Parts Department - I got 99 problems but a project bike aint one

General Post your ride
#1

Hi, Hello, Yes?

Are build threads still a thing or am I 10 years too late? #makeforumsgreatagain

I’ll preface this by saying that I’m a bit of a hoarder and have a thing for mediocre bikes of which this thread will have many. Case in point, this thing…

Ridgeback 'Classic’

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Those are the sellers photos of it which say more than a thousand words, the whole thing was a sorry sight. Mismatched cranks, paint was a mess, pick n mix selection of shifters, brakes, wheels, etc.

So far all I’ve done is blow it apart and began stripping the paint with a wire wheel, no shops within 5k’s stock paint stripper unfortunately.

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(excuse the chaos that is my garage)

Build Plans

  • Paint of some description
  • 28c tyres
  • Planet Bike silver fenders
  • Parts bin components
  • 6/7/8 speed drivetrain, undecided whether i’ll be Shimergo-ing something or just using some downtube shifters
  • Some sort of front rack or modified Wald 137 possibly

Idea is to make it nice but not too nice as it’ll be a station/shops/lock up bike.

Anywho, here’s some inspiration

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#2

very blessed thread, subscribed.

#3

I’m pretty down with the mediocre bikes thing too I gotta say. Coincidentally I have an old Ridgeback hybrid that will get a restore at some point.

#4

I often find the mediocre bikes with lots of character are the ones you like the most over some new fancy thing

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#5

The Ridgeback I mentioned I picked up for $25. Freed (sp?) up the gummy shifters and adjusted the derailleurs and rode it :heart_eyes:

#6

Cheap(ish), accessible bikes for the win! Father in law has whatever the current highest spec Giant TCR is and whilst I can appreciate it from a technological & engineering perspective (crabon, Di2, power meter, etc), it just seems soulless.

Got the rest of the frame stripped last night after work, 3/10 would not recommend a wire wheel to strip a frame if you like staying clean.

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Just waiting on some primer to rock up in the post and then I can start on that step of the project. I’ve got 3 colours that are on the cards which I might spray some test pieces this weekend to decide, hopefully many sparkles much wow so NJS

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#7

Did a test spray of the colours that I have on hand for this bike this afternoon, pain the butt to try and photograph but you get the general idea. Dupli-Color Metal Specks range for those of you playing along at home.

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Leaning towards the red personally, mostly because it reminds me of Samson track bikes

#8

Mocked up some bits and pieces over the weekend before I was fully commited to the project to make sure it was going to all work together as intended.

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In the picture it’s got 32c Vittoria Randonneurs which would work except the fenders hit the brake caliper long before they’re even close to the frame or fork, could probably fit something larger if a dry arse wasn’t a requirement.

Found an Exage 300EX groupset in the parts pin, so that’s having a bath in the parts washer currently. Will be running downtube shifters in friction mode on a 9 speed cassette as I seem to have about 5 of those in the parts bin as well.

Just need a nice sunny weekend so I can lay down some primer and paint.

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