Author Topic: 1984 Rickman Freestyler Restoration build diary, start to finish ! (Read 10998 times)

Funkyworm · « **on:** July 11, 2013, 07:16 PM »

Ok, well this really was in a state when i bought it a few months back, doesn't look too bad here & I wanted to keep it OG but even to get is stripped back to this stage there were lots of issues that had to be faced.. First off the pedals would not budge so (& it killed me to do so) i had to cut the Tioga Task force 1 Piece crank arm off so that the crank would come out.

The thread on the forks had completely shot & i ended up replacing them completely in the end thanks to Matt bloke as I wasn't convinced a repair was the way to go.

The bars had a lot of rust & Basically anything that could get stuck or go wrong did.

As the replacement forks were chrome i decided to strip the bike & chrome the whole thing (just like my original christmas Pressie from Christmas 84) !

The alloy Renthall seat post was lodged & welded all the way down to the BB casing. It took 3 days to remove it with caustic soda hot water & a lot of babysitting to refresh & top up the mixture getting it to work as quickly as i could.

I then took down all of the rust & shipped it out to AFC Howell in Walsall who did the rest of the prep & did a full chrome restoration of the frame forks bars & Power disc.

Meanwhile I completely stripped & hand rattle painted the callipers (which came off of my Hutch exel).

I'd previously tried to sell these on here in their OG white paint but with no interest so I decided that rather than bin them i'd do them justice & along with the levers (which were NOS) & the OG & (Knackered tioga/tange seat post clamp) & a set of shagged shimano DX pedals which (were also a mess) & some NOS Victors (if i decided to ride it) I refurbished the lot by hand painting them blue whilst starting to compile some other bits for the build.

Last week I collected the Frame & the results were simply stunning

The welds look amazing.

The chrome is smooth.

Just beautiful all round...

& the build was ON !!!!

IF YOU LIKE VOTE FOR ME IN BIKE OF THE MONTH JULY !!!

fischflo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:27 PM »

WOW! THat bike sure fell into the hands of a pro - really shows you how it should be done

... and the result is fun-ta-li-cious (just made that up)

Good job -- full points from me

... that must be longest seat post i've ever seen

Gnarlyscoots · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:30 PM »

I really love what you have done with this build

I love the way you bought it back to life, the restoration of the small parts, including adding some Lee Chi decals to the calipers (nice touch), sticking with polished rims and not blue but adding blue tyres etc etc...

It looks stunning mate, a job well done

Funkyworm · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:30 PM »

Quote from: fischflo on July 11, 2013, 07:27 PM

WOW! THat bike sure fell into the hands of a pro - really shows you how it should be done ... and the result is fun-ta-li-cious (just made that up) Good job -- full points from me

... that must be longest seat post i've ever seen

It was MASSIVE.

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:43 PM »

Cal, this is a stunning build mate, a true labour of love, and it's paid off.

nitrohopper · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2013, 08:05 PM »

another class build callum well done mate

TORKER mick · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2013, 09:35 PM »

that is lovely

dib dobs

Funkyworm · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2013, 10:36 PM »

Quote from: Londonhellboy on July 11, 2013, 07:30 PM

I really love what you have done with this build

I love the way you bought it back to life, the restoration of the small parts, including adding some Lee Chi decals to the calipers (nice touch), sticking with polished rims and not blue but adding blue tyres etc etc...

It looks stunning mate, a job well done

Cheers Terry & thanks form the end caps ! those Shimano's wouldn't be the same without them

willo73 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2013, 10:55 PM »

Wow, stunning

chrome and blue, looks amazing

NORTY40 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2013, 01:06 AM »

Great resto mate , as Dan said it looks a true labour of love .

Blue and Chrome is defo up there as one of my favourite combo's

Badbaldie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2013, 08:35 AM »

Cal shes awsum mate

chubby · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2013, 12:24 PM »

fookin brilliant cal,great resto skills & the best one you've done so far. Really like the chrome n blue combo it's just spot on mate

oldschoolace · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2013, 12:41 PM »

Cracking build!

Nice to see the effort going in on the restoration work and great attention to detail. This for me is what a build should be about

Julian347 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2013, 01:38 PM »

Worth all the work. Cracking build

Rickman199 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2013, 09:15 AM »

wow that just made me

i had 2 chrome nos rickman freestylers one with standers on and the other with out gutted i sold them about 5 years ago for about £150 each

Banachek · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2013, 11:02 AM »

Great work, that colour scheme has some POP

Funkyworm · « **Reply #16 on:** August 02, 2013, 08:23 AM »

Quote from: Rickman199 on July 28, 2013, 09:15 AM

wow that just made me i had 2 chrome nos rickman freestylers one with standers on and the other with out gutted i sold them about 5 years ago for about £150 each

Wow, that's a class pic, If yo have any bars Rickman freestyle bars I'll have them !!!

OllyHall · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2013, 07:58 PM »

Gorgeous and well done!!

GavinDavis · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2013, 09:20 PM »

That really is stunning! Top work there

BADDH · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2013, 09:54 PM »

Is this the bike I saw at Chester. This summer

Funkyworm · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2013, 10:13 PM »

Quote from: BADDH on August 23, 2013, 09:54 PM

Is this the bike I saw at Chester. This summer

No Mate, it's never left the house.

Wez · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:32 AM »

To quote Rhianna that "shines bright like a diamond". .. But actually diamonds don't shine they reflect

glenboy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:44 AM »

great resto , enjoyed reading that , top job

80s bmx · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:50 AM »

Just seen this and cannot stop flicking through photo's.
This is fooking madness. SOOOOO nice
Can I borrow it as my shaving mirror has broken ?

Funkyworm · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:08 PM »

Quote from: 80s bmx on August 24, 2013, 12:50 AM

Just seen this and cannot stop flicking through photo's.
This is fooking madness. SOOOOO nice
Can I borrow it as my shaving mirror has broken ?

Just seen this comment , made me laugh out loud, Yes mate anytime but i wont be held accountable if you cut yourself shaving