A while back I started lurking here and wanted to start compiling some parts to build a custom bike of my own. I love the creative minds here and wanted to try my hand at it.
A while ago, while visiting my in-laws, I asked them to keep an eye out for any old bikes. My wife's stepmom says, "go look at our old bikes and see if there are any you like." They had a '90s generic mountain bike that my sis-in-law had rode pretty hard, a simple 20" standard that was my kid bro-in-laws, and....a really cool looking older "comfort" road bike....with a chrome frame! I mentioned that the older one struck my fancy. No real indication of whether it was available or not, so.....
Skip a couple weeks, and my Pa-in-law calls and says that the local bike shop told him that it would cost more to "fix" the bike than it was worth. Maybe so. Then he asks if I would be interested before they got rid of it. "SURE!" A couple weeks later, we're back in Richmond and I get the bike in the back of the Suburban for the trek home. Here it is in all it's pre-cleaning glory....
My plans are to clean it up, make some reversible modifications, and enjoy it! I've already started cleaning it with WD-40 and 4/0 steel wool. So far it's looking really good. Ordered new tires/tubes/rimstrips. Took the front wheel completely apart, cleaned/polished the rim, and relaced the spokes. Thrned out pretty good for how far gone they were. Flipped the "moustache" bar over for a boardtrack feel. I have to find a replacement rear fender...way too much surface rust to clean up.
After some research, it seems to be a Raleigh-built Jordan Marsh bike, and judging from the build date on the Sturmey/Archer A.W. rear hub, is a 1961 model! Pa-in-law said he bought it used in 1972-3. If anyone has any additional info or assistance, let me know!
I'll post progress pics as soon as I get them taken!
Thanks for looking!
A while ago, while visiting my in-laws, I asked them to keep an eye out for any old bikes. My wife's stepmom says, "go look at our old bikes and see if there are any you like." They had a '90s generic mountain bike that my sis-in-law had rode pretty hard, a simple 20" standard that was my kid bro-in-laws, and....a really cool looking older "comfort" road bike....with a chrome frame! I mentioned that the older one struck my fancy. No real indication of whether it was available or not, so.....
Skip a couple weeks, and my Pa-in-law calls and says that the local bike shop told him that it would cost more to "fix" the bike than it was worth. Maybe so. Then he asks if I would be interested before they got rid of it. "SURE!" A couple weeks later, we're back in Richmond and I get the bike in the back of the Suburban for the trek home. Here it is in all it's pre-cleaning glory....
My plans are to clean it up, make some reversible modifications, and enjoy it! I've already started cleaning it with WD-40 and 4/0 steel wool. So far it's looking really good. Ordered new tires/tubes/rimstrips. Took the front wheel completely apart, cleaned/polished the rim, and relaced the spokes. Thrned out pretty good for how far gone they were. Flipped the "moustache" bar over for a boardtrack feel. I have to find a replacement rear fender...way too much surface rust to clean up.
After some research, it seems to be a Raleigh-built Jordan Marsh bike, and judging from the build date on the Sturmey/Archer A.W. rear hub, is a 1961 model! Pa-in-law said he bought it used in 1972-3. If anyone has any additional info or assistance, let me know!
I'll post progress pics as soon as I get them taken!
Thanks for looking!
