Where do all the 80s/90s roadbikes come from?

rollingscone

I've been toying with the notion of building something on an old steel road or MTB frame for Mrs RS in the first quarter of next year (so it'll be ready by the time she's willing to venture out doors) and living in a part of Dublin with a high level of Hipster virus I see hundreds of these roadframes every day locked up around town, mistreated abused, unoiled and wonder where they are all surfacing from?

Rothar seem to charge quite a bit for a complete bike, reflecting probably their labour and the rest of the components. But I'm wondering where they get theirs from?

Beyond that what sort of issues would I find with building on one of those frames, are there a raft of differences in terms of tools and components or could I safely put one together with modern wheels and groupset?

Assuming that the bike is nothing rare or special would it be a terrible sin to get the frame re-coated?

(I have a more sensible plan A to pick up a 2nd hand Hybrid for 2-300ish)

Wishbone Ash

Noticed a lot more lately myself.

Possibly some from - http://www.dublinbikeman.com/

Cee-Jay-Cee

I'd guess that with cycling having become so popular in the last number of years that people started fixing up old bikes they had lying in sheds for years.

I have a Puch 5 speed racer thats been lying in a shed since the late 80's when it was last ridden (by me) I got it in 1981/82 and put up thousands on miles on it but when i left school it was relegated to the shed and there it has remained. Maybe one day i'll strip it and see what can be salvaged and what needs replacing but i'd say frm looking at it that only the frame is salvageable at this stage.

iverjohnston

Hanging up in the rafters of garden sheds and garages. Was at a thing in Trinity lately, and the bike rack near the science block has 4 or 5 old .Peugeot etc bikes chained up and abandoned. Got a nice straight Dawes Fox in the skip in the recycling centre last year. Just luck really.

Peter T

My housemate saw his friend with a "trendy" old racer and fancied one for himself. Long story short he struggled to find one here and imported one from Belgium for very decent money. If you want i can ask him how he went about it and shipping.

MB Lacey

I've wondered the same thing.
Fancied doing the same as Rollingscone, looked in Rothar several times (Fade St and took the trip out to Dun Laoghaire) - they had nothing except old mountain bikes.
Also checked Belfield bike shop in UCD, but they didn't have any old road frames either.

That Dublin bike man site looks good, prices all seem to be around €200.
Considering how many bike shops there are in Dublin I would have thought one of them would stock these 2nd hand frames given their popularity.

RayCun

They were stolen in the 80s/90s and put in a time machine.
If you're wondering where all the bikes stolen today go... wait for the 2035 noughties hybrid craze

seamus

CJC999 wrote: »

I'd guess that with cycling having become so popular in the last number of years that people started fixing up old bikes they had lying in sheds for years.

I imagine more likely people are getting new bikes and then thinking, "Well I better get rid of that aul yoke in the shed", and so it ends up in the hands of someone who wants it.

happytramp

A high demand for steel frame bikes that are cheap but look 'retro' or 'vintage' has resulted in loads of people selling their old bikes to youngsters keen to imitate their hipster idols. Only about 1 in 20 is of any quality and even then it's most likely to be rusted and abused.

rollingscone

Peter T wrote: »

My housemate saw his friend with a "trendy" old racer and fancied one for himself. Long story short he struggled to find one here and imported one from Belgium for very decent money. If you want i can ask him how he went about it and shipping.

Please do.

Edit: @MBLacey I've already done it sort of in that I found an old 21spd Raleigh Outland in my dad's garage, gave it a service and converted it to single speed as my beater about town. It rules and I'd highly recommend it if you find someone with a frame.

happytramp

Personally I think it's a great idea. But I do think it's worth the small amount of money it cost to get a decent frame. There seems to be a consensus that all frames are worth doing up because they're old and nostalgic. However if someone came on here talking about building up a bike around a extremely cheap new halfords frame people would go ballistic. A lot of these old bikes especially the ones from dublinbikeman are cheap 70's/80's supermarket equivalents of Halfords budget bikes.

A frame made from Reynolds 531 steel or it's Columbus or Vitus equivalent can be had for under €100 and will be about 1 to 2k lighter than a cheaper tensile steel (or 'gaspipe') one.

ford2600

happytramp wrote: »

Personally I think it's a great idea. But I do think it's worth the small amount of money it cost to get a decent frame. There seems to be a consensus that all frames are worth doing up because they're old and nostalgic. However if someone came on here talking about building up a bike around a extremely cheap new halfords frame people would go ballistic. A lot of these old bikes especially the ones from dublinbikeman are cheap 70's/80's supermarket equivalents of Halfords budget bikes.

A frame made from Reynolds 531 steel or it's Columbus or Vitus equivalent can be had for under €100 and will be about 1 to 2k lighter than a cheaper tensile steel (or 'gaspipe') one.

I have a cheap steel frame fixie which I bought of a guy who had project half started.

On price, be careful, even though there are less parts than a typical road bike when buying individually the cost can mount.

Crankset, wheels of decent quality aren't cheap. But it is fun to learn.

Learn about hub spacing, bottom bracket lengths to get your chainline right. A straight chainline is critical along with adequate tension.

Mine is only a hack, don't even lock it at supermarket. The beauty of an ugly fixie!

Planet X

I have a Rossin Columbus SL in my garage. 1980/81. Hardings, Bachelors Walk.

rollingscone

Planet X wrote: »

I have a Rossin Columbus SL in my garage. 1980/81. Hardings, Bachelors Walk.

Are you trying to find a home for it?

Planet X

Sorry, not at the moment.

The tax man

Planet X wrote: »

I have a Rossin Columbus SL in my garage. 1980/81. Hardings, Bachelors Walk.

Ah the memories. The creaky wooden floors,the smell of the place and the Campagnolo display case on the wall.
The Harry Quinn that I gave to Lennymc started it life there.

