Cleaning an old retro bike
restoring retro glory with some help from the Internet
Sep. 3, 2016 - Willem L. Middelkoop
Almost a year ago I bought an old steel racing bike from 1978. I wanted to figure out if using a bike to commute worked for me. It did! I used it to ride more than 1000KM before I decided to get a modern road bike. Now, almost a year later, I decided to put the powers of the internet into good use: to bring the bike back to its retro glory!
Continue reading![New school Sensa Romagna Sport '15 and Old school Batavus Champion '78](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_00_New-school-Sensa-Romagna-Sport-15-and-Old-school-Batavus-Champion-78_500px.jpg)
![After cleaning and degreasing the bike, its retro glory became visible](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_01_After-cleaning-and-degreasing-the-bike-its-retro-glory-became-visible_500px.jpg)
![The Brooks C15 saddle with matching bag is a perfect (and comfortable) match for this bike](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_11_The-Brooks-C15-saddle-with-matching-bag-is-a-perfect-and-comfortable-match-for-this-bike_500px.jpg)
![An original advertisment of the bike from the 70s - with specification of original parts](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_05_An-original-advertisment-of-the-bike-from-the-70s-with-specification-of-original-parts_500px.jpg)
![Batavus Champion bike from 1978 - ready for a ride!](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_12_Batavus-Champion-bike-from-1978-ready-for-a-ride_500px.jpg)
![Retro bike pumps are available in different colours and sizes - I found an fitting chrome one from Italy!](/blog/2016-09-03_batavus-champion-bike-from-1978/images/i_08_Retro-bike-pumps-are-available-in-different-colours-and-sizes-I-found-an-fitting-chrome-one-from-Ita_500px.jpg)