Bicycle fairies at the bottom of the garden!

[Arch]

Not sure - I'll have to check no-one wants it first, plus I'm not sure my bike skillz iz up to restoring it...on the other hand it is my size, and I'd like to try out a big ol' utility cycle for a change

How does yours ride?

There's no better way to improve your bike skillz than stripping and rebuilding a bike, go for it!

 

[brokenbetty]

So the plan is to work on it for the weekends when I'm at mum and dad's (about 1 out of 3 at the minute) and make it rideable, then take it home on the train and ride back from the station.

I spent yesterday washing and stripping off the brakes, levers, chainguard and mudguards.

Today, I fought the cotter pins and - I won! SO the cranks and chainring are off. I'm leaving the bottom bracket in though, cos I have no idea how to get it out! I'm just hoping it's ok. The chainring is very cool - a big chrome thing with the name Hercules in it

I'm aiming for a rideable bike rather than a perfect bike, so today I've wire-brushed off the worst of the rust and painted it with Kurust and tomorrow I'll spray the rusted parts with a car paint that pretty much matches the original. I'm hoping that way I can keep the original decals.

And if that looks beyond awful, I'll sand it down and try something else.

 

[brokenbetty]

And I have a box of bits with sticky white labels on saying things like "rear brake, goes on left" and "seat post bolt"

 

[slowmotion]

Oh, just look at that bell! Awesome.

 

[brokenbetty]

I found an iphone flickr app...

 

[bauldbairn]

That is a cool chainring - they don't make em like that anymore!

All the best with your project.

 

[badkitty]

I'm aiming for a rideable bike rather than a perfect bike, so today I've wire-brushed off the worst of the rust and painted it with Kurust and tomorrow I'll spray the rusted parts with a car paint that pretty much matches the original. I'm hoping that way I can keep the original decals.

I'm so glad you got to keep it! And I think you're doing the best thing, not totally renovating it. I have had my mad moments when I first got my Hercules, where I thought it would be a good idea to totally re do her ..hell, I'm so glad I didn't!
They have a battered lived-in charm of their own anyway, and it's a pain getting all the decals again.
And what a beautiful chainring...am a teeny weeny bit envious of that..mines got a raleigh one on it.
But it's on my list - along with the chainguard which I took off - (wasnt original, and was rusted too badly to save).

Keep going and if I can help in any way, just ask.

 

[brokenbetty]

Keep going and if I can help in any way, just ask.

Hi badkitty

any chance you can post a link to the photo of yours? I had a look on you profile but couldn't find it

many thanks

 

[badkitty]

Doh...sorry hun..I put the pic into my private album..am an eejit.

So to save you going hunting again..here she is:

(yeah..i know the saddle is crap, but i hate the brookes ones I've got, and that weird one was on it when I got her. )

The log she's leaning against is where I used to sit with my friend before she died and left Bessie to me. It just seemed like the right place for a photo.

 

[Corvette chic]

that is sooooo cool- aw m8 sorry about bessie

 

[brokenbetty]

Thanks for the pic badkitty - she is lovely. There's a bit of a Balmoral in Autumn leaves theme developing here

 

[jimboalee]

Trivia.

The pitch mascot of Aston Villa Football Club is called 'Hurcules the lion'. This is due to the Hurcules Bicycle company supplying bicycles to the Club for player training purposes.

At that time, the bike factory was situated across the road from Villa Park.

My Mom bought a Hurcules 531 Mixte ladies bike in 1948. Sturmey 3 speed and 27" HP rims.

This trivia might persuade you to dump the bike.

I ride bikes with the names "Birmingham Small Arms" and "Dawes" on them (from the better part of town).

 

[brokenbetty]

Trivia.

The pitch mascot of Aston Villa Football Club is called 'Hurcules the lion'. This is due to the Hurcules Bicycle company supplying bicycles to the Club for player training purposes....

My Mom bought a Hurcules 531 Mixte ladies bike in 1948. Sturmey 3 speed and 27" HP rims.

This trivia might persuade you to dump the bike.

It's ok, Endorsed By Jimboalee's Mum easily outweighs Aston Villa

 

[ttcycle]

Hi Brokenbetty-

If you need any mech help let me know - I can do some stuff but not all of it - I reckon we could meet somewhere in the middle location wise- PM if you do - I also know of a place that does free repair/workshop skills for cyclists if they bring their bikes in and all the parts needed (not tools) - I'm heading there tommorow.

It's a beauty of a bike! Love the Hercules chainset!

PS how did you get on with the roadbike btw?

 

[Brahan]

Hey Brokenbetty - That's a super cool chain ring! It looks brilliant. Please post more pics of your journey as you fix her up.