Made in England
Jul. 10th, 2011 09:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
opabiniaI have a mysterious "Imperial" 10-speed in the basement. The Internet doesn't have much to say about this brand. In terms of workmanship, the frame looks unremarkable to me (apart from the rivets on the lugs -- what?), but the Suntour components look decent. I would guess the bike was built in the late sixties, or maybe earlier, judging by the brazed-on pump pegs.
This was a Craigslist purchase. I already had a Raleigh to rebuild, but I wanted a ready-to-ride beater. This one wasn't quite there when I rode it, but it was too interesting a bike, and too good a price, to pass up. A little brake work, some derailleur adjustments...
I ended up replacing the saddle; freeing and greasing the seat-post; rebuilding the headset; lubricating the bottom bracket; replacing the wheelset, replacing the brake pads; replacing all cables and housings; adjusting both derailleurs; tuning the brakes; and swapping in new tubes and tires. Naturally, this all took me forever, because I have the mechanical skills of an eel.
A quick test ride reveals a little play in the drive-side crank (hopefully it's only a loosened cotter).* The bars could use a fresh wrap. Fortunately, the ancient freewheel innards will grind themselves to death before any of that becomes a real problem.
You should see it, though. It looks cool.
I may try to ride this to Concord and back. We'll see if it holds together!
* Edit: It was, and the crank is solid now. Nothing is ever that easy; stand by for some other part of the bike to explode.
This was a Craigslist purchase. I already had a Raleigh to rebuild, but I wanted a ready-to-ride beater. This one wasn't quite there when I rode it, but it was too interesting a bike, and too good a price, to pass up. A little brake work, some derailleur adjustments...
I ended up replacing the saddle; freeing and greasing the seat-post; rebuilding the headset; lubricating the bottom bracket; replacing the wheelset, replacing the brake pads; replacing all cables and housings; adjusting both derailleurs; tuning the brakes; and swapping in new tubes and tires. Naturally, this all took me forever, because I have the mechanical skills of an eel.
A quick test ride reveals a little play in the drive-side crank (hopefully it's only a loosened cotter).* The bars could use a fresh wrap. Fortunately, the ancient freewheel innards will grind themselves to death before any of that becomes a real problem.
You should see it, though. It looks cool.
I may try to ride this to Concord and back. We'll see if it holds together!
* Edit: It was, and the crank is solid now. Nothing is ever that easy; stand by for some other part of the bike to explode.
