Rot Oma (Omafiets / Granny bicycle) Salvage

[BartRidesEternal]

Months ago I found this bicycle along the road, abandoned. The patina appealed to me. My neighbors reminded me that I am weird, so I am on the right track

Back home I found out that it was not rotten. Usually these cheap workhorses have fenders that come loose or are rotten through.

So I quickly added some grease film from a spray can (white colour) so I could leave it in the garden and fix it later.
The wheels are very bad. Hubs ok.

This week I found a new 28" (622) wheel with a Sturmey Archer S2C for a very cheap price and decided to purchase it.

A few days later I found a front wheel, 28" (622) in the trash that is perfectly fine: spoke tension, bearing races and drum brake are very good! Just dirty. People throw stuff away sometimes....

So now is the time to start a build thread. This is a perfect base for a Dutch ratrod.

I ordered some cream tires (Schwalbe FatFrank 28x2.00") and tubes.

I am thinking about painting the rims red (classic ratrod) or dark brown. What do you think looks the part? I have a weak spot for red rims.

Name:
 RotOma
Since it is a 'Omafiets' (granny bicycle) and its rotten.
RotOma is translated like having a bad grandma. Anyway I found it an entertaining name

Goal: Have fun! Build a technically perfect bicycle that looks like crap. And keep a tight budget. So far:
Rear wheel 40 euro.
Tires and tubes 60 euro.

Pictures:

As found with grease added.

Front wheel

Checking width

New rear wheel

Less turns to remove a bolt, that is efficiënt!!

Patina looks very good, love it!
Nothing rotten through or in bad shape. Great start for a ratrod!

Brown for the rims? Or red? Creme tires. I'll let that sink in.

Thanks for watching!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Hey Bart your Oma looks bad to the bone!

If I were you, I would hang on to the fancy gazelle nuts on that front hub. They look like Raleigh nuts, which are an unusual proprietary threading.

 

[Wildcat]

Looks like a good project. 28 x 2.00 inch tires ordered? I see only 40mm clearance on the chain stays in the pic, that's about an inch and a half.

With a black frame, red rims might be a good bet.

 

[ingola]

Hey Bart your Oma looks bad to the bone!View attachment 224684
If I were you, I would hang on to the fancy gazelle nuts on that front hub. They look like Raleigh nuts, which are an unusual proprietary threading.

I don't think the gazelle nuts have proprietary threading. Not all raliegh axles have the same if the hub has sturmey archer axles they won't but if there Raleigh stamped they do.those are sturmey archer hubs so threading should be normal. European bikes are fun

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

enclosed chain - neat.

 

[Endlesschain]

hummm I will take a can of the brown please, red for me just isn't hitting the spot for this bike, but I would paint the crank arms to match the wheels and would get brown or cream grips and seat WITH a layback seatpost flip the bars upsidedown for the cafe racer look, a bold move that only some people seem to take is painting rims and parts lighter shades of blue through to seafoam colours, just dropping a hint there of a different path to ride down, I think you have a decent bike that gives you some options of how you can go, love it

 

[ingola]

hummm I will take a can of the brown please, red for me just isn't hitting the spot for this bike, but I would paint the crank arms to match the wheels and would get brown or cream grips and seat WITH a layback seatpost flip the bars upsidedown for the cafe racer look, a bold move that only some people seem to take is painting rims and parts lighter shades of blue through to seafoam colours, just dropping a hint there of a different path to ride down, I think you have a decent bike that gives you some options of how you can go, love it

Those handlebars and stem are probably one peice no flipping those

 

[Endlesschain]

Those handlebars and stem are probably one peice no flipping those

Yer I was wondering that, I couldn't see properly, was thinking it might be like my Dutch bike where the stem bolt is also the clamp for the bar

 

[ingola]

Yer I was wondering that, I couldn't see properly, was thinking it might be like my Dutch bike where the stem bolt is also the clamp for the bar

I have a gazelle same thing places you straight up on the bike.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Looks like a good project. 28 x 2.00 inch tires ordered? I see only 40mm clearance on the chain stays in the pic, that's about an inch and a half.

With a black frame, red rims might be a good bet.

Thanks for the heads up. I think it is a little more than 40mm (I forgot what I measured) and try and cram it in there.
Worst case I have to sell the tires and order different ones.

I don't think the gazelle nuts have proprietary threading. Not all raliegh axles have the same if the hub has sturmey archer axles they won't but if there Raleigh stamped they do.those are sturmey archer hubs so threading should be normal. European bikes are fun

One nut has the gazelle logo and the other is badly damaged. We'll see where we end up. If the nuts and good I'll use em

enclosed chain - neat.

Good for stickers!

hummm I will take a can of the brown please, red for me just isn't hitting the spot for this bike, but I would paint the crank arms to match the wheels and would get brown or cream grips and seat WITH a layback seatpost flip the bars upsidedown for the cafe racer look, a bold move that only some people seem to take is painting rims and parts lighter shades of blue through to seafoam colours, just dropping a hint there of a different path to ride down, I think you have a decent bike that gives you some options of how you can go, love it

Thanks Endlesschain! The brown I have is 'chocolate brown'.
Cream grips would be pretty neat as well.

