newbie with a old bike....

[cheeky]

Greeting all! I have recently started MTBing with some pals. I also do abit of running and go to the gym, so someone suggested i give triathlons a crack. Great - found one in 11 weeks! So now i need a racer... It just so happens i have one and owned it since new. Unfortunately, it has languished outside for 10 long years (no storage in my flat) and has seen better days...

Its a 1987(ish) Raleigh Triathlon, light yellow with a shimano 105 groupset, 12 speed. A tidy machine when new and cost best part of £500 iirc!

groupset: - http://velobase.com/ViewSingleGroup.aspx?GroupID=d6820b4d-ca20-4705-b905-51dd364b43c4

I obviously need it to be fast/reliable/safe as i am not entering the triathlon to make up numbers!! Not going to win obv lol There is rust covering anything non-alloy, its started to come thru on the brake line guides. The chainrings bolts. The cleets(?) with original leather fasteners lol! The spokes. The derailiers just about move

Now what do i do - Clean/replace/repair/bin? Will new groupsets fit a 20 year old bike? What about wheels/hubs/cassettes? Will the crank need new bearings? etcetcetc

Any ideas, ebay links etc greatfully received
Pics

more pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14242270@N08/sets/72157624457349198/

 

[guitarpete247]

Personally I would replace all the cables, inners and outers, new chain, lube everything.
The Bottom Bracket and the stearing will need looking at. Check the wheel spindles. These may need dismantling and regreasing with new bearings as will the pedals. I would get new pedals. Check the wheels for true and give it a damned good clean. It should be alright as long as none of the bearing surfaces have been allowed to rust.
You will need to replace the ball bearings or ball races (Sheldon Brown http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ always reccommended putting a full set of balls in, in place of races). This http://bicycletutor.com/ is a usefull site for any repair advice. Or even here http://www.bikewebsite.com/ .
Have you done much maintainance in the past. If not then you might be in for several weekends of fun and relaxation stripping down an old friend or even mending your bike .

 

[legrandefromage]

soak in 3in1 oil overnight and clean all parts using a mix of 3in1 and paint thinners.

As the old oil comes off with the thinners, it mixes and creates a useful anti rust compound.

It is salvageable but will take some time.

 

[cheeky]

thanks ever so much for the pointers, esp bicycle tutor!! - i must admit i had been looking at new bikes as the missus had agreed to £300 budget And she is quite rusty, poorly parts and i have never stripped a bike before.... Anyway. I have now been stripping her back to the frame. Cleaned up brakes, callipers, handlebars. Seat/post is wrecked. Few rusty nuts. Also took the front hub apart as i had 2 cone spanners in my tool box, thick brown grease, left them in 10w40 motor oil with thinners came up a treat!

I went to a bike shop to discuss "old v new" and the chap said there was a risk of ithe frame rusting from the inside out as its been outside for 8+ years. Any truth in that?

Also, i have been compiling a list of parts and tools, its quite long! - is there a cheap online shop that sells tools?

So far:
22mm crank puller
bb wrench
hooked lock ring wrench
32/36mm headset wrench
freewheel remover

Any more?

 

[guitarpete247]

I've been away for a week and only just seen your post about frame rusting from the inside. Yes it can if it has been left out as long as you say, 8 years, but it doesn't look like it has been out that long. Has it been under partial cover?

When you removed the BB what did it look like? Shine a torch up the seat tube and look down it. Run you finger into the chain stays. How pitted are they with rust or is it just surface stuff? I would possibly run a rust inhibitor in the tubes to kill off anything that has started. From your photos it doesn't look like it has had a lot of weather on it just the obvious aeas, chain, crank bolts chromed nuts etc that have a little covering.

How have you got on so far? I'm keen to see either a work in progress or your final efforts. If it is too far gone a few photos to show us where it went might be helpful to others in he same position.