Look What I Just Saved!!!

Jocry

So passing passing by a neighbour's house this morning finishing up a spin and I see they're filling up a skip, low and behold there's two bikes due to go in it, one being an old road bike but couldn't make out what it was. After a quick change, knocked in and "inquired" about said bike to which I was told to help myself as it was in fact getting dumped!
Had to carry it home, looks rough but no major deep rust spots that I could see.

I couldn't control the urge not to start striping it down in the rain
Its an Araya bike which was produced and still are in Japan. This one in particular at one stage had work carried out at a bike shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the sticker on the tube says so

Its going to be a fixie project on a small budget, so time to strip it back to the bare shell, hopefully painted back up to a similar colour with replacement wheels which I already have as the ones on it have pretty much had it! Everything else, well we'll just see what happens. Today was a good day

Yarisbob

Well Done !! That will make a nice fixie. There are purists out there who say that it should be restored back to original spec but I'm of the opinion that any project that breathes new life into a bike that otherwise would have been skipped is the proper way to go !

As far as the bike goes I dont have a clue - Never came across another. A yank that took it from the states perhaps ??

Nice find...!

secman

Yarisbob wrote: »

Well Done !! That will make a nice fixie. There are purists out there who say that it should be restored back to original spec but I'm of the opinion that any project that breathes new life into a bike that otherwise would have been skipped is the proper way to go !

As far as the bike goes I dont have a clue - Never came across another. A yank that took it from the states perhaps ??

Nice find...!

Best of luck with the restoration project, I have a " Raparee" Columbus slx tubing with a full dura ace group set. Had it custom made and built in 1992. It was only used for competitive use back then... was off the road for about 10 years. Back on it 3 years now and really enjoying it.

Jocry

Wasn't going to but might turn this thread into a bit of a bike rest thread.
Things moving a long nicely, striping out all the bits a pieces which I'm hoping I won't need
Doing a bit of research on sandblasting and powdercoating, seems pretty reasonable so when the funds allow I think I might go that route and do it right!!! Happy so far anyway!

Esroh

Any rust on the chrome use TinFoil as your sander. Its time consuming but it will not strip the chrome plating or scratch it.
Im in the process of refurbing a 1950s Humber/High Nelly and getting the wheels back to life.

Jocry

Cheers for the info Esroh, will take that on board!

Donie75

I have a similar age Legnano steel racer that I have partially fixed up. I need to get new wheels as the old ones have knurled braking surfaces and they are very poor for stopping. The rims are in fairly poor condition so I might use the old hubs to build new wheels.
I left my frame untouched, there are a few scrapes and marks but it looks pretty cool. I fitted a new brown leather effect saddle and matching bar tape and it looks very smart.

Donie75

If you come across any good deals in 27 inch rims let me know. Or I might change to 700c.

Jocry

Im going with a spare set of 700c wheels which I have sitting in my shed. I have sights on the finish I want and it doesnt involve the frame in the state it is!

Seaswimmer

Jocry wrote: »

Im going with a spare set of 700c wheels which I have sitting in my shed. I have sights on the finish I want and it doesnt involve the frame in the state it is!

your current brake blocks may run very close to the tyre if using 700c wheels as it was designed probably with 27" wheels.

I had this problem for years and was constantly grinding brake blocks and trying to buy the narrowest ones I could get (Clarks!)

I eventually bought a set of long reach brakes. You may be ok depending on the up/down adjustment you have on the brake block.

Jocry

Im hoping to have little or no cabling on this bike if I can help it but its definitely worth noting, cheers

jon1981

What fixed gear ratio you going to go for? Can't wait to see the end result, no pressure!

OldBean

If you don't need anything racey, these are great - http://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/products/27-weinmann-qr-front-and-qr-rear-alloy-wheels

Jocry

jon1981 wrote: »

What fixed gear ratio you going to go for? Can't wait to see the end result, no pressure!

Solely going to be for the odd leisure cycle with the family, my other bikes will do for all else

PS NOTE.......fixie virgin builder

kumate_champ07

Id leave the paint as it is

CramCycle

It's a Vista espada.

I presume Araya is the tubing which I know little about other than google telling me it was some form of Hi ten steel.

Looks nice, throw up some pics when its up and running..

Rojo

Whey - I've an Araya too!


Here's mine:

Jocry

So after fighting with this frame yesterday in an attempt to get the bb and fork loose I had to enlist the help of Richies who made swift work of it (the lashings of WD40 from me helped I reckon )
The forks / headset was caked in dirty goopy oil but I cleaned that and the frame down so its ready for sandblasting and powder coating! Now the search for parts begins!

TGD

What is the badge/decal on the seat tube?

TGD

TGD wrote: »

What is the badge/decal on the seat tube?

Just read again - "Ann Arbor, Michigan".

Japan ... Michigan ... somewhere in Ireland ... if only the bike could tell as a story!