2008 Giant Halfway (folding bike)

[Scott-S]

About 10 days ago on the folders thread a few pics were put up of a Giant Halfway by a pair of bad influences and at first I was like man that's f'kin ugly
Then I started to notice things about it that were interesting, like its a mono and I started to see it it a new light...

So last Friday evening after a few nice malts I hit the usual online marketplaces just to see what was out there and at what kind of money?
I saw 3 but the one that really caught my eye was a silver one wich seemed an earlier model as the name was embossed onto the frame whereas the others I saw it was decal.



I wanted this bike, only problem was that it was in Wrexham and I live in Glasgow 260 miles away, so a quick message to the seller could I collect it on Saturday afternoon if I bought it - the answer was yes and so I paid the asking price of £100 right away

Saturday morning 9am road trip, got to Wrexham at 1pm picked up the bike, had a bite of lunch and went back home.

9 hours and 520 miles later Im home and chuffed to bits.

Heres the sellers pics, the bike was in great condition and the frame protection films had done their job as they were a bit beat up.
But other than that and some issues with the paint on the stand leading to the white powdery crap on it this was a very honest bike.

Sellers pics:














This pic shows the only damage to the bike which the seller was very up front about, the inner chainring protecter was broken.
Oh aye and the chain was howling

 

[Scott-S]

This was last Saturday evening right I got home and was relaxing with a coffee and the bag was sitting tempting me but I wanted my dinner first.


After dinner (takeaway pizza) I was sitting with a few malts and my self control got the better of me... I had to see it again.


at this point I was chatting to the folks in the Inn and showing them what I bought, Tom (Bikeworkshop) offered to send me a set of better cranks and chaining and a free crank extractor simply because I didn't have one.

On Sunday I cleaned the bike and started removing the frame protection films..
The chain was scrubbed in a tray of white spirit and still took 20 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner (also in white spirit) to get it clean
Talk about over maintained, there was so much oil I was terrified somebody was going to decide we need freedom and invade my back garden for chemical weapons.
This is the chain guard, it gives a very rough idea of bad the chain and rear mech was.


I stripped and cleaned the rear derailleur which was equally as bad


The crankset bikeworkshop sent arrived yesterday what a guy, a true gentleman!
Today I cleaned them and lightly sanded them with 800. 1000 2000 & 3000 wet or dry then a light polish to give them their lustre back.
and they turned out brilliant, I wasnt going for high shine immaculate as that would look wrong I just wanted smart and tidy.



Last job for today was cleaning the stand, I apologise I forgot to take a before picture but you can imagine it the paint was flacking and bubbling and the aluminium was that white oxidisation all over it.
Wire brushed with the Dremmel and sanded 800 grit (I think) its sitting on the radiator drying tomorrow it'll get etch primed then a few light coats of satin black.


Next plans are to install slime tubes and tire liners that are in the shed waiting, get the rear derailleur greased, rebuilt and installed.
finish replacing the frame protection films kit the chain and ride it...

 

[grantoury]

Nice bicycle mr. Scott. I had a look at Halfways on marktplaats.nl last week and most of them are almost new and asking prices are high, like 250 euros. 100 quid seems a good price.

 

[Scott-S]

Nice bicycle mr. Scott. I had a look at Halfways on marktplaats.nl last week and most of them are almost new and asking prices are high, like 250 euros. 100 quid seems a good price.

Wow thats a lot of money Jan, the ones I saw were here mainly £130-150 and one crazy chancer on FB marketplace asking silly money but when I saw how good this one was for so little money I wasn't missing out on it.

 

[novocaine]

Like it. Ll do you a half wit decal.