How To Restore Vintage Mountain Bikes

By keeping some basic guidelines in mind, you can learn how to restore vintage mountain bikes. No matter if you are restoring the bike in order to sell it at auction, or simply for your own personal enjoyment, it is important to follow some simple steps.

1. Clean the bike. This will not only help you determine the condition of the bike, but allows for greater ease of repair.
2. Determine what type of vintage mountain bike you are restoring. This is the most important step in the process of restoring the bike. Discovering the brand will not only make it easier to find and purchase parts, but will give you a greater idea of the general look of the bike. If there is no identification clearly in place on the bike, consider taking it to a cycling shop or antique sports dealer. They may be able to identify the bike or refer you to someone who can.
3. Consult with an expert in vintage mountain bike repair in order to determine what repairs the vintage mountain bike will need. Be sure to inquire about the difficulty of the various repairs, while most mountain bikes can be repaired easily at home, vintage bikes may require an expert touch. Finally, ask the vintage bike expert where to find the appropriate parts for the bike. While some may be available at local cycling shops, others may need to be purchased online or through specialty catalogs.
4. Take your time when restoring the bike. This is not a project that can be done over a weekend. Be sure you have enough time to devote to restoring a vintage mountain bike.