I bought this bike 6 years ago for $25 at a Salvation Army here in Winnipeg and it has sat (un-rideable) as a display piece in my home since then! This Spring I finally decided to put a little pit of money into it and spent an evening giving it the much needed TLC that it deserved!
I knew right away that I wanted to keep the original color since it's my very favorite color-orangey-red! The handlebars are my very favorite part but were in really rough and rusty shape! I decided that it needed a new seat, new tires and new grips, and other than that I just cleaned it up!
I had a budget of $100 to fix her up, and I came in under budget!
Here's what she looked like before:
She was in pretty rough shape, but I saw so much potential!
As you can see, the handlebars were in really rough shape (see left) but I scrubbed them down with S.O.S. pads which took off 90% of the rust and then finished them off with a metal re-chrome paste that I bought at Canadian Tire for around $5.00! I'm super happy with the way they turned out!
Next I attacked this bad boy with the same products and it cleaned up perfectly!
Next came the fun task of taking the entire bike apart, starting with the busted up seat!
After it was all apart I gave it a good scrub down, and even bust out a toothbrush to get a good clean!
I found the seat, handlebar grips and new tires on Amazon.
Tires: $14 They are sold out of the size I ordered but have other ones here.
Total cost: (including chrome paste and a box of S.O.S.) $60!
Not bad hey? She's still far from perfect, but she's ride-able and I love her to pieces!
xo, Erin
Erin, I'm absolutely in love with your new / old bike. I've been wanting one of these beauties for a few years now. Makes me wish I hadn't gone out a few years back and bought a new mountain-style bike right before these lovely things became popular. Totally wish I could swap it out! Happy weekend to you.
ReplyDelete- A.
Your bike is so cute! I've got a 1970 Schwinn Hollywood my boyfriend bought and restored for me. Check it out here
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ladies! Happy Fringe! :)
Woah - excellent call on the white accents, she looks great! This is inspiring me to clean up my old Schwinn (also scored from Salvation Army) that's been gathering dust outside...I didn't know you could scrub the rust spots off like that!
ReplyDeleteThat is a fantastic bike! Love the handlebars-- too cool~*
ReplyDeletehttp://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/
Not bad at all!! You did good girl! Wow, this was so inspirational and goes to show you don't have to shell out a ton of bucks to make things beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteCathy Trails
I love my bike. I just wish it wasn't so hot here so I could take her for a ride.
ReplyDeleteVintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
Beautiful bike, I recently bought a vintage bike, is brown-bronce
ReplyDeletexo
That is so awesome! Reminded me of an old bike that my grandparents used to have. Looks brand new. :)
ReplyDeletevintage bicycle really turn into a beautiful bicycle. You did a great job.
ReplyDelete3lin
great project! the bike turned out beautifully & I can't believe how cheap the whole thing was!
ReplyDeleteOh, My
cool! i love the handle bars :)
ReplyDeletegeorgia
edelweissmoons.blogspot.com/
Wow, that looks incredible! I really want a bike to do up.
ReplyDeleteBecky
xx
http://www.beckybedbug.com
That's amazing all under $100 bucks to fix that pick and looks super cute!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet bike, and such a great deal!! Love the handle bars!! xo Heather
ReplyDeletewow. amazing transformation. good job. that bike just has so much personality to not to be rode around.
ReplyDeleteOh so lovely!! Inspiresme to work on the rust on my old bikes. And my 1954 chrome table legs. I was wondering what was the best way to tackle that, thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!!! :) GREAT job!!!!
ReplyDeleteI found my bike which is a total Pee Wee Herman bike at this shop called Kitsch & Kaboodle...about 13 yrs ago...you girls would have loooved that shop! The gal that ran it was such a throw back....in the very best way! Such fab stuff! I also picked up my favorite vintage chenille blanket there! I miss that shop so so much...if only she could have held out another few years...for this brand new crop of vintage loving gals! :/
You girls would LOOOVE the Jersey Shore...Asbury park/Ocean Grove!!
xo Jenny
YEAH GIRL. I am very proud of you sister dearest. Bike makeovers are no small feat's. Up until now I was always a skeptic of that bicycle, but you 'saw the beauty' from day one. Next time you shoot your bike's portrait, be sure to showcase the gear train (for street cred and cool factor of course)! Love you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bicycle, the handlebars are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow! That bike is a true beauty! With that ride? One will surely be motivated to get a bike!
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteDo you know what brand the bike was originally? I think I need to have one, those handlebars are ridiculously cute.
I found a 1970s fold up peugeot bike at the local tip shop which I did up this month, it just needed work on the gears and its fine now! (I spent just over $100 dollars getting somebody to fix it)
I'm still getting used to riding it after being bike-less for so long.
Enjoy your bike. xx Laura