Advice on getting an old new bike ready, please.

[User]

 

[tyred]

I would definitely regrease the wheel bearings. Here is a good guide - http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html and http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html

If the headset bearing turns smoothly and has no play, I would leave it as it is. If you do feel the need to work on it, you should find a guide on Sheldon's site for that too.

The saddle is really up to you. If you find it comfortable, I would use it.

I would inspect the tyres for cracks/perishing. The tubes should be okay if they still hold air. I use a bike with 40 year old tubes/tyres without problems (not for long distance riding, admittedly).

 

[4F]

The rear has forward-facing horizontal drop-outs. (For future reference, ahem ).

Nice one

 

[jimboalee]

Don't change a thing, except where the original equipment has been changed.

http://www.v-cc.org.uk/index.html

Have a look through this website.

If it IS a genuine 50th Anniv 531 frame, keep it concours.

 

[gbb]

Having upgraded a Clubman myself, i'd put one thing over that occured to me afterwards...Ive spoiled the originality of the bike. (the components on mine were cheap and cream crackered anyway, so i had little choice)
If yours is that good Crock, i'd personally try to keep it as original as possible.

Personally, i'd do the hubs and re-grease them. Grease does harden over time..and when i say harden, its not like it goes rock hard, but its probably not going to get moved around inside the hub as well as it should.

 

[jimboalee]

And you need some retro clothing.

Wooly Tudor plusses, long plaid stockings, plate shoes, Wooly L/S jersey with zipped back pockets, banana hat, Raleigh team cap, leather crothet mittens, Pipe.

And anybody who was anybody had a full zip Clear racecape.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If you want shoes - these are lovely - cost as much as your bike mind CoG!!

lovely

 

[swee'pea99]

If you want shoes - these are lovely - cost as much as your bike mind CoG!!

lovely

God, those are gorgeous! Not that I'd buy 'em mind - that's more than I spend on bikes - but wow!

 

[bigjim]

Don't know if you already regreased but I must point out that I greased the pedal axles before I posted the bike to facilitate packing so that won't be original.
Jim

 

[mickle]

Non original grease on pedal threads!?

Tut tut. -1 concours point.

 

[Randochap]

And you need some retro clothing.

Indeed!