New old dawes horizon project

Folks, I've been given a dawes horizon by my neighbour. She's old but solid and surprisingly comfy to ride.
I'm always looking for that one bike to rule em all. The all purpose steed I go to work and pub on, then bugger off on all day rides in the country. This has that potential.

Unfortunately It'll need some tlc first. The seat post is seized, bits are rusty etc as its been sat for a few years in his shed.

The seat post is the first priority. I tried wd40, a hammer, a huge lever on a pipe wrench, a bigger hammer and I think next is a flame unless anyone has better ideas. I not too fussed about the paint on the frame as there's a respray in its future. I'll post pics as I go. I'll probably ask for a lot of advice too as it's my first project.

Not best pic but I'll get a few more this afternoon.

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You can't go wrong with a solid piece of kit like that.

Thinking once I shift the seatpost with fire and a hammer at this rate, new paint job. Change the bearings and polish the rest up. Brooks saddle eventually and a pizza rack on the front. Utility, pub and escape bike in one.

Brooks saddle eventually and a pizza rack on the front. Utility, pub and escape bike in one.

Sounds like a solid plan.

Slow build unfortunately as i'm terminally broke. Just picking little goals, so seatpost first. Then i'll look at the next bit.

hells teeth, a week of flame, penetrating oil and brute strength and ignorance. Seat post wont shift. Time to hand it on to a more knowledgeable chap to try before i lose my shit and skip the thing. Hardly an roaring success of a start.

I've removed many seatposts by cutting them down and using a large drill bit you just need to only drill the post and not touch the frame think my drill bit is 25mm , good luck

So recognising my own incompetence I handed the frame to my brother in law, a man of many spanners who is currently building a trike (motorcycle not pedal) to. Response of 'yeah I'll get that out'.
A week later he hands back a frame so utterly butchered I despaired.
Pic should be on this post.
I gave in and took it to a bike shop (Northeast Cycle works) where the very nice bloke attempted to rectify my BiL handywork. I do not blame the BiL in any way as he tried after I failed.
The shops rang back, they had to dissolve the post then ream the fame to make it good again and I collect it at the weekend.

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Ouch. Fingers crossed it all comes good - your all-purpose utility bike will be awesome.

"Folks, I've been given a dawes horizon by my neighbour. She's old but solid and surprisingly comfy to ride."

LoL

Ahem.

Looking forward to pics of cleaned and reamed entry hole.

Took a while to sort out a photo but heres the finished seat post. I'll be having the frame and forks resprayed after christmas. Quite excited now.

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