Eddie_Boy
Wore out three sets of tires already!
…we acquired at the Burley Creek swap last week. I asked Ryan @Burleycreek, father son duo and hosts, what he was selling. He brings me to an area of five maybe six bikes I believe. First thing that pops out is this green Elgin in the back, behind a couple of bikes. It’s a girl’s bike, but I liked her immediately. At first glance, she looks all original, as found, and very patina ‘d condition. I didn’t even ask my wife, and I wanted to get her right there and then, not even pulling her out to closely inspect. It’s that green color that said “Get her.” So being Ryan, a great guy and seller, he offered the bike I couldn’t say no. I was stoked and I haven't even told my wife.
I was in the Northwest already to pick up a bike, but now with this one that makes two. Earlier that day when we first pulled up to the swap on Friday, one of the first things that our friend Tim @Tim the Skid says to me is if you find anything and you don’t have any room, I can always bring it down for you in Turlock, which is end of January, '25. We were towards the end of our 10 day Northwest road trip in our micro van, so we did not have a lot of free space. So awesome of Tim to offer, and that's why I said yes to Ryan on the prewar green Elgin, Otherwise, I probably would have not considered.
So I moved the two bikes aside to get to the green Elgin. I couldn’t even roll the bike out because the both tires were hard as a rock, petrified, and the flat area of both tires where the bike probably sat for decades would hit the front fork and rear seat stay.
Had to take a picture of the bike in the new expansion area of the Burley Creek Nursery with the windmill. We noticed that windmill right when we drove up. Way cool.
This part of the day was so fun for me. Now that I got this bike, I was thinking I should get her rolling again. Being an Elgin, the tires were indeed All-State Safety Tread which were probably originals to the bike. I remember browsing through Jeff’s @Jeff the Skid stash of old tires, and he had a decent pair of the same model. Thanks Jeff @Jeff the Skid. Tires…Done. Then Tim offered a couple of new tubes still in the box. Tubes…Done “Let’s get this girl rolling,” I said.
Didn’t even think about it; Tim offered to help and brought out his cutting wheel and went at it. After he cut one, he cut the other while I removed the first wheel.
Tim working hard for Mercedes and me.
After removing the one tire, Tim hands me the wheel. We couldn’t believe how clean the hoop was inside. Even the rim strip looked new and still soft.
New tubes in tires, All-State Safety Treads installed, and she’s rolling again.
Frank @Frank and Pam Skid Kings knew a lot more about Elgin bikes than most of us there, so we learned a few things that day. So fun learning about old bikes.
There was a discussion bout these grips, which I asked if these could have been year appropriate. But then Frank stated that these were indeed original. Plastic before WWII during the rubber shortage.
One of a kind kickstand for these specific frames. So cool. Though the frame has drop stand tabs, and two holes on the rear fender tip for a drop stand clip, I will keep her as she was found. I did think about adding a drop stand though.
A few pics of this old green girl's bike in the barn.
Probably won't get to her for a while, but at least she's rolling again. Thanks again Ryan @Burleycreek for selling her to us, Tim @Tim the Skid for removing the petrified tires and providing the tubes, and Jeff @Jeff the Skid for the deal on the original Allstate tires. Awesome pick for us from BCFall24.
I was in the Northwest already to pick up a bike, but now with this one that makes two. Earlier that day when we first pulled up to the swap on Friday, one of the first things that our friend Tim @Tim the Skid says to me is if you find anything and you don’t have any room, I can always bring it down for you in Turlock, which is end of January, '25. We were towards the end of our 10 day Northwest road trip in our micro van, so we did not have a lot of free space. So awesome of Tim to offer, and that's why I said yes to Ryan on the prewar green Elgin, Otherwise, I probably would have not considered.
So I moved the two bikes aside to get to the green Elgin. I couldn’t even roll the bike out because the both tires were hard as a rock, petrified, and the flat area of both tires where the bike probably sat for decades would hit the front fork and rear seat stay.
Had to take a picture of the bike in the new expansion area of the Burley Creek Nursery with the windmill. We noticed that windmill right when we drove up. Way cool.
This part of the day was so fun for me. Now that I got this bike, I was thinking I should get her rolling again. Being an Elgin, the tires were indeed All-State Safety Tread which were probably originals to the bike. I remember browsing through Jeff’s @Jeff the Skid stash of old tires, and he had a decent pair of the same model. Thanks Jeff @Jeff the Skid. Tires…Done. Then Tim offered a couple of new tubes still in the box. Tubes…Done “Let’s get this girl rolling,” I said.
Didn’t even think about it; Tim offered to help and brought out his cutting wheel and went at it. After he cut one, he cut the other while I removed the first wheel.
Tim working hard for Mercedes and me.
After removing the one tire, Tim hands me the wheel. We couldn’t believe how clean the hoop was inside. Even the rim strip looked new and still soft.
New tubes in tires, All-State Safety Treads installed, and she’s rolling again.
Frank @Frank and Pam Skid Kings knew a lot more about Elgin bikes than most of us there, so we learned a few things that day. So fun learning about old bikes.
There was a discussion bout these grips, which I asked if these could have been year appropriate. But then Frank stated that these were indeed original. Plastic before WWII during the rubber shortage.
One of a kind kickstand for these specific frames. So cool. Though the frame has drop stand tabs, and two holes on the rear fender tip for a drop stand clip, I will keep her as she was found. I did think about adding a drop stand though.
A few pics of this old green girl's bike in the barn.
Probably won't get to her for a while, but at least she's rolling again. Thanks again Ryan @Burleycreek for selling her to us, Tim @Tim the Skid for removing the petrified tires and providing the tubes, and Jeff @Jeff the Skid for the deal on the original Allstate tires. Awesome pick for us from BCFall24.
Last edited:
