[slebo3213]

@eminva 141745 wrote:

For folks reading this who work in buildings with this level of security, your bike is probably safe. If you park in a garage with the usual affable but ineffectual Colonial attendants, I continue to maintain you need to take more drastic steps.

Liz

We’ve had the same regular attendants in my garage for a couple of years now. Once or twice a year I ride up to them with my bike in hand, tip them $10 or $20, and thank them for having taken such good care of my bike. Maybe I’ll bring them something my wife baked. Stuff like that.

It might not help at all, maybe it helps a little, maybe a lot. But who knows. They likely know me and my bike better than the next guy. Every little bit counts.

[slebo3213]

Went to the Old Bike Shop in Clarendon. Cool place. Thanks for the tip.

In my travels it’s become clear that my front axle is bent and that I’m having trouble with tire fitment since the wheels aren’t really 27 x 1 1.25. I’m also slipping out of the easy gears, so I think my gears are worn. I’m getting so much conflicting advice on wheel replacement. Since I need new gears I was thinking about a 700s. Some say by a freewheel and put my gears onto the new wheel, but my gears are no bueno.

[slebo3213]

@KLizotte 89275 wrote:

Did you do all the work yourself?

I did not. A friend did the work on the bearings and College Park Bikes did the brake and shifter lines. I did all of the polishing myself.

Unfortunately, I’m now having issues with the brakes, and I think one of the wheels may be out of round – bumpy ride on flat streets. The brakes clench fine, but only one side completely releases. And there’s something going on with the front hub. My friend seemed to think that I should be able to bolt the front wheel in as tight as the bolts will get, but when I tighten them down the front wheel won’t spin.

It’s an old bike. This might take some time.

[slebo3213]

UPDATE – Resto Completed

Pics attached. Pulled out all the bearings, cleaned and lubed. Replaced all brake and shifter cables, tires/tubes, and bar wrap. New saddle. Polished all of the stainless. Came out pretty good.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6108[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6109[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6110[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6111[/ATTACH]

[slebo3213]

@Steve 76637 wrote:

Just my $.02, if you want to speak to a professional about it, might I recommend The Old Bike Shop in Clarendon. They, as a matter of business, restore old bikes to rideability. From what I have seen there, they do not overbuild the bike back up, moreso just try to put good working used parts back on it and make sure it is good to use. They might have good advice and thoughts for you, as they have a good eye for fixing these things up. I’d think they would help more than a more traditional shop in the area.

Thanks for the referral. That was likely to be one of my next questions.

[slebo3213]

@mstone 76585 wrote:

FWIW, a bike that old will have an incandescent bulbs which are vastly inferior (dimmer, higher power consumption) to a modern LED system. If you just like the looks, ok, but if you’re planning to ride in the dark that’s something you should definitely look at upgrading. You can probably keep the existing generator and wires if they are working and just replace the light units.

I’m sure an upgrade to an LED light would be worth, but I think the wiring might be tough. Definitely something I’ll look into.

[slebo3213]

Great responses. Much appreciated, and now I have some items to research!

I’m not hung up on preserving. I’d like to keep the frame as is, and it’s got a headlight and taillight that run off kinetic energy. I definitely want to keep all of that. And I’m not interested in going fixed gear. I need to sleep on the horn!

I should be pulling the bike out of the old garage in a few weeks – once it gets warm enough to clean it off a bit in the front yard. It’s pretty dirty from sitting.

[slebo3213]

@sethpo 75696 wrote:

Howdy. I commute from Rockville to DuPont. I would think from where you are the best best is the Bethesda Trolley Trail south into Bethesda and then the CCT to Georgetown and then hop over the river on the Key Bridge.

Unfortunately, the Bethesda Trolley Trail isn’t really that simple. There’s a decent-sized section where you have to ride the sidewalk along Old Georgetown Road but depending on where you are starting from you might find a better way to get into downtown Bethesda. From there, it’s pretty easy on the CCT (assuming it’s not packed with snow and ice).

Weekends are a great time to explore various routes. When you are ready, hit me up and we can go for a ride.

Thanks for the info. I’m familiar with the Old Gtown part of the Trolley Trail. How is the CCT in the spring/summer/fall during morning and evening rush hour? Crowded? Do you think a moderately in shape, novice’ish, cyclist can do it in under an hour?

[Author]

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