Some of you weren't listening yesterday. I did mention you could only use one day as a "hide inside" day. So what happened today?
Hmmmm?
Well I guess I can let it slide this once. We did have a wonderful family come in today and give three bikes new homes. They rode off happily on a fun filled family fracas! Also managed to get the freakin cool three wheeler finished. This one is a real pip! A step in low slung early recumbent style Sun. And man can it move! Looks a little like a pedal car but it has some real get up and go!
Check out the pics!
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| FULLY REFURBED/REPAINTED SUN CYCLE RARE THREE WHEELER ONLY $250.00 |
Now on to the....
SCHWINN CHRONICLES!!
Recently we acquired a SWEET 1950 Schwinn Starlet (at least our research would lead us to believe it is a Starlet). Someone had allowed this gem to melt into the ground for over a decade before digging it out of the weeds and bringing it into us. Today I finally began it's refurb. Now there are some schools of thought as to how one should proceed with a restoration or whether they should proceed at all. Some feel you should not touch it at all, merely preserve it in whatever state you discover it in, preserving its originality. Others will painstakingly restore it meticulously utilizing all original parts. Both reasonable schools of thought but we build bikes to be ridden. Obviously we wish to make them look as good as possible in the process, but given the expense of a full restoration in today's day and age would seem rather impractical. And in the case of this gem, all parts are still there with the exception of the head lamp. She needs some MAJOR work but it wont be the first time we have brought a ride back from the long departed (the three wheeler will attest to that). So check out the pics below and follow us in the process to bring new life into this proud bit of American heritage.
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| STAGED FOR THE TEAR DOWN. CHECK OUT THE MARSH MELLOWED TIRES AND GRIPS! SHAME WHAT THE FLORIDA SUN DOES TO HISTORY! |
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| SHE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL TANK HORN! |
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| OH YES!!! THIS ONE HAS THE RARE SKIP TOOTH!!! CHECK OUT E-BAY ON THIS RANGING IN VALUE OF $149-$500.!!! |
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| CAREFULLY SOAKING IN RUSTICATE! |
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| A SHELL OF HER FORMER SELF |
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| BIKE IN A BUCKET! |
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| PAINSTAKINGLY PROGRESSIVELY HAND SANDED! |
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| FIRST TWO COATS OF PRIMER! |
You all have a great night!
Steven, I don't mean to insult you here but I gotta say it: You, Sir, are a man of honor. Thanks for the clarifiction on the tandem rebuild. I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the different camps when it comes to restoring old bikes, you and I both pitch our tents in the same neck of the woods: Rebuild the booger and ride it! That tandem of mine, by the way, is over 50 years old, and that was the third time I've brought it down to bare metal and rebuilt it from scratch. 'Tis a fine machine, sleek as an otter and just as fast. (And only slightly heavier!)
Hi-ho!
Uncle Chippie