BATAVUS Cleanup

Today was a tear-down day for the Batavus. After stripping all the parts off I took it outside and gave it another bath. Then degreasing, removing tar and a wax & polish job. In the second picture I am using a small brush and dental tools to get into all the nooks & crannies. Next will be dry fitting the cleaned parts and the replacement parts. Then take it back apart and try to touch up the paint and transfers (decals). As you can see I had some help from a friend & neighbor cleaning small part.

BATAVUS

Closer inspection of the old Batavus after initial cleaning uncovered lots of cancer. It looks like it will take a lot of replacement parts to get this bike on the road. I ‘m glad I found donor bike for some of the parts. Is it worth it? Well sure…………….it’s a Batavus!

Gotta love an old Mixte: Part 5

Well it has happened again……..I turned around and was surprised by another Mixte! Someone donated a few bikes today at the Chain Reaction and one was this Mixte. It hasn’t been ridden for many years. It is so dirty that I couldn’t tell what color it was for sure. Lots of rust again, (bike cancer). I can make it rideable but it will never be the beautiful bike it once was. It is a Batavus (Holland) Mixte Racer. They made a Mixte racer and mixte Touring. The difference was the drop bar vs an upright bar. They also made two levels of Mixtes. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the higher end bike had chrome tipped forks amongst other thing. How do I know this? I sold Batavus bikes in the 70’s at my shop! Batavus is one of the few bike companies that still make there bike in their home country and import to the USA. Batavus has always been a trusted bike for commuting and touring. Years ago they sponsored their own world class racing team. They are sold around the world but are mostly unappreciated. I have to evaluate this find and maybe swap the CR shop this for one of my others

 I did get it washed when I got home.

My first derailleur type of bike was a white Batavus like the one in the last picture.

Raleigh Mixte Started

I started on the Raleigh Mixte today. I am a little disappointed in the condition of some of the parts. I have the frame tore down except for one last nut. The left side BB axle nut is rusted fast. I have it soaking in penetrating oil till I get back to it. The other side came off but is very corroded. I’m glad I picked up the Fuji parts bike.

Now it is time to pick a color to paint it. Red is out already have 5 red ones. Medium blue, pink, white, silver and black are also taken. I have an orange one but I love it and it is for sale so I could do orange. I have seen a neat Motobecane Mixte in a metallic pearl and also a Follis in metallic medium silver/gray. I was spoiled when I re-did my Follis 472 last summer. I had it media blasted before painting and it only cost $20.00 to get it done. Saves from having to do the worst part of the job by hand.

GREAT DAY!

Great day yesterday! Started off by volunteering at the Chain Reaction Bike Shop till noon. In the afternoon went to a Meeting with members of the Bicycle Friendly Task Force, The Bicycle Advisory Committee, members of the KCV Cycling club and various folks from City Government. Also there were members of the In. Dept. of Health and BicycleIndiana . They were there to officially let us know that we qualified for a grant to get started on initiating our work.  Then that evening Susie and I went to a party at Mad Anthony’s for the submitting of our Bicycle Friendly Application.  I want to thank everyone that has made this possible. It has been a huge amount of work by key people to get to this stage. BIKES, BIKES, BIKES..........................!

FINISHED!

This 1961 J.C. Higgins will be back at the Chain Reaction Bike Shop tomorrow. It is a classic Austrian made 3-spd. With lugged frame and fenders. I just finished a full repack / tune up / and clean up. It ended up being more work than I thought it would be, lots of rusted and frozen parts. I had to have a chain guard brace remade at the local welding shop. It didn’t turn out a nice as I would have liked. The paint is dead and will not hold a shine. If I was to keep it I would do a blast and repaint. It is worth it. This is a Classic!

Gotta love an old Mixte: Part 4

Will wonders ever cease? First I buy a mixte then Mel brings one over out of the past and then today I pick one up that was leftover from the Goshen College bike sale. I now have three to decide what to do with. The one I bought may be left alone for now. It is in good shape except a little cable work. The Pink Pinto may just get cleaned for now. And my latest Mixte will get most of my effort for a while. It is an inch taller and closer to my size. It is a 33 year old Raleigh. It needs the most work and the paint is beat up so I plan on painting it. Let’s see….a Nishiki, a Pinto, a Raleigh and Fuji for parts. That should do it for now. Unless I would happen to find a Batavus or Follis.................