How to Restore a Bicycle

If you are talking about wanting to restore a bicycle, the work involved is a very different proposition from merely wanting to fix one. The act of working to restore a bicycle means that you want to take an older one, perhaps even a vintage one, and make it look like new again. A project like this, to restore a bicycle, is a much larger endeavor than simply replacing pedals, tubes or brakes so you can put your bicycle back into riding condition. When you restore instead of repair, you are looking to make an enormous time commitment. To restore a bicycle should be a labor of love, not a job done to resell the finished product to make some fast cash. This will not be a fast project.

When you are talking about wanting to restore a bicycle what you are saying is that you are preparing to put it back into its original condition. That can mean anything from trying to find original parts to using tools to reshape it back to the way it used to be.

If you find a bicycle of the type you have always wanted and the condition of that bicycle is near perfect by all means buy it. But, do not try to restore it any further. You will not be doing it or yourself any favors by trying to restore it. Near perfect should be close enough to satisfy you. If on the other hand you find that bicycle you’ve always wanted and the fenders are rusted, there are assorted things that need to be done to make it like it used to be, then that should be when you decide to restore.

To begin to restore your bicycle you will need to find replacement parts. This may not be as easy as you think, but patience will allow you to search for the parts you need to restore the bicycle you have desired for so long. Try looking in bicycle magazines, both on and off the net, and bicycle shops in the city where you live. You may even try auction sites like Ebay to find some of the parts you’ll need to completely restore your project.

You’ll also need to find paint to match the original colors as you restore it to its old glory. This will be more difficult but you can use modern paints, good ones that will protect the finishes of your bike and then using proven techniques to make it look like an older finish. This is done with airbrushes and you may need professional help with this part.

After you have completed your project to restore the bicycle you can show it off to friends and neighbors by taking it out for a nice long ride. Your pride in the completion of this project will be seen by all as you sail passed them on your dream bicycle. And then, having accomplished this restoration project with your own two hands you may decide to try another.