Practicalities of using an old bike... a lot?

[oldgit]

I'm talking late 70's Mercian, restored with a few added brazings. Then fitted with modern kit.

What I don't know is what happens to old steel, it's not rusty. There are a few patches, but nothing major. If in otherwise good condition can it 'just fail'? I wanted to enjoy it on audaxes up to 600km. I wouldn't overload it, just a small saddle bag or bar bag.

 

[Midlife]

Not a lot can happen to steel if it's kept OK, can't realy stress corrode like alloy..........look at the forth road bridge.

Shaun

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

Worth trying to check it's not rusty on the inside too. Take out the bottom bracket and have a look if any rust has flaked
off and fallen down into the BB shell.
Also worth blocking the brazing vent holes (e.g. on the ends of the forks) to stop water getting in there.

 

[half cog]

Re:

its never too late for a bit of dilute wax oil into the tubes as well. Drain them out well before you re build though. To be honest most of my bikes are around that era and I also ride a 1957 Carlton,For a steel bike yours is quite a young one.You really need to look at the amount of rust present and for any dings or cracks.Check under the down tube just behind the head tube for ripples Thats often a place where they start to fail if they are past it.Have a look at the steerer tube. I have had two bikes now with deformed steerers due to the stem being too tight. I am happy with the ones I have and I cant say I feel I am dicing with death when I go out for a ride. So. Good check over. Wax oil.build up.Enjoy
Regards
Peter

 

[widowmaker]

Re:

I swear by Framesaver

 

[half cog]

Re:

never tried frame saver as I have half a gallon of wax oil sat at the back of the shed.I should think either would do.I dilute the wax oil with parafin. its a messy job though and frame saver may well be a cleaner option.I do think though that if you are going for big rides a complete strip down and frame treatment is well worth it.Once you have it back together you know exactly what you are riding and it helps build your trust in the machine. No nasty surprises in the middle of nowhere
Regards
Peter

 

[jon w]

I use an early 60's Triumph every day. You'll get a bit of surface rust, but that is nothing to worry about. If you are worried about the inside waxoil it, but unless your riding by the sea you'll probably be fine with rust.

Keep it clean, keep any salt off of it during winter and enjoy. Steel is far more stable than Ally and rarely fails in a catastrophic way without plenty of warning.

 

[Robbied196]

I wouldn't worry about it. I've done a lot of restorations and a good majority will have the odd chip, scratch or scrape to the paint that has developed a bit of rust, its easily removed and treated. A few people seem to swear by protecting the inside of the frames, I guess there's nothing to be lost. But out of hundreds of frames from the 50s to the 90s I've yet to see one that rusted from the inside to the outside.