It's that time again! Yes the Viking is on the bike stand having a quick wash. After it was on the bike stand in the comfort of the conservatory to look at to where to start!
First I thought I'd start at the front end and remove the Blumells mudguard and front wheel. The brake, a well trusted MAFAC Dural Forge centre-pull, was stripped, de-greased, polished, lubricated and finally assembled and bolted back in position. The Viking has chromed quarter fork ends and fork crown. These had surface rust on and with a gentle rub with wire-wool and a buff with Autosol, they didn't look half bad. The lovely Nervex lugs on the head-tube were cleaned and polished with a tooth brush and when finished showed up the gold lug-lining.
Next on the list was the drive train. The chain had one or two stiff links so after de-greasing these links were freed up, although to be honest I think a new chain is on the shopping list. With the back wheel and rear mudguard removed I had a closer look at the chainset. This is a rather cheap and nasty, heavy-as-hell steel single affair which did nothing to the looks of the frame which was slowly revealing itself as being something sexy and more deserving!
So the chainset was duly removed as it felt like it was stirring treacle! The spindle was replaced along with new ball-races freshly lubricated with Campagnolo grease. With the chainset removed it was easier to get in and clean the bottom-bracket lug, the grease build up preserving the paint work and lug-lining. In Dad's box of bits was a nice looking Shimano 600 Arabesque double chainset (originally fitted to the Condor when I got it) and yes it's not from the correct period but I couldn't resist fitting it....and boy it does look pretty!
Looks great and spins beautifully! Also in Dad's box of bits is a matching Shimano 600 Arebesque front changer with a Campagnolo double down tube shifter. I think I will replace the semi-seized Simplex rear-mech with a matching 600 unit.
Paint work around the bottom bracket came up really well after a polish and the gold lug lining looks really smart. Next I removed the standard alloy seat pin because I found a 3ttt fluted alloy pin which looked more in keeping with the rest of the equipment. The Selle Royal saddle was given a leather treatment and fitted atop the seat pin which was just polished.
The rest of the paintwork has been cleaned and polished with the tape and coloured bands removed to get it back to it's original condition without loosing any of that lovely patina which has appeared over the years. Next on the to-do list is replace the brake cables after cleaning the levers. Rear brake needs to be cleaned and the handle bar tape removed....I think the original is still there under a couple of layers! Wheels also need replacing as the originals are horrible heavy chrome rimmed items with cheap Sturmey Archer hubs and are just too nasty to re-fit! So I will be scouring Ebay, RetroBike forum and putting adverts on the Matlock Cycling Club forum for some replacements.