of shit. It’s not a vintage or classic bike
Don’t do it
That particular bike I wouldn’t waste your time or effort. I commend wanting to learn but that’s not the one. Speaking from personal experience here. But I also just rebuilt a 1981 univega with more modern components so who am I to say? Also find out if you have a co-op locally they will be a big help.
Sheldonbrown.com
Why add to the ever growing waste when it could be fixed and maybe made better. Even if the bicycle cost less than £/$100, if it means something to the OP then it will be worth fixing.
This bike frame isn’t worth it.
I personally wouldn’t. But it is a Cromo frame so it’s a bonus . Maybe go single speed or even a fixed gear👍
This bike does not seem worth the time needed to drive it to the dump. Why would you make it a restoration project?
Look for a local bike co-op or bike shop that deals in used parts. You’ll have to be ready to spend more than it’s “worth” and are very unlikely to get your money back if you need/want to sell it. I’d start by only fixing the things needed to get it on the road.
On the plus side you can’t make this one much worse lol. Just dive in and have fun!
I think you should just buy a newer frame, I get the sentimental value but you’ll struggle to find parts for that
what’s the make and model?