BIKES FROM POLAND

68z27 · Jan 18, 2024

My update - I used the fine grit valve grinding compound and it seemed to take out the imperfections left behind by the corrosion and bad ball brgs. The next step was to smooth out the fine scratches in the races. Using a metal polishing powder and water paste, I grabbed the dremmel tool and felt wheel (only because it was laying there) and as I expected it spun too fast even on the slowest setting. I then used my hand drill which took a little time but worked nicely. I don't have any pics (camera issues) but hope to show the loose brgs installed in my GIGI build. When I get pics I will post them there.......

GeePig · Jan 19, 2024

That sounds like excellent progress!

As it is winter I am spending most of my time in the city, taking the opportunity to overhaul my Wigry and Turing 2 that I keep here, particularly replacing their BB and cranks. I have already found some light damage to the non-crank side bearings, so I should have a small supply to experiment with when get back on my farm in the spring.

GeePig · May 29, 2024

The weather is nice, and here in Krasnystaw you can see quite a few old Romets. I found two here at our local supermarket.

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This one is a Jubilat 2, and it has the bubble moulded seat, but this one still has classic springs at the back. It is in really nice condition for a thirty to forty year old bike, still with most of its original features in good condition.

GeePig · Jun 12, 2024

This is the first one of these I have seen as a Romet and recognised - other than as someone riding something down a road.

I may have the same model hanging in my Warsztat, but that is on our farm and we are currently in the city, but that was not marked as a Romet and the state of the welding of those short bits between the down tubes was shoddier. I have also never seen these handlebars before, and they look quite nice

AP1GczNr1iYg-V4B3KprUv39U0xLgBrTzuL6H9QmC9AYhv5HxH0nB0v86ZSHu164sCixmnQxYGuuKHjN0hIdgaaOICpZZ3aOltHUL48lE2IoiIHuU7W-hfxVgEbBDHZ3yc1azMhKVu7Lr_i47FdUu_2JLj61kw=w1271-h953-s-no-gm

Now here on the other side, you can tell that it is an earlier frame because the dynamo is in the classic Romet rear wheel position rather than on the front forks.

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This bike must be 30-40 years old, but it is in fantastic condition.

It is also outside our favorite supermarket which, along with all the local kids bicycles locked up here, it is a good place to see bikes owned by older people in the town.

GeePig · Jul 10, 2024

Here is my version of the above bike, much younger at about 25 years old, from the period when so many Romets were built without any reference to Romet. This one was branded for a bike shop that no longer exists, far from Eastern Poland.

AP1GczOY5hu_s4AfYUyDnGLcjmi8meupu-Gy3Qi_26R7G1It6JFDo1lUhxnxQHAGJV1e-4D8Hpu5wauxHk3fcCnH1w995rqV7xEqzeP4F3DfTtaxekG6vDwoWC-4f89LVsdKrOT-4Vtfkv0yy02-px1uqha9Qg=w1303-h953-s-no-gm

The little bits of tubing connecting the front tubes are different, and not fully welded on, just kind of tacked in place. The Amsterdam behind it is a different bike, in terms of quality.

GeePig · Jul 10, 2024

Another Romet at my favorite spotting place, and in the window on the second picture you can also see the previous Romet I covered here.

This is the Wagant, available in either 5 or 10 speed versions, and on sale between the 1970s and the 1990s. This one looks like it is from the 1970s, judging by the seat.

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It looks like a decent bike, but the frame was heavy as they used a cheaper steel, which made it prone to crack down by the BB. However, this is Krasnystaw, home to many older riders still riding sensibly on their first adult bike.

Apparently they had Romet, Favorit and Shimano derailleurs, and this looks like a Favorit.

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I would like that front sprocket and also that aluminium shield behind the rear hub.

ifitsfreeitsforme · Jul 10, 2024

that's a heck of a rear-view mirror.

GeePig · Jul 31, 2024

ifitsfreeitsforme said:
that's a heck of a rear-view mirror.

or an offensive weapon

GeePig · Jul 31, 2024

Again from the same supermarket...

This is a Romet Agat, which is the non-foldable version of the Jubilat.

Actually, if I were to start looking for another bike then it would be one of these, if only because I have four Jubilats and it is a decent sized bike.

This one has had a bit of a repaint, but looking at its rear mudguard and bent front brake cable it could do with some maintenance.

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Judging by its saddle, it is probably from the 1970s, which is a long time for a cheap bike like this to still be in use.

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However, these bikes are ridden carefully and slowly, as they are the main piece of transport for people without huge incomes.

68z27 · Jul 31, 2024

GeePig said:
Again from the same supermarket...

This is a Romet Agat, which is the non-foldable version of the Jubilat.

Actually, if I were to start looking for another bike then it would be one of these, if only because I have four Jubilats and it is a decent sized bike.

This one has had a bit of a repaint, but looking at its rear mudguard and bent front brake cable it could do with some maintenance.

Judging by its saddle, it is probably from the 1970s, which is a long time for a cheap bike like this to still be in use.

However, these bikes are ridden carefully and slowly, as they are the main piece of transport for people without huge incomes.

Maybe I missed it, but what wheel size do these have?

GeePig · Aug 1, 2024

68z27 said:
Maybe I missed it, but what wheel size do these have?

Ha ha, that is something I often forget to mention...

Well, the Agat/Jubilat have 24" wheels, that red bike next to it is another Romet with 26" wheels. I am very fond of the 24" wheels, for some reason I cannot explain.

68z27 · Aug 2, 2024

That's the nice thing about this website, you're not required to have a reason to like something. You like what you like and that's cool......md

Wylly · Aug 4, 2024

GeePig said:
Again from the same supermarket...

This is a Romet Agat, which is the non-foldable version of the Jubilat.

Actually, if I were to start looking for another bike then it would be one of these, if only because I have four Jubilats and it is a decent sized bike.

This one has had a bit of a repaint, but looking at its rear mudguard and bent front brake cable it could do with some maintenance.

Judging by its saddle, it is probably from the 1970s, which is a long time for a cheap bike like this to still be in use.

However, these bikes are ridden carefully and slowly, as they are the main piece of transport for people without huge incomes.

Fascinating discussion of Polish bikes!
Do these pedals look familiar to you? (“In 1969, ZZR was renamed Romet Bicycle Works (Polish: Zakłady Rowerowe "Romet")”)
(Quote from Wikipedia)
I bought them on eBay and just refurbished them

GeePig · Oct 17, 2024

They certainly look like they were off some ZZR back in the 1960s, the bolts holding on the rubbers are probably metric, but they should fit straight on any cranks, other than on childrens's bikes of course.

Ulu · Oct 17, 2024

My 1960 Schwinn had very similar pedals.

GeePig · Oct 17, 2024

I would not be surprised if they copied or even bought them.

Ulu · Oct 17, 2024

They may have bought the actual tooling.
This always happened with cars. Old model tooling went to another country, where production resumed with new nameplates and upholstery.

GeePig · Nov 8, 2024

Or they fitted American pedals, so that the customers are happier about it?

Wylly · Nov 8, 2024

I’ll continue the drift away from “Polish bikes” to old pedals for a moment. I put these pedals on a 1944ish CWC frame build a few months ago and they’re great. The rubbers don’t spin and the surface is perfect. I mostly use old platform pedals on all my bikes and spinning rubbers bug me. I also like to be able to disassemble them for refurbishment.

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