EARLY RIDGEBACK REFURB

[Synthiaks]

So thanks to @raidan73 and @chris_h I bought the early Ridgeback I posted about here in the wants section....I'm not looking to do a 'mint' resto as it'll be a user and I like to original finish, even with its scars.....here it is as purchased:

​

Has the orginal suntour pedals...scruffy, but have the dust caps and are smooth turning, not loose or wonky.




Also orginal? Stumpjumper tyres which are interesting, but won't be for riding on, sidwalls aren't falling apart as yet but they are faded/stained...the tread is nice and not perished.....unlike the panracer smokes that I am probably going to put on it....



Some other 'beauty shots...its pretty shabby, but I don't mind patina (which is lucky)...





Will start the cleean-up process and see what its like.........any tips or spotting of wrong parts appreciated, sadddle and seatpost look worng for sure, but think the rest is origianl other than the odd cable cover, I have a red and a black to add to the original grey....


Reason for purchase was nostalgia, its very similar to one I had in 84/85 that was liberated from me by some lovely theif....

 

[jimo746]

I like that, and good to see someone who doesn't mind a bit of "Patina" and likes to really Ride the retro bikes.
It all looks pretty original to me, although I think the rear mech is a later addition from the early 1990's, from Shimano's "Hybrid/City" CX groupset.
As for tyres, there's a thread in the Ebay/Marketplace finds section with some cheap tyres that look the part, I fitted some to my '86 Diamondback

 

[Synthiaks]

Thanks for the response....i 100% agree the rear mech is wrong it should be M700 or from what I've seen on a couple of other early Ridgebacks

on here this Shimand MTD ....Also found a sheet for the 1984 Ridgeback XT (below) on the forum which is excellent for ref as this looks very similar to mine so am def missing a few original bits, but its not terrible!

I'll be using it around london so a bit of Patina is a good thing, but will do a mechanical resto (the front wheel barely turns) and clean it up as nicely as aI can...a friend has an ultrasonic cleaing bath so that might help some parts.

 

[enc]

perfect restoration material..

 

[KermitGKona88]

Looks like a good candidate for a pair of these

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/cheap-and-cheerful-tan-wall-tyres.433454/

 

[enc]

Looks like a good candidate for a pair of these

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/cheap-and-cheerful-tan-wall-tyres.433454/

those actually look like the tyres originally fitted!

 

[Synthiaks]

I'll look into those, they do look really similar to the tyres in the datasheet! weird....I have a pair of panracer Smokes to go on it for vintage vibe, but those new ones are interesting & amazing value so will definitely pick up a pair.

Thanks for the heads up!

The bars are lovely on this....wide, but feel great....they feel 'light' difficult to describe...but looking forward to being able to hae a ride and test properly....

 

[Synthiaks]

Cleaned up the wheels....the front one was totally full of gunk, clean as a whistle now....the rims are beautiful with the black anodising and silver tramlines, interesting spokes with an 'H' logo (?)......i ordered a pair of the gumwall tyres recommended above, in the meantime have put the Panracer smokes on, which are shabby but work fine for now. I didn't massively go to town on the rear wheel, just a decent clean, some WD40 and re-grease, it was in better fettle than the front. both are in true, despite a couple of dinged spokes.

Oddly, the front rim is only drilled to take a presta valve, the rear takes a schrader so may have been drilled out to fit.

 

[Synthiaks]

and the rear....

 

[Synthiaks]

Did a quick clear/lube of the frame and parts & stuck the wheels on just for a test ride as too impatient before going through it properly and its lovely....smoother than expected even on the knobblys, a really nice riding postion and the handlebars just have a great feeling, i do like wide bars.......