Older style bicycles

[PaulSim]

Hi all, a question for you cyclists.
Is there a market for older style road bikes, not the modern big chunky frame type? I have one which was good in its day, 531c tubing and forks. Just wondering as an imminent house move has meant its time to do something with it rather than put it in a new garage.
Thanks all
Paul

[benny.c]

There certainly is. http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/ is a good place to start.

[jmitch]

What have you got Paul?

[PaulSim]

What have you got Paul?

It’s an Orbit Gold Medal, stronglight crank, old pedals that don’t need fancy shoes, shimano derailleur 600, Weimann brakes. And that Reynolds 531 tube.

- - - Updated - - -

There certainly is. http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/ is a good place to start.

Thanks Benny

[Tokyo Tokei]

Hi all, a question for you cyclists.
I have one which was good in its day, 531c tubing and forks

No reason why it shouldn't have its day again! There is definitely a market. You can get original spares from the auction places, and some new/re-manufactured parts are also increasingly available. If the frame and fork is in good condition, you should be able to get (or re-use or repair yourself) appropriate BB/cranks/handlebar/stem/wheels/brakes/gears/shifters.

The possible tricky bit is the 130mm/135mm spacing on modern frames (to fit in 9/10/11 speed freehubs). You can still buy freewheels though, and most 'old' hubs can be re-used with just the bearings repacked.

Try:

https://www.rivbike.com (read owner Grant Petersen's blog...)
https://velo-orange.com
https://cyclesgrandbois.com (based in Kyoto but ship internationally and have UK distributors too)
https://specialites-ta.com/?___store=en (For the excellent TA cranks, chainrings and bottom brackets)
https://janheine.wordpress.com (and Heine's print magazine, https://www.bikequarterly.com )

My 'older style' bicycle, still in daily use:

2004:

2018:

Great workhorses these, comfortable and practical. And infinitely maintainable with a bit of care.

[WhopperSenior]

I bought an old, steel framed Raleigh road bike a while ago. It's a great one to just nip down the pub on. My "proper" bike is a little too expensive to leave outside unattended so it's nice to have something I don't need to worry about.