Repair · Restore · Ride

Guides

Buying, cleaning and servicing old bikes: our members' know-how, checked against Sheldon Brown, Park Tool, the makers and the catalogues, with the sources on every page.

Your bike, your riskThese guides are general advice. Brakes, steering, wheels and tyres are safety-critical: if you're not sure, have a qualified mechanic do or check the work.

Identifying your bike

How old is my bike?Hub stamps, gear date codes, frame numbers and period features: how to put a date on an old bike, and how far to trust each clue.Original paint or respray?A seven-point inspection to tell a factory finish from a respray before you buy, restore or price a bike.Reynolds 531, 501 and high-tensile steelWhat the tubing names mean, how to tell them apart, and which bikes in this guide used which.

Buying

How to spot a good restoration candidateA checklist to use before you hand over cash: what to look for, what to question and when to walk away.What's it worth? Valuing an old bikeHow to put a fair value on a vintage bike from what similar bikes actually sold for, not what sellers are asking.Avoiding buying scamsThe patterns most bad listings follow, and the checks that catch them.

Cleaning and finishing

Cleaning chromeBring back the shine on chrome rims, bars and small parts without scratching the plating.Removing rustMatch the method to how bad the rust is, from a light wipe to a soak and primer.Polishing aluminium partsAlloy dulls rather than rusts and needs a different method from chrome. Here's how, finish by finish.Cleaning and protecting steel framesA full clean, the areas that rust first, protecting the inside of the tubes, and storage.Stripping a bike without damaging the transfersOriginal transfers add a lot to a restored bike's value. Most damage happens during stripping.

Repairs and servicing

Servicing a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hubStrip, clean, oil and adjust an AW-type hub, following Sheldon Brown's notes.Replacing brake and gear cablesThe cables most often neglected on an old bike, and the most important for safety.Getting the tyre size rightOld inch sizes are ambiguous. The ISO number on the tyre is what has to match the rim.Wheel truing and rim checksCheck the rim is safe first, then true it the way Park Tool sets out.Bottom bracket standardsThread, shell width and taper standards on old bikes, and how to tell which you have.Headset standards and servicingThe 1-inch threaded headset sizes you'll meet, and how to service and adjust one.

Guides

Identifying your bike

Buying

Cleaning and finishing

Repairs and servicing

Further reading