Fixing up a old Emmelle "Team replica"

zhang
zhang Posts: 222
edited August 2012 in Workshop
emmelle.JPG

I've got this old road bike which I'm thinking of fixing up and taking back to uni with me. I think it's from the 80s and it has a heavy steel frame. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about bike repair but I've identified a few issues with it:

1. The gears don't work properly. The bike has friction shifters on the frame, The cables are rusty. How do I adjust/replace them?

2. The tires look like the originals and the front one doesn't stay inflated for very long. I think I might just replace the inner tube since that is probably 20+ years old too. Does anyone know what size wheels/tires these bikes originally game with? 27"?

3. I'm thinking of converting the bike to a singlespeed later on. I understand that to get a straight chainline I need to redish the rear wheel. Is there any way I can do this myself without a dishing tool?

Thanks guys!

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    1) undo anchor bolts and pull the cable out. Get familar with the park tools website. There is a repair guide there. Why bother retyping what is already written down. http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
    2) tyre size on tyre xx-622 is a700c size xx-630 is a 27" size.
    3) if you have a freewheel getting the right chainline will be tough. The SS freeheel is not as wide require a different BB (axle) to move the chain ring closer to the frame. There is only so far you can go however. Changing to a SS freewheel does not change the locknuts so the wheel will not need redishing. So a single speed wheel with extra washer to take it to 126 or 130mm OLD is an easier but more expensive option. If you are using a cassette it is alot easier as you can position the sporcket anywhere you want. The wheel is dished so it is centre between the locknuts.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    1980s is a sound guess. When I was at university my mate had something similar that he bought brand new from the LBS. Someone told me that "Emmelle" refers to ML - Moore Large, who were an importer of various bike bits and bobs (and may still be for all I know). While you're doing your overhaul, check that the handlebar stem isn't set too high, it's just looking a little bit long for a quill stem.
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • Bmack84
    Bmack84 Posts: 2
    I have just done up the exact same bike. The original wheels are 27"
  • zhang
    zhang Posts: 222
    Looks like the original wheels (and tyres!) are still on there. What sort of work did you do on yours?
  • Bmack84
    Bmack84 Posts: 2
    well mine had belonged to my brother, and had spent a number of years decaying in the garden, so it needed new: wheels, tyres, chain, free wheel, cables etc. However it was certainly worth it, its a really fun bike to ride, although I have to admit that if I need to carry anything I use my other bike. Put any thing but the lightest load on the pannier rack and it handles like a pig! but for dashing about at a silly pace its a great laugh.

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