Help from Marin gurus

A couple of spots of surface rust, it looks like it was dry stored, I gave it a quick clean and for a 28 year old bike it is really good shape. I am thinking respray, regrease/replace bearings, new cables and breaks. It still has Marin lite tyres that look spot on. All the gearing, breaks and cranks are pretty much unmarked so put back on. I would like to get a Mavic 230 rear wheel to make it more original. Thoughts?
 
It is really a great cross country frame. They have a comfortable geometry for long rides and absorb the bumps nicely. They are fairly light and agile.
 
This is how it looks at the moment
 

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Shove the tyres in the washing machine with a pinch of powder. They will clean up quite well. #
New brake blocks, clean and lube the chain and you're riding.
Considering the overall completeness, its worthy of restoration, the handlebars for example...
That bottom bracket. It could be a retro fitted cup and lockring jobby or....a royce?

#if you get caught by other 'arf and get seriously beaten. Im not to blame. 😉
 
Shove the tyres in the washing machine with a pinch of powder. They will clean up quite well. #
New brake blocks, clean and lube the chain and you're riding.
Considering the overall completeness, its worthy of restoration, the handlebars for example...
That bottom bracket. It could be a retro fitted cup and lockring jobby or....a royce?

#if you get caught by other 'arf and get seriously beaten. Im not to blame. 😉
Worse than beaten, a look of disappointment, this would be worse if she caught me putting the tyres in the washing machine! I was thinking of restoring it, big worry is finding a rear wheel.

Any idea on the best place for replacement decals?

Regards the bottom bracket, what type should it have?
 
Put a wanted add on here for the wheel or rim and hun if you fancy building a wheel. Otherwise ebay will throw one up now and then. Gil at retrodecals will sort new decals if you need them.
 
Worse than beaten, a look of disappointment, this would be worse if she caught me putting the tyres in the washing machine! I was thinking of restoring it, big worry is finding a rear wheel.

Any idea on the best place for replacement decals?

Regards the bottom bracket, what type should it have?
Square taper, 68mm x probably 107mm. But measure what comes out, if it needs to. I would remove as a service ritual anyways. Even if it gets shoved back in.
The shimano LX cranks are added later. But they will suffice, to procure XT or white industries is not necessary. The tech advance is negligible.

The bottom bracket in there now will require 2 different spanners to remove/install. Where a cartridge type (un72) etc...is a one tool job mated to a ratchet.
 
It's a decent old frame that and the components are reasonable and look in decent condition.

So I agree with the others that you have a £65 bargain, and with a bit of love could easily be restored to a fine bicycle.

Big question is does it fit? If it's not the right size, it's not going to be a keeper, and yes, folk will say longer stem, seatpost etc, but that will always be a compromise.

Regarding paint, fair dues if you uncle can do it for little cost, but even so you'll never recreate the factory finish, so no problem if you just want nice tidy bike, but if you want the bike looking like it just left the shop 30 years ago, not going to happen.

In my mind, fresh paint only works for bespokish frames that have always been expected to be repainted very few years.

For the big brand mass produced stuff, best to care for the original finish and wear the scars with pride
 
I would leave that paint and decals well alone if me! If there are any major chips or scuffs touch them up. First port would be strip down completely and t cut the whole thing.....just mind the decals...they don't always like it..

I bet you find it comes out so good you wont want to bother.
 
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