If you had the money and inclination

[Mad Doug Biker]

.....Would you restore this poor 107 year old girl, or would you leave it as she now is?:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1905-Stan...icycle_RL&hash=item53ee7e8d3b#ht_42728wt_1106

The rust seems to be holding it together!

Check out the guy's other sales, there are some rather old and cool bikes there!

 

[Hitchington]

If I had money, inclination, space and time, maybe...

 

[Drago]

£750?! He needs his bumps feeling.

Mind you, not as much as the guy who's selling the Huret speedo (minus cable and drive) for £110.

 

[biggs682]

thats a lot of money for said bike

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

'Tis from 1905 though....

To be fair, I wasn't sure if it was expensive or not for it, I mean, there can't be many of them about these days (secretly I'd want it if I had the money).

I bet nobody would be able to come close to beating you on a Tweed Run anyway!

 

[tyred]

I would sort it out mechanically so I could ride it but I would be reluctant to repaint it and lose what's left of the original finish. I would need to see it in the flesh to decide on that part.

I definitely wouldn't pay £750 for it.

 

[Trail Child]

I would love to ride this bike.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

It's only original once: I'd do the minimum necessary to get it roadworthy and leave it at that. He seems genuine (his website is a wealth of information on early bikes), so I'd take his valuation at face value.

Fingers crossed I'll have a pre-Holdsworth Claud Butler by the end of the week. All though it's just about roadworthy it was hand painted about twenty years ago and that will be enough of a challenge for me.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Tyres seems firm, chainline is good, and it's got some nice red brake blocks. Price is a little steep, especially as it's no museum piece.

I'm not sure if I'd restore it or just take it down the local bmx park for a good thrashing and teach them young 'uns what a real bike can do.

 

[Spokesmann]

NO.

 

[oldfatfool]

Looks like it as been pulled out of the bloody Humber let alone owt else

 

[HovR]

I'd love a really old bike, maybe something like this 1915 Raleigh.

Possibly a bit too pricey for me though!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes I have to agree, how would you restore it now without destroying its original finish? How could you go about removing the rust? I mean, it must be possible somehow?


P.S. I don't care what people say, I'd LOVE it, even in its current condition! Also, it doesn't matter that it's a woman's bike. Not now.

 

[Paulmh]

This is the good-old conservation v restoration debate. Personally I tend towards the latter camp, but there are such costs involved that I'd have to start with a lower purchase price and maybe more of a wreck.
Good luck.

 

[tyred]

Diesel with a little engine oil added will preserve a bike like that in it's original state for many years.

Just don't ride it in your best suit.