'36 green Colson ladies model, a Mother's Day surprise

[Eddie_Boy]

Sharing here are the "before" pictures from the initial ad posted on Facebook Marketplace almost a year ago. That's when I first saw this old lady and shared here on the CABE. Again she's been through a couple of CABErs before we acquired her earlier in the spring.

The chainguard was moved back so it snugs the front sprocket more. Better.

Anyone out there with a Cleveland green and yellow license tag? Looking for one.

She's not totally done with the detail cleanup just yet. I'll break down the wheels, remove the surface rust, and get those cleaned up looking like the rest of the bike. Maybe even setup the Delta Hornlite too. Then she'll be done. Just needed her ready for the SF gathering last weekend.

 

[srfndoc]

Beautiful work Eddie! Mercedes must be stoked to have this beauty cleaned up and ready to go.

 

[Eddie_Boy]

Beautiful work Eddie! Mercedes must be stoked to have this beauty cleaned up and ready to go.

Thank you Todd @srfndoc. Appreciate this. She is, just needs to get used to the way this old lady rides. She keeps stating that the bars are so narrow.

 

[Eddie_Boy]

When Tony @The Hat offered Carlisle snake belly tires for this old lady, I had to use them for her first vintage ride, Rolling Relics in San Francisco. Gave her that extra killer look I thought. Used HD thorn proof tubes front and back as an extra precaution for the ride. A few pics of the green lady Colson from that day.

We were at the Warming Hut, base camp, for the Golden Gate crossing. I was talking to Chris, @slick, and mentioned the tires specifically how the front was holding up. The back snake belly tire was doing okay, but you can see a little bit of the tread was coming off the front. Still no problem riding back to where we began.

Fast forward to yesterday when we went out to do an errand mid-morning. As we were riding to the supermarket, my wife says, “Something isn’t right. I’m feeling a bump occasionally.” “I’ll take her for a ride while you’re shopping.” I told her. Something was wrong for sure. I look down on her front tire, and the tire is totally shot. We gingerly ride the bike and made it home safely.

Did I push it….probably. Just wanted these awesome looking tires on her first vintage bike ride. Maybe I should have kept the tire as a display only. I’m sad that this one Carlisle snake belly will now be a wall hanger.

 

[Eddie_Boy]

Since the front tire mishap, might of as well get this one thing done. I could have kept the as is look of these triple drops but decided to go through them anyway to finish what I started with the rest of the bike. All laced up and trued thanks to our friend Gary Quail of Santa Cruz.

Front wheel broken down. Plenty of rust on wheels, spokes, and nibs.

Using Rustoleum Rust Resolver gel spray...

...this stuff worked fantastic. Great results.

Before cleaning...

...after

Because of the lesser condition, this front hoop is now on the back wheel.

Front wheel

Rear wheel broke down...

...and cleaned

Before...

...after

Before...

...after

NOS Carlisle Lightning Darts, thanks to @my560sec, to match the tires on our '36 Colson DBR. Thank you Ed.

To get the Delta Hornlite working will be next thing to do, but that's well down the road. For now she's good.

 

[Frank and Pam Skid Kings]

Eddie, you are a bona fide wizard when it comes to bringing vintage bicycles back to their glory. What a beauty this one turned out to be !

 

[Eddie_Boy]

Frank, , you are a bona fide wizard when it comes to bringing vintage bicycles back to their glory. What a beauty this one turned out to be !

Thanks friend @Frank and Pam Skid Kings. Appreciate this.