Which bike for my first project

[Woz]

While restoration projects can be cool, they can "run away" if you know what I mean.

A lot depends on your budget and time, but something like this represents better the price level:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235552322076

Going up and something slightly more modern in better condition can be very lucrative:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186378322499

 

[CamdenFC]

As a rule, stamped dropouts View attachment 898998View attachment 898999
Indicate low quality, as opposed to cast:
View attachment 899000
Crimped seatstay ends
View attachment 899001View attachment 899002
likewise, as opposed to brazed caps:
View attachment 899003

Thanks for this!

 

[M_Chavez]

Road/tourer? Sounds like you're after the audax geometry.
Restoration or retromod (modern parts on vintage frame)?
Do you want a complete bike, so you can polish the chrome, grease the seatpost bearings and you're good to go? Or do you want to build up a bare frame, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty?

- no bottle cage bosses Easily fixed with a drill and a £10 threaded insert tool, but maybe best left for a second project.
- Old cantis are best avoided - absolutely no need for them unless you're going for a long distance heavy-load tourer. An audax runs great on long-reach brakes.

In regard to paint, check your local painting businesses. Good chance they might be happy to professionally spray & paint a steel bike frame for you for about £100 if they are feeling generous.

By far your best bet is an old English frame built for 27" wheels with a relaxed geometry. My personal audax/commuter ride is a Bob Jackson with relaxed angles. With 700c wheels there's plenty of clearance for 28mm tires and mudguards. Reynolds 531db tubeset. Very sweet ride.

Avoid:
- Anything French, unless you're into extreme masochism
- Anything Raleigh-threaded
- Italian racing machines with extremely aggressive angles
- Anything that looks like it's been in an accident. Perhaps unless it's a slight bend to the rear triangle (in which case it might make it easier to space it out for a modern 10/11sp hub for a 9-sp retromod.