Older! Faster! Stronger! (Beater!)

It's an incredibly busy period at work (really crunch time for my career) so I thought it was a good time to post a thread about the transformation of my Rudge.

Last year my bike - a cheap peugeot from the about 1980, anything but cheap in terms of maintenance - was stolen. It was the second time I'd had a bike stolen from the same street corner in N16 cos we have no room for bikes inside, and it was basically my fault this time. I determined not to be sad about it; went onto gumtree, found a bike and bought it the same day (GBP135, I think). As I got home after cycling the Rudge very slowly I had a call from a friend who had found some local kids with the old bike and had bought it from them for 20 quid. I was happy, but now I've bought some new bits for the Rudge - which I think is from the 50s? happy to hear if anyone knows more - because the Rudge is lighter and prettier.

Oh maybe you can't embed photos from Flickr - so here is the bike: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95307721@N08/8680358753/in/photostream

obviously I have to bring the stem down and the seat up.

I bought wheels & 9 speed cassette

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95307721@N08/8680355109/in/photostream/

I've got a new 9-speed chain and I'm hoping it will work with the old derailleur, chain ring and levers (I like friction shift, don't mind them being on the downtube, need to save cash).

This is the old derailleur (nb nice pencilly stays):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95307721@N08/8680356945/in/photostream/

and this is the saddle, also from the forum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95307721@N08/8680387347/

I checked because of the Daft punK reference... cool project man

it would be cooler if you put a single speed

Nternez ehy

here is the bike

I bought wheels & 9 speed cassette

will that wheelset fit the rear spacing of the bike? is it 9 speed a 700c wheelset? as it looks like the frame takes 27" not 700c.....

what are your plans for the bike? would be a shame not to restore it to its 50's glory....
this is my last project.
http://www.lfgss.com/thread104481.html

Does anyone have any experience with trying to put a 9-speed chain onto an old chainring (sad it's not the original chain ring which I guess would have been the epic-ulster-hand-thing) and through a shimano rx100 derailleur which I guess was made for 5-speed.

Also I wonder if I should protect what remains of the paintwork with some kind of lacquer.. it's already got a lot worse because I was away over the winter and my housemates weren't too diligent about keeping the cover on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95307721@N08/8681467494/in/photostream/

This is the old derailleur (nb nice pencilly stays):

and this is the saddle, also from the forum

I retract my previous statement

Great Project.

wow thanks, the greek! yes the current wheels are 27 but I think there is enough drop in the brakes to fit 700, and these wheels are light and were pretty cheap so I'm hoping...

that's really nice luckyskull - though I have a love/hate relationship with mudguards. I plan to spend as little money as possible and make it run as fast as possible and keep it as simple as possible (while still geared). I measured the wheels and spacing, both 130, so maybe someone stretched the frame before I got it.

Maybe someone has a better way to embed flickr? I'd be interested too.

and i don't often agree with skirtfluff, but this would make an amazing single speed path frame (still with 27" wheels)...... the rear is without a hanger..... gears would be awesome also.....

Agree with singlespeed route. So much simpler, lighter and easier to maintain.

So they bent the bottom stays to make the geometry more compact?

Because I am having some pre-regrets in that I love old bikes (I owned two raleighs from the 50s, took one abroad and back with me because I liked it so much), but now I'm thinking that maybe the reason that I like the Peugeot is because it's a bit too small, so it's nice and whippy around corners.

re. single speed I thought that fixed was ace when I tried it, and NE london is basically flat, but I want to take it out into the country a bit, and I definitely prefer gears there

(I mean whereas the Rudge is older, longer and likely to be a bit more sedate in the turn)

Really nice chainring on the Hetchins though.

Singlespeed, means less metal on the bike, means lighter (the Williams chainset is beautiful but heavy too) means more whippyfication.

Love the fact it is locked in the picture!

• cos I don't know how to break chains, don't have a locknut tool, etc. I'm going to have to get someone to do a bit of the work. I'm wavering between Push Cycles (Newington Green) and Micycles (Barnsbury). I considered seeing if one of the guys from the Hackney free bike workshop would do it for a bit less (but he gets to keep it all, I guess) but then I thought that would be cheeky.
  

Everything is locked with a D-lock at all times these days.

wow thanks, the greek! yes the current wheels are 27 but I think there is enough drop in the brakes to fit 700, and these wheels are light and were pretty cheap so I'm hoping...

i would keep it 27" will look really gappy with 700c wheels

I have a love/hate relationship with mudguards.

mudguards stop you getting a wet arse, whats to hate.........

• cos I don't know how to break chains, don't have a locknut tool, etc. I'm going to have to get someone to do a bit of the work. I'm wavering between Push Cycles (Newington Green) and Micycles (Barnsbury). I considered seeing if one of the guys from the Hackney free bike workshop would do it for a bit less (but he gets to keep it all, I guess) but then I thought that would be cheeky.
  
  

i could help you if you live islington way.......

Help would be much appreciated & happy to pay for your time of course..

Gappiness could be an issue - does anyone have a picture of a bike made for 27 wheels but fitted with 700s so I know whether to worry about it or not? Google skills failing.

I only ever commute by bike & never with mudguards so I'm familiar with the wet arse (and back and legs) but I still stubbornly prefer bikes without. Thinking of getting a clip on rear one.

Also changing wheelsize might mean more pedal strike unless I get shorter cranks hmmm

I guess I'll just have to be careful.

i think you just answered the merits of mudguards, function over fashion, dry arse over wet arse and legs.... though i think they can look amazing on the right bike... in the same way having gears when going up hill is a good idea.... ect blah blah...ect

but it looks like the mudguard braze-ons are damaged anyway?

So they bent the bottom stays to make the geometry more compact?

when they made the frame....not after.....

I am having some regrets ..... thinking that maybe the reason that I like the Peugeot is because it's nice and whippy around corners.

the geo of the rudge will make it less nippy.....should imagine its much slacker than your other bike.

no stress about paying me. welcome to pop over and i will help you build your bike.....may swerve you towards vintage restro.....