Those handlebars and stem are probably one peice no flipping those

No flippin these unfortunately. They are fixed indeed.

I have a gazelle same thing places you straight up on the bike.

That’s what I like about these granny bikes. Great overall seating position and here in the Netherlands you see them everywhere. Litorally: Parking lots, streets, side walks, in the water, scrapyards and party tents.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Got some stuff done. Practical stuff mostly:

Oh the joy!

Other side off in one piece!

I hate plastic bb cups...

Removed the bars and stem.
Lubricated the headset heavily and reassembled with grease and a lamp bracket/holder.

Brooks leather seat! Had this beauty lying in the shed for years.

Next: drill out that bb bearing.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Testfitted the wheels. Unfortunately the rear wheel has a high flange...
I am leaning towards brown right now for these rims, or just black.

That bottom bracket is going to be a pain in the....

Yes, I like the brown, especially with the brooks seat.

Another bush in there?!!

Wheels testfit

Measured again: 60mm wide at its narrowest.

Contrast: Shiny and rusty.


Would'nt it be fun to build an omafiets with the most expensive, high end road bike parts? Carbon rims, aero spokes, carbon seatpost and bars. Carbon crankset and aero front fork. And yet an coasterbrake to stick to the omafiets idea.

 

[ingola]

I have 1960 gazelle

Same as this little bike nerd stuff the step through was originally designed for men. The were called preist bikes. I drove mine all over most comfortable cruise bike I've ever had hope to find another one sometime

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I have 1960 gazelle View attachment 224808
Same as this little bike nerd stuff the step through was originally designed for men. The were called preist bikes. I drove mine all over most comfortable cruise bike I've ever had hope to find another one sometime

I saw this and another movie that brings Dutch bicycles to Canada.

Your Gazelle is awesome! Is the tire size (28x1 1/2" or 28x 1/3x3/8") common in Canada or the US?
Usually the 635 size is used here. With 'van Schothorst' rims or 'Rigida ryde v38' I believe. The stainless van Schothorst had crack issues around the spoke holes.

Your reply on Priest bikes could be 100% correct, but I remember these as an "Pastors bicycle":

Thanks!

 

[ingola]

ISO 635 use to be used here to.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

ISO 635 use to be used here to.

What is the story of your bike if I may ask? How did a Dutch Gazelle end up in Canada?

In the meantime I am having fun with fire. Professional? No, but I'm having fun!

Melt that plastic!

I can already pull the bush out at this point!

Its out!

Heat it and scrape the final pieces out.
The use a steel brush to clean the threads.

I testfitted an old worn BB bearing set and it worked!

The next job:

Rust is the best locking agent out there...

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I lied in the previous post. The next job was not rust-welded pedals.
It was painting the rims!

Sprocket testfit (chainline). I ordered spacers and a dustcap. Bare naked bearings and balls is not a good idea on the road.

Chocolate brown.

Tires are in! 28x2.00 Schwalbe fat frank. Unfortunately with an reflection strip, but that is ok.

Now waiting for the paint to harden and the bottom bracket bearing.

In the meantime I am looking for an crazy lantern on the front.
And thinking about ideas for the chaincover and give it a little ratrod vibe.

 

[ingola]

What is the story of your bike if I may ask? How did a Dutch Gazelle end up in Canada?

In the meantime I am having fun with fire. Professional? No, but I'm having fun!

View attachment 224920
View attachment 224921
Melt that plastic!

View attachment 224922
I can already pull the bush out at this point!

View attachment 224923
View attachment 224924
View attachment 224925
Its out!

View attachment 224926
Heat it and scrape the final pieces out.
The use a steel brush to clean the threads.

View attachment 224927
View attachment 224928
I testfitted an old worn BB bearing set and it worked!

The next job:
View attachment 224929
Rust is the best locking agent out there...

Have no idea how it ended up here. It was definitely purchased in Holland still has the bike shop sticker.A scrapper thought it was an antique Canadian bike. Tried to sell it to me for stupid money. I knew what it was pointed everything out to him he was disappointed and left it at the house for me.

 

[ingola]

I lied in the previous post. The next job was not rust-welded pedals.
It was painting the rims!

View attachment 225082
Sprocket testfit (chainline). I ordered spacers and a dustcap. Bare naked bearings and balls is not a good idea on the road.

View attachment 225083
View attachment 225084
Chocolate brown.

View attachment 225085
Tires are in! 28x2.00 Schwalbe fat frank. Unfortunately with an reflection strip, but that is ok.

Now waiting for the paint to harden and the bottom bracket bearing.

In the meantime I am looking for an crazy lantern on the front.
And thinking about ideas for the chaincover and give it a little ratrod vibe.

Dutch tube change want to see you do it.
https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/dutch-style-puncture-repair/

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Dutch tube change want to see you do it.
https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/dutch-style-puncture-repair/

60's Granny bikes are around 80 to 100 euros for a rider here, depending on brand and model.
I like yours! Especially the small tail light you see on these older models.

Tube change! I have these sets, but I never run a flat the "Simson" sets are getting worse in quality and 'aging'.
I will make a video if I run a flat!


Its late, gotta go to bed, but could not wait for this:

I'll remove the tape soon.

Found this photo, looks like Rot oma:

Pretty neat if that is where we are generally heading.