Hey everyone, I decided to sign up for the forum since I've recently gotten back into bikes! Away for about 10 years, this last week has been a serious crash course in everything cycling. Saturday a coworker brought in her bike and after taking a spin I was hooked. Sunday I found an intriguing listing on craigslist. Monday I drove to the other side of town and ended up buying the bike. Tuesday I washed, greased, oiled, and adjusted my bike then went for a two hour ride! ...yeah I was a little sore but it was fun. Every day since I've ridden for at least an hour, explored the local neighborhoods, and identified some issues that I will need to address. Issues that I am hopeful fellow board members can help me with.
I am a VERY visual person, I Love pictures! I have had this bike for less than a week and I already have almost 100 pictures of it! So I hope you can tolerate any image heavy posts that I will probably make, including this one. With that said, I present my bike!
Night of purchase
During cleaning
Artsy pics
My bike is a mid-late 1950's (I call it 1957-ish) Monark Rocket 24". It is a bit smaller than I was looking for but I cant find much info on the 24" bikes so I feel its a little bit more of an oddball and that's just fine with me. I plan on riding it every day I can for the next few weeks, right up until the adverse weather arrives. Once it does, I will start the restoration and upgrade. I intend to make it my daily rider, so I want it safe, practical, but still very vintage. Plans include new rims & spokes (keeping the vintage coaster), springer forks, upgraded brakes (discs are very tempting), and repainting the frame, fenders, tank, and rack; and a seat that actually has padding! Its a bit daunting listing out everything that I want to do but I hope with some help I can get it all done, and have a super awesome, slightly rat, vintage cruiser.
I am a VERY visual person, I Love pictures! I have had this bike for less than a week and I already have almost 100 pictures of it! So I hope you can tolerate any image heavy posts that I will probably make, including this one. With that said, I present my bike!
Night of purchase
During cleaning
Artsy pics
My bike is a mid-late 1950's (I call it 1957-ish) Monark Rocket 24". It is a bit smaller than I was looking for but I cant find much info on the 24" bikes so I feel its a little bit more of an oddball and that's just fine with me. I plan on riding it every day I can for the next few weeks, right up until the adverse weather arrives. Once it does, I will start the restoration and upgrade. I intend to make it my daily rider, so I want it safe, practical, but still very vintage. Plans include new rims & spokes (keeping the vintage coaster), springer forks, upgraded brakes (discs are very tempting), and repainting the frame, fenders, tank, and rack; and a seat that actually has padding! Its a bit daunting listing out everything that I want to do but I hope with some help I can get it all done, and have a super awesome, slightly rat, vintage cruiser.
