the 'Iron Horse' :)
mr_eddy
Posts: 830
Ok before you reserve judgement let me regale you with the 'how it became to be story' of this particular bike.
Not to long ago I noticed an ad in the local paper for a old Giant road bike for sale, in my size. It had really bad flaking paint, the headset and cables were shot but the 14spd 400EX groupset was mostly fine. Best part is he only wanted £30 for it. I bought it, the intended use was for a general run about / commute / hack bike but I have come to love this old steel steed, so much so I have sold my single speed due to lack of use !
I have given it a new baby blue / purple paint job with a tenner's worth of rattle cans and a coat of laquer, I sorted the mechanicals with bits and bobs I had around. Total costs and what I have done:
Original bike = £30
New Shimano R400 brake levers = 99p Online auction, bargain and never used
New brake pads = no cost had parts already
New super thick bar tape = no cost had parts already
New gear cables = £5
New brake cables = Free had parts already
New rear wheel = £25 decathlon (heavy but rock solid)
New rear 7spd Shimano freewheel = £10 online
New Altus 7/8spd rear mech = £10 online
New Flow Tourer saddle = £15 online
New Nutrak 28c tyres = Free had parts already
Sigma Bike computer = Free taken off old bike
Total cost with all the above bits £95 !
Its no light weight coming in at a cool 11kg's but I am not the a%$e in the air racer type - a bad back put a stop to that.
I have owned various road bikes but this is by far the most comfortable, Other than the 15 mile round trip to work and back (where it is faultless and fast) it regularly does 40-50 mile weekend rides no problem at all. The 28c tyres are slower to get up to speed but offer supreme comfort and still allow me to maintain around 18-20mph on the flats which is fine by me.
Also there is a real sense of achievement when passing or indeed keeping up with someone on some carbon showpiece, also as my waistline grows its nice to know that the extra weight adds up to extra calories burned
Also I have had not 1 puncture, on all the 23c tyres I have tried from the likes of Conti / Schwalbe and Michelin I have ended up with a puncture despite being pumped up to my usual 100psi
Just goes to show that a fully useable and reliable bike that works does not have to brake the bank. I admit its not exactly a looker but I defy (no pun inteneded) anyone to show me how to get a decent reliable bike with full branded groupset for less than £100 (without resorting to stealing)
Not to long ago I noticed an ad in the local paper for a old Giant road bike for sale, in my size. It had really bad flaking paint, the headset and cables were shot but the 14spd 400EX groupset was mostly fine. Best part is he only wanted £30 for it. I bought it, the intended use was for a general run about / commute / hack bike but I have come to love this old steel steed, so much so I have sold my single speed due to lack of use !
I have given it a new baby blue / purple paint job with a tenner's worth of rattle cans and a coat of laquer, I sorted the mechanicals with bits and bobs I had around. Total costs and what I have done:
Original bike = £30
New Shimano R400 brake levers = 99p Online auction, bargain and never used
New brake pads = no cost had parts already
New super thick bar tape = no cost had parts already
New gear cables = £5
New brake cables = Free had parts already
New rear wheel = £25 decathlon (heavy but rock solid)
New rear 7spd Shimano freewheel = £10 online
New Altus 7/8spd rear mech = £10 online
New Flow Tourer saddle = £15 online
New Nutrak 28c tyres = Free had parts already
Sigma Bike computer = Free taken off old bike
Total cost with all the above bits £95 !
Its no light weight coming in at a cool 11kg's but I am not the a%$e in the air racer type - a bad back put a stop to that.
I have owned various road bikes but this is by far the most comfortable, Other than the 15 mile round trip to work and back (where it is faultless and fast) it regularly does 40-50 mile weekend rides no problem at all. The 28c tyres are slower to get up to speed but offer supreme comfort and still allow me to maintain around 18-20mph on the flats which is fine by me.
Also there is a real sense of achievement when passing or indeed keeping up with someone on some carbon showpiece, also as my waistline grows its nice to know that the extra weight adds up to extra calories burned
Also I have had not 1 puncture, on all the 23c tyres I have tried from the likes of Conti / Schwalbe and Michelin I have ended up with a puncture despite being pumped up to my usual 100psi
Just goes to show that a fully useable and reliable bike that works does not have to brake the bank. I admit its not exactly a looker but I defy (no pun inteneded) anyone to show me how to get a decent reliable bike with full branded groupset for less than £100 (without resorting to stealing)
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Comments
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I like it.
Pop some purple bar tape on and would actually be quit a cool looker0 -
I love this bike, hope it brings you many happy miles.0
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Its horrendous but props for giving it a good home lol.the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.0
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It ain't pretty but it's great for £90 If you have a bad back I can sympathise 100% and if it fits you it is much better than a fancy one that kills you every time you go out on it0
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Wow. That is the single most hideous thing I have ever seen. Good work. :shock:0
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If I were a bike...I would tap that.0
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That's a proper hack at hack prices.
I got rather carried away with my 80s Peugeot hack build. Nonetheless, didn't stop me riding it like it was the 80s. i.e. skids in Safeways' carpark, and dropping it on the pedals when I went in to buy some Lemon Sherbets.0 -
very canny.
good work...0 -
Can we please have some close up pictures.0
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Lovely bike this.
Could you please get a couple of close up pics of the paintwork? I'm thinking about stripping an old one of mine and giving it a makeover, preferably with a rattle can (price) but would be interested in seeing what quality to expect
Thanks0 -
My God, my eyes, sorry but that is an absolute abortion!
Stems too high, bars rotated badly, shifters too high, saddle too low, rear brake cable outer too long, paint horrendous, colour scheme terrible, bar tape doesn't match.
You could have turned this into a nice bike, but unfortunately it is a total fail.
Sorry!0 -
What pedals have you fitted?0
