Old French nail

inseine

Struggling to post a not very interesting photo! I'll have another go, but don't hold your breath :oops:

inseine

There you go. I'll try some more





I've bought a few old bikes recently. I think I was feeling nostalgic for the ones I'd got rid of when they weren't fashionable (don't mention the Colnago low pro, with Delta brakes.....). This one was bough from the guy who bought it back in 1980 for 2500francs. Hardly ridden (see the little cardboard protecters on the brakes) so a good clean and it looks OK. Needs a lick of paint really.
Campanolo Gran Sport throughout ('cept seat post) and the bearings turn like butter.

happytramp

Wow. That's in good nick. Lovely.

inseine

I took a fair bit of elbow grease, but underneath it was as new, except for the paintwork and stickers which I really need to redo.

greasedscotsman

Hmm, shiney!

rolf_f

Both your bikes look like they have better paint than my Raleigh and I wouldn't want to repaint that. An old bike loses a lot when you repaint it. I wish the Americans understood the concept of patina

inseine

Yes Rolf, I've got a few old bikes with dodgy paint and I'm torn what to do. I guess I'd like one that was perfect, plus with the Olmo I could put the correct Olmo stickers on.

smidsy

Rolf F wrote:

I wish the Americans understood the concept of patina

I just wish they could speak English properly, they have loads of trouble with Loughborough. :P

Hoopdriver

Love the bike!

That is really beautiful - and tres stylish. You're a lucky guy.

inseine

You're a lucky guy

I'm a bit obsessive combing the local small adds and once in a while there's a cracker at a low price. The French seem to fallen out with old bikes.

Yellow Peril

inseine wrote:

Yes Rolf, I've got a few old bikes with dodgy paint and I'm torn what to do. I guess I'd like one that was perfect, plus with the Olmo I could put the correct Olmo stickers on.

Ah but would putting Olmo stickers on be correct? On your Olmo thread you said that the shop (Mexico?) trasnferred up bikes with their own transfers. I think the Mexico transfers on your Olmo make it fairly unique other than that it is just another Olmo and not one supplied by Mexico.

I would suggest if it were a classic car or motorcycle and it had unique dealer decals the owner would look to keep them as part of the provenance of the bike or car.

inseine

Yellow, you're right. I'll have to pomder that one. I've tripped the 'Olmo' and the stickers are on top of the paint. I could probably have them remade at work, but I'll way up whether its worth reprinting the frame first.

Yellow Peril

It's a fine brace of bikes you have there Inseine. I look forward to mor pics and updates

inseine

Thanks yellow. I managed to order some lever hoods today at a more reasonable price and some rubber O rings for the calipers. I've dismantled the bike and the bits are looking good with a bit of polish. I'm going to degrease all the bearings so there's still work to do.
It's amazing the quality of these old bikes and how little they're worth. Shame it's not the same with classic cars?

Yellow Peril

inseine wrote:

Thanks yellow. I managed to order some lever hoods today at a more reasonable price and some rubber O rings for the calipers. I've dismantled the bike and the bits are looking good with a bit of polish. I'm going to degrease all the bearings so there's still work to do.
It's amazing the quality of these old bikes and how little they're worth. Shame it's not the same with classic cars?

TBH I'd sooner have a good classic cycle like yours than a classic car. I've still got a Thorn Brevet "special edition" which I bought when I got into cycling in the mid 90's. St John street Cycles were obviously shifting the last of the 1" steerers and bar end shifters so they gave it a nice red white and blue paint job on the 531c frame.

At the time SJS were buying a lot of advertising space in cycling plus and so in return C+ bleew a lot of smoke out of SJS's @rse when it came to bike reviews and so it seemed like a good idea to buy although I could have got something more "modern". I paid £750 and it had a mix of Sore and RX100 on it. To put it in perspective at ther beginning of 2007 I bought a Dolan alloy woith carbon rear triangle and full 105 and paid about the same for it!

It has given good service but is languishing on the garage wall. Having seen your bikes I'm minded to make it the next project. Steel is such a sweet ride.

inseine

I was disappointed having let all my old bikes go ( hand built 532, 753 etc always with campag) but I realized that in France you can still pick them up cheap. If you want a old 'project' it seems like a good time to buy. I paid 110 euros for the France loire, which gets you, what, a top end saddle or pair of tyres?
I spent 20 odd years as a car designer so I have a soft spot for motors, though my 11 bikes show where my passion lies ( plus its my job, or that's what I tell the wife!).

Hoopdriver

inseine wrote:

You're a lucky guy

I'm a bit obsessive combing the local small adds and once in a while there's a cracker at a low price. The French seem to fallen out with old bikes.

I ought to start doing that. i'd love to find a bike like that!

rolf_f

inseine wrote:

Yes Rolf, I've got a few old bikes with dodgy paint and I'm torn what to do. I guess I'd like one that was perfect, plus with the Olmo I could put the correct Olmo stickers on.

It's never easy! With the Raleigh, if I did get it repainted, the frame would be the smartest part of the bike so then I'd maybe end up looking for more mintier components - and then it wouldn't be the same bike anymore! I do look out for similar frames in worse condition though on the off chance I'll find one my conscience will let me paint!