Project - Free bikes for people that need them

Long time current projects reader and classifieds troll here. Inspiring work all around.

I’ve recently been given a couple of bikes that have spent a few years in my friend’s backyard. Cleaning / fixing / improving them is a project about my speed, and with the current situation I have some time to donate.

I’d like to give them away (when they’re ready) to people that could really use a bike right now, but for whatever reason can’t get or afford one. To make that happen I have two humble requests from the community, if it’s of interest: first to let me know if you know someone who could use a bike, and second to donate parts if you’re able. (And of course a bonus one: to give some feedback on build quality).

Thoughts?

The bikes are:

• a Lincoln Nevada retro looking mountain bike, smallish. I haven’t heard of this brand before, anyone know anything about it?
  
• a Raleigh (I think, will double check later) aluminum road bike, large
  
  

In general, the plan is to remove and clean components, new brake pads all around, and replace tubes/tires/cables/rusty bolts as needed.

Pics to follow...

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Before getting into the bikes, the part I was really interested in was how to get them 2.5 miles from his house to mine. I'm sure there are easier and better ways to do this, but, having just gotten rid of my actual bike trailer, I wanted to make this:

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3 weeks of wasting time later, this thing exists. Shoutout to @psg1ben for 99% of the muddyfox

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check out that tasty mitreing...

Muddy Fox is doing the carrying duties, does that mean you're keeping it?
Lets see a full bike pic? (Surprised you didn't keep the original brakes)

For sure keeping it. Good fun riding around the city, I've been using it mostly as a cargo bike / something for my housemate to borrow.

Will post a pic when it's sunny again! I couldn't get more than mediocre stopping power out of those brakes.. after fiddling I installed these instead and it's stopping much better - not sure how much of that is in the brakes and how much is in my fiddling prowess. Still got the other set for later.

Muddy Fox glam shot:

Also changed: fork for something I had lying around (haven't fixed that thead), stem for something a little shorter, and the triple chainrings for a single narrow-wide

Going to pick up the lincoln when it's done raining today

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Wahey, fork matches the tyres!
No little yellow birdy on the saddle then

Enjoying this already

Point A to point B! Didn’t take a good look at this Lincoln yet but it’s NOT sexy (yet)

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Impressive. Where are you?

SE London!

I stripped everything off the Lincoln, it maybe isn't quite as ugly as I originally thought. It had plastic mounts for tons of stuff - pump, lights, reflectors, lock, etc - that really were hurting the aesthetic.

The gripshifts are rad and in good shape. I think my first ever bike had gripshifts, it was very nostalgic to give them a spin. In fact, other than the rusty brake lever bits everything is in OK shape. The bottom bracket appears to have been installed with 0 grease but thankfully did come out and should be gtg with a cleanup.

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The graphics are really not my style.. but the grey is nice and in reasonable shape for a free bike. I think I'll strip the decals off and rattlecan some highlights, something like this:

but crap

Meanwhile.. I picked up the Raleigh, trailer thing is working great!

The raleigh appears to have some deep scratches from a chainring rubbing on a stay though. Not sure how serious it is, will post photos later on..

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I've been keeping busy removing the stickers from the Lincoln - now that I've started I can't stop but it's really really annoying. Have tried fingernails, knives, rubbing on oil, soap, rubbing alcohol, mineral spirit which all sort of work but none are the satisfying easy wipe off I desire. I ordered some Goo Gone which I remember from my youth as my mom's go to. And some 100% pure acetone.

RE: the Raleigh - It's in pretty good shape. Rear wheel that came with it looks pretty new and spins well. Front wheel from my own shed also in acceptable shape. Scrape on the frame seems like nothing to worry about.

to get it back on the road and into this thread it needs a few minor bits I don't have in the parts bin:

• 8 speed shimano cassette
  
• 8 speed compatible chain
  
• crank bolts
  
• brake shoes
  
• new bar tape
  
  

Does anyone have any of these things lying around and willing to donate to the cause?

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