A winter project...
Discussion
Hello all,
Hoping I can get some advice as I know some of you have done this sort of thing before...
My OH has seen me slowly become obsessed with cycling over the last few weeks and is keen to get herself something for riding around town and occasionally joining me for the odd sunny Sunday ride in the country.
Having had a stroll round some bike shops today, we've come to the conclusion that an entry level road bike (say £5/600) is a) too expensive and b) more bike than she needs for what will effectively be a bit of a toy.
With that in mind, she's become keen on the idea of a vintage bike, and I rather like the idea of getting something a bit shabby and doing it up for her. I reckon it should be within my abilities to take in a project like this but I haven't the faintest idea where to begin, in terms of sources for bikes and parts.
A brief look on eBay turns up loads of likely candidates if you're six foot plus, but not much for a girl of 5'4"!
Are there any sites that are the place to go for this sort of thing?
Also, any suggestions/tips/advice would be massively appreciated!
Thanks
Hoping I can get some advice as I know some of you have done this sort of thing before...
My OH has seen me slowly become obsessed with cycling over the last few weeks and is keen to get herself something for riding around town and occasionally joining me for the odd sunny Sunday ride in the country.
Having had a stroll round some bike shops today, we've come to the conclusion that an entry level road bike (say £5/600) is a) too expensive and b) more bike than she needs for what will effectively be a bit of a toy.
With that in mind, she's become keen on the idea of a vintage bike, and I rather like the idea of getting something a bit shabby and doing it up for her. I reckon it should be within my abilities to take in a project like this but I haven't the faintest idea where to begin, in terms of sources for bikes and parts.
A brief look on eBay turns up loads of likely candidates if you're six foot plus, but not much for a girl of 5'4"!
Are there any sites that are the place to go for this sort of thing?
Also, any suggestions/tips/advice would be massively appreciated!
Thanks
have a look at the pendleton range at halfords, http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... vintage looks and fairly cheap. they arent going to fall apart after ten miles but the big advantage over something vintage is the fact that spares are easy to source. vintage stuff has a big price premium attached to it and its unlikely you will find something and then restore it within the budget stated if you start wanting to respray it etc.
If the Pendleton doesnt appeal, there is something like this? http://chargebikes.com/bikes/mandoline/ or http://chargebikes.com/bikes/hob3/ boht of which are around £450
keep looking at ebay, the cycling weekly magazine occasionaly has some vintage stuff but car boot sales and autojumbles are good fun and also have the odd vintage bicycle.
If the Pendleton doesnt appeal, there is something like this? http://chargebikes.com/bikes/mandoline/ or http://chargebikes.com/bikes/hob3/ boht of which are around £450
keep looking at ebay, the cycling weekly magazine occasionaly has some vintage stuff but car boot sales and autojumbles are good fun and also have the odd vintage bicycle.
Good suggestions and we looked at some charge bikes earlier today, though I think she's got her heart set on an old racer style.
Boot sales and auto-jumbles a great shout though.
Also, just spotted this which can't be bad for the money!
http://www.retrospectivecycles.com/gizeta/
Boot sales and auto-jumbles a great shout though.
Also, just spotted this which can't be bad for the money!
http://www.retrospectivecycles.com/gizeta/
ah right, fair enough, I presumed that you were looking for vintage step thru stuff!.
worth a call to www.hilarystone.com to see if they have anything suitable. good luck!
worth a call to www.hilarystone.com to see if they have anything suitable. good luck!
pablo said:
worth a call to www.hilarystone.com to see if they have anything suitable. good luck!
Damn you pablo, I've very nearly suffered spontaneous combustion looking at that site. Can't afford a shiny ride-away vintage effort, and the wife always seems to be around to forbid it when I see a potential restoration project. I shall have to smuggle home my n+1, next time I get the opportunity.pablo said:
ah right, fair enough, I presumed that you were looking for vintage step thru stuff!.
worth a call to www.hilarystone.com to see if they have anything suitable. good luck!
Pablo, you're a bad man! I can feel my CC itching, just to buy her a cool bike that I secretly want!worth a call to www.hilarystone.com to see if they have anything suitable. good luck!
I built the wife a dutch-style bike last year. Donor frame and all parts cost around £200, including getting the frame, forks, chain guard and mudguards sand blasted and powder-coated.
You could probably pick up an old bike from the local tip/auction/jumble/car boot for a tenner, and start from there.
Off-the-shelf bikes, particularly the dutch-style, seem really expensive to me.
Good luck.
You could probably pick up an old bike from the local tip/auction/jumble/car boot for a tenner, and start from there.
Off-the-shelf bikes, particularly the dutch-style, seem really expensive to me.
Good luck.
I was in a similar position a few months ago. My daughters, like me, cycle occasionally for fun & fresh air. Cycle specific clothing is banned!. I have a Pashley courtesy of cyclescheme, but £500+ for occasional bike for them couldn't be justified. Used bikes on eBay were overpriced. I saw a couple of possibles in local paper but ended up with a great used Pashley Poppy (with receipts!) from FaceBook carboot page. A new one on me but no doubt Facebook users aware!. Basically local items for sale with none of the fees etc etc. Maybe worth a try..
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