Polo Bike Rescue

[ParkRNDL]

So, almost two years ago, a friend messaged to say her dad was cleaning out and downsizing to sell his house. He was getting rid of a bunch of bicycles that were rotting in the garage, and what should he ask for them at the yard sale, and was I interested in any of them? I have a soft spot for Ross musclebikes, so this is the one I asked her to put aside for me:

I stashed it at my parents' house in NY, and then COVID hit, so it took me till this spring to finally get it home to PA.

Then in June 2020, a guy in a Ross bike Facebook group (who happened to live not far from my parents in NY) posted this for $40:

I needed the sissy, chain guard, and seat post for sure, and could probably use the fork, crank, pedals, even the head badge. For a bike that had already been "harvested," this one had a lot of stuff I could still use. Again, COVID put a damper on the party, as I couldn't get up there to pick it up. I checked back with him this summer to see if there was any chance it was still around. Lucky me, he still had it, and I picked it up this weekend.

Last piece of the puzzle: wheels. Just so happens that the carcass of this has been sitting in my basement for years, with the correct Ross wheels still on it:

Time to get to bolting things together! I had half considered waiting for the MBBO, but it'd kill me to have it sitting here that long.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Yeah man, I feel that. I've started piling up bikes and parts for the March Muscle thing, AND IT'S KILLING ME TO WAIT

 

[ParkRNDL]

spent the last couple of days on this one. this is where I started yesterday:

Wet wadded tinfoil worked wonders here:

and this is where we are now:

It's a Polobike, not a Barracuda, and it's not a three speed, but the guard matched so well I just had to use it.

Headbadge is currently held on with hot glue, but I'm open to better ideas. Screws are decorative.

The chain guard mount is ugly. The donor bike had a hole for the mount drilled under the BB shell whereas this frame has the hole on the top of the BB shell, and I was not about to drill another hole in it. It seemed less destructive to me to drill out the rivets holding the mount to the guard and fake something together using stuff I had in the existing holes.

With the tiny little cranks, it is absolutely NOT a long-distance rider, but it's gonna be a great little scoot for riding around car shows or flea markets or stuff like that.

 

[ParkRNDL]

A couple of people asked me about the Jan Brady seat, so I tried something else I had sitting around here. Looks a hundred times better. Now I gotta do another photo shoot LOL.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Having too much fun, considering these bikes are torture to ride any farther than the end of the block. But I LOVE the way they look...

The guy I bought the parts bike from had also listed a similar girls' bike in purple.

When I went to pick up the orange one, he offered me the purple one for 20 bucks. Couldn't resist. So I threw some bars and wheels at it.

Didn't expect to end up with a his-and-hers set, but there it is...

 

[Swampthing]

I have a frame that could probably rock that Brady Bunch seat.

 

[Oldbikeguy1960]

Having too much fun, considering these bikes are torture to ride any farther than the end of the block. But I LOVE the way they look...
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The guy I bought the parts bike from had also listed a similar girls' bike in purple.
View attachment 166712

When I went to pick up the orange one, he offered me the purple one for 20 bucks. Couldn't resist. So I threw some bars and wheels at it.
View attachment 166713View attachment 166714View attachment 166716View attachment 166717View attachment 166718

Didn't expect to end up with a his-and-hers set, but there it is...
View attachment 166715

Man you have a good throwing arm! The wheels and bars landed right where they belong.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Man you have a good throwing arm! The wheels and bars landed right where they belong.

Hahahahaha... it's funny, I just traded that purple bike for a 15 x 7 steelie for my old Impala. Needed it to complete the set of 4.

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

that Impala is sweet.

 

[Oldbikeguy1960]

1965?

 

[ParkRNDL]

that Impala is sweet.

thanks!

1965?

yes sir. had it since 1994. 283/2bbl/Powerglide. Just converted to front disc brakes, also upgraded cooling system. More to come as finances permit.

 

[Oldbikeguy1960]

First car 1n 1978 was a 1965 Super Sport 327 4 speed.
Had a red 1965 Super Sport 327 Powerglide in 1982.
One of my favorite cars.