The Motor Forum

Blarno · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: The restoration begins...

Stripped the bike down last night, taking it into work tonight to throw some nasty solvent at it to remove the paint.

I'm shocked by how light the frame is. Doesn't feel any more than 2 kilos! Once payday comes, I'm off to find some suitable paint, hopefully Focus ST Asbo Orange. Failing that, any bright metallic orange will do.
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

kraftwerk · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject:

Boo! (I was in the 'keep it as it is' group)
_________________
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

Blarno · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

I understand your wanting it to be original, but it was never an off-the-shelf machine. It was built from the ground up as a one-off.

Besides, the paint is chipped to buggery and looking a little tired. It's nearly 7 years old.
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

"him" · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject:

Is that a full sized bike?

...from the photo it looks like you stripped it down in a dolls house!

BTW what are you going to use to strip the paint?
_________________
Remember - A gym without chalk is a heath spa...

Blarno · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject:

It is full size, but it's only a 16 inch frame. I like 'em small: Keeps 'em light, strong and easier to jump off when things go wrong!

I'm using Dichloromethane as a stripper. It's the main ingredient in Nitormors and it's really powerful. It will be followed by a good rub down, steam clean and degrease with Acetone.
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

"him" · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

That should do the trick...

Though the stench will be horrendous no doubt, how long will it take to strip the paint?
_________________
Remember - A gym without chalk is a heath spa...

Blarno · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:

Judging by how quickly it strips the paint off the barrels during offload, not very long! I'm just going to slap some on and leave it whilst I do what I'm supposed to be doing at work!
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Blarno · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject:

Paint is off. The frame is so nice, I'm tempted to rub it down and lacquer it as it is. But, I prefer the idea of metallic orange.

I weighed it, too. 3.5 kilos: Now that's light!
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Blarno · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:58 pm Post subject:

Metallic orange isn't happening, so I've opted for Rover Java Green metallic. Hopefully gonna throw the paint on on Saturday. The rest of my new components have arrived, so as soon as it's dry, I'll rebuild the bugger and I won't have to walk to work any more!
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Rodge · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

Looks good stripped down, lacquering it might not be a bad idea.
I've been pondering getting my mountain bike out of the shed. I haven't ridden it in about 5 years and the tyres are knackered.
It's about 12 years old now and while it was a good bike when I bought it, it's probably heavy compared to a modern one. Some sort of British Eagle with a Reynolds frame. Used to be great for commuting.
_________________

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm...ds.individual&VideoID=2869045

Blarno · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:40 am Post subject:

I've forgotten how cheap bike bits can be. When I was 16/17 and using it all the time, it cost me an entire weeks wages to get parts for it. Now, I've bought a load of spanking new goodies off Ebay for about £80: Pedals, gearset, headset, bottom bracket. Good quality kit, too.

Best thing I've done in years is to get back on a bike. I'm not as reckless as I used to be: A mortgage and a job put paid to that. And I don't bounce when I fall off now! But, it saves me a fortune in fuel and saves our pretty little planet at the same time!
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Blarno · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

Just need my new decals and it's all done. Rover Tara Green - a surprisingly nice colour!
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Jasper · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

Blarno · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

It's not really a huge concern of mine. The saving of money is much more preferrable!

I can't ride it yet, it'll need a couple of days to cure in the incinerator shed at work.
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

BeN · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Mmm, funky.

I like that colour.

_________________
On the other side of the world - Hurlecot de Millou

Not the same since 2008

Matt · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject:

Surely you'll be getting a black seat and pedals? I may like red seats, but they don't go with green.

Looks good though.
_________________

Small car, big heart.

Blarno · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:46 am Post subject:

I already had the red seat, and purposely bought the red pedals. I know they supposedly don't go, but I'm awkward like that.

It gets it's first official ride to work on Tuesday, followed by a good thraping on Sunday round the forest.
_________________
Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

LittleSwill · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

What's the point of those orange things on the chain?
_________________

"him" · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject:

To stop it "wanging" about while off-road, and coming off...
_________________
Remember - A gym without chalk is a heath spa...

Blarno · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject:

scamper · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject:

looks weird, but `superlight' with just one ring up front - how is it uphill?

agree with matt - ditch the red/orange bits for black. what forks are those?

Blarno · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject: