Bobble's Bristol Bikelife

Mercian – is currently in the Mercian shop! Swung by for some touch up paint, headset/BB bearings, removing a dodgy bolt and to get them to remove the stuck stem. Will hopefully get it back when they reopen on the 4th.

The chap who served me was so helpful giving me tips on the rebuild (27.2 post, bearing sizes, why I can’t just go from 5 to 7 speed (ignorance is bliss), headset sizing, how to measure a BB etc, always replace ball bearings).

I have cleaned the parts at home with a questionable bath of hot water, fairy liquid, white vinegar and degreaser. Lightly wet sanded a few of the parts with some fine paper and used a little bit of autosol polish on everything. Turned out okay – few pictures attached.

I have compiled a list of things I think I need to be able to rebuild this when it is back from Mercian and touched up. Will just try local bike shops/ebay for this stuff I imagine? Some of it might be tough to get like the MKS end caps. If anyone has anything suitable for sale, please let me know! I’ve also realised that a fair few of the parts definitely aren’t original/period correct (groupset mainly looks 90s but the bike is from ‘58) so will slowly address that once built.

1. Nice vintage 27.2 post that isn’t all pitted.
   
2. 1x MKS pedal end cap
   
3. 1x chainring bolt (had to drill one out)
   
4. 1x BB lockring (could use this but it is a bit mashed)
   
5. 2x Shimano tourney centrepull cable
   
6. Nice vintage 5 speed rear mech
   
7. 1x crank end cap
   
8. Hammered 27 inch metal mudguards
   

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