{"id":41067,"date":"2023-11-16T13:01:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T12:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ridelikeaturtle.com\/sport\/?p=41067"},"modified":"2023-11-30T21:05:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:05:57","slug":"1979-motobecane-mixte-refreshed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ridelikeaturtle.com\/sport\/1979-motobecane-mixte-refreshed\/","title":{"rendered":"1979 Motob\u00e9cane Mixte, Refreshed [SOLD]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"1979<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When a nice little bike ends up available to you, that you can save from the skip, you don’t ask too many questions. As the saying goes, “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”<\/em> It needed a bit of work, but I had the tools, ability, and time — a perfect match!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guy getting rid of it (who has a bike restoration service – https:\/\/dropout-cycles.com\/<\/a>, check them out!) told me he already had dozens of bikes ready to build, and he focuses mostly on a few specific brands – Carlton, Dawes, Raleigh, BSA – bikes he has a lot of parts for, and is familiar with; and he restores them to a very high standard. This bike didn’t exactly meet this criteria, being a bit rusty, a bit bent, more than a bit French, and not very special or rare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did it have going for it, then? Well, it was 99% complete. The only thing missing was the original light dynamo. (The original front and rear lights and wiring were toast, but still.) But the fenders, rear rack, complete drivetrain & brakes, pedals, bars, were all there. The wheels weren’t totally destroyed, and the headset felt great. The bottom bracket was munged, but that’s all fixable; the rest was just mostly dirt and cosmetics. It was also incredibly functional, the full fenders and rack making it a perfect city bike; but most important, this bike has character. You don’t see greenish-gold metal flake paint on a steel frame anymore, and then paired with brown decals! This is 1979, kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"1979<\/a>
As it was found. Free chain!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What this bike needed was a little bit of TLC, or what I call a “refresh”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure that sounds easy, but there’s actually quite a bit of work involved — but I do like a project. I stripped it down, cleaning as I go, bagging everything, even the bits of rusted bolts broken in half, because you might need to know what size it was, and how long it was, when you need a replacement. It’s now you’re likely to find something fatal, like a cracked or badly bent or dented frame. The seat post was not stuck, neither was the quill stem. Everything was looking really good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"1979<\/a>
Frame fully stripped (except the fork\/headset).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What did it need? The rear wheel was quite bent, and one problem was a couple of the spokes were very resistant to adjustment; but it came around and while not perfect, I got it a lot better than it was. The bottom bracket bearings were munged – I really don’t understand how these bearings got so destroyed, but the cage was chewed up and some of the drive-side bearings were missing. The bar tape was disgusting; same with the saddle, foam missing. The lights were just hanging on, housings cracked & broken. The cables were all rusty, housings worn, I don’t think there were any cable stops; and it needed a new tube. The tyres were OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bottom<\/a>
“Munged” drive side bottom bracket bearings.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But new cables & housing are inexpensive, and I had a pair of handlebar grips that I was never going to use. New bottom bracket bearings are also inexpensive (if you know where to source them). So I got a new saddle, cleaned it all up, printed up some new decals, and reassemble it all. Easy-peasy, if you’re willing to and able to use an angle grinder, sacrifice drill bits, and carefully bend a few things (rear derailleur hanger, I’m looking at you!) back into place, to make it all work correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cherry on top? A bottle dynamo and new front & rear lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n