Macy0161

Wasn't sure whether to resurrect or post a new thread, so we'll see how it goes... Was down at my mothers over the weekend and found my old Dawes 5 speed "racer", which now I know a small bit more I guess is a tourer. Haven't had a chance to clean it down but it seems in ok nick - only superficial bit of rust/ markings on some of the crome, frame seems 100%, cranks and wheels turning fine etc. Have to get a proper look at it yet to confirm it's superficial, just threw it into the back of the car whilst the missus wasn't looking.

It's much lighter than the cheap and nasty road bike/ bike shaped object I'm currently using. The plan was to do the bike to work next year, but my new plan since yesterday is to turn my old bike into my commuter. It should take mudguards and a pannier rack, and has the old style double brake levers so you have brakes on the top of the bars as well as on the drops, and 5 speed is plenty for my current commute (I'm not brave enough to single speed yet). I assume it'd be less attractive to scrots, but to be honest I'd be more worried about it because of the sentimental value.

Is Rothar my best bet to get it brought back into operation, or would a lbs do the job either? I assume parts would be a problem in bike shop, so as well as supporting Rothar they'd be the best bet? Their city centre or Dun Laoghaire places are as convenient for as any other bike shop to be honest.

It was my first adult bike, so it's genuine love rather than trying to be hipster (hate skinny jeans anyway)! I still plan to do the b-t-w, but if I go for a road bike I won't have to be as concerned about it taking mudguards, pannier rack etc if it's not my daily commuter, and I have a beginners mountain bike lesson coming up, so if that goes well... Basically I have come around to the fact I need a fleet!

Planet X

The tax man wrote: »

Ah the memories. The creaky wooden floors,the smell of the place and the Campagnolo display case on the wall.
The Harry Quinn that I gave to Lennymc started it life there.

......and then it was off on the North Wall ferry to Liverpool to Dave Lloyds shop to buy my Campag. Record groupset.
......when I was a lad......



Mail order??????

The tax man

Got the train up North once to get stuff in a bike shop, also got a clip around the ear for my troubles. Was on the hop from school and was caught.

That's certainly a different reason to be getting the boat to Liverpool in those days.

nomdeboardie

RayCun wrote: »

They were stolen in the 80s/90s and put in a time machine.
If you're wondering where all the bikes stolen today go... wait for the 2035 noughties hybrid craze

That would explain what happened to my first three bikes

My trusty '92 Raleigh that was swiped a few years ago was presumably cannibalised straight away :mad:

Seaswimmer

Planet X wrote: »

I have a Rossin Columbus SL in my garage. 1980/81. Hardings, Bachelors Walk.

so have I!!

Bought there in 1983 for £950. Full 6 speed Dura Ace at the time.

I have just started to do it up but with 105 bits and 10 speed downtube shifters instead of the more modern shifters.

I will post up a picture when it is finished..

Planet X

Navy Blue?

Mine would need the RD repaired as it's slightly bent (but usable) & forks rechromed.

Seaswimmer

Planet X wrote: »

Navy Blue?

white...

Planet X

Remember Roche pulling up alongside me on a training weekend Northside and telling me that he used to ride a Rossin in Italy I presume.
Kelly also rode one.

I suppose you ride what you're given.

happytramp

Macy0161 wrote: »

Is Rothar my best bet to get it brought back into operation, or would a lbs do the job either? I assume parts would be a problem in bike shop, so as well as supporting Rothar they'd be the best bet? Their city centre or Dun Laoghaire places are as convenient for as any other bike shop to be honest.

Any bike shop should get you up and running. Probably just needs cables, brake pads, possibly tires and a bit of TLC.

OldBean

Tbh, I wouldn't go down the Rothar route. Had far too many negative experiences in there to bring anything with any sentimentality attached. Bring it to a decent LBS and get them to get it going, explaining your budget, if you have one.

The suicide brakes on your tops are not the most reliable and are better suited to some speed moderation, rather than any form of actual stopping - I'd nearly advise taking them out straight away to avoid grabbing them! It probably won't be as tempting as a brand new top of the range hardtail or carbon road bike, but they'll still nick it if they think they can. Unfortunately. Get the best locks you can afford.

Donie75

Saw a lovely red Moser bike in Athlone a while back. It was red with half chrome forks and rear stays. Looked lovely. I've wanted to do a restoration project ever since but most stuff on adverts and done deal is old gas pipe.

Macy0161

Thanks for the replies. Didn't know Rothar didn't have the best reputation. I'll try and do what I can on it, and then try and ask around the local bike shops. Kinda hoping a decent service will be enough on it to be honest, but that maybe pretty naive.

Edit - any recommendations for bike shops, pretty much from Greystones to City Centre? Not just for this - I don't really have an established lbs for myself!

Seaswimmer

Got my old Rossin (1983) back on the road this week. Frame, bars, stem, brake calipers, and seatpost are original. It now has a mixture of Dura Ace, Ultegra and 105 parts. Few nicks and scratches but an extremely comfortable bike.

Its going to be used for leisure cycling and light touring..

Thanks to thebouldwhacker for buying some 2nd hand parts off me, Columbus66 for the curved downtube washers, Ford2600 for pointing me to the special offer 105 chainset on Merlin and the front wheel bought off Kumate champion a while ago..

Dura Ace: Brakes, 10 speed downtube shifters.
Ultegra: cassette, chain.
105: Chainset, RD,FD.

ednwireland

a mate of mine sold me a cbt italia frame for £50 in the late 80's still in the shed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10351061@N00/3650441990/

rollingscone

ednwireland wrote: »

a mate of mine sold me a cbt italia frame for £50 in the late 80's still in the shed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10351061@N00/3650441990/

Yes please!