After long, dark, years I have been starting to use bicycles a bit.
This year I have bought the Brompton folding bikes (the 6-speed models)
for both me and my wife. It have made possible for us to reach
relatively distant places (like shops in 9 km distance) without use of
car or of some sort of public transport. We even made some longer trips
in the Krusberk dam area (a remote and deserted area by local
standards). OF course, I have been using the Brompton to commute to
work.
Moreover, I have finally managed to repair both our mountain bikes. Now
I have little use for them but one never knows. Sometimes I ride my red
bike on paths around the village where our weekend cottage is. I have
had to replace the saddle with the Brook B17 leather one. This is what
I got with my Brompton and have found it much more comfortable than a
modern saddle.
And we have found a vintage roadster bike in our cottage attic. My wife
remembers that her father got it from one of its older relatives but
she is unsure about details. Anyway, it's a Velamos one-speed touring
bike, a model which this local company made from 1930s to 1960 (if not
longer). This particular one is probably from late 1950s or from 1960s
as it has relatively modern plastic grips. The bike frame was obviously
re-painted several times so I have been unable to find its serial
number nor other identification except the "VELAMOS" badge.
Local people used such bikes for transport to work. That wasn't too
easy as the distance from the village to the places of work (factories,
offices and so) was between 10-20 km and we are not in a flat area. I
cannot imagine how they used singe-speed bikes (nothing better was
affordable for most of them) to travel such distance (and back) daily.
Thus I have decided to repair the bike and to try how it runs. I will
not be that easy as it was in the attic for at least 30 year. At the
moment I have replaced the tyres, adjusted the saddle, oiled all
necessary parts, fixed the front lamp (it was moving randomly) and
cleaned the bell. To make it moving I have to repair the mudguards
(they are deformed and thy are corroded in place of support so they are
not fixed in place now). I have to remove the nuts and replace them by
bolts with bigger heads to fix the mudguards.
If these works will be successful (and if I will able to ride the
bike...) then I will have to consider repainting of the whole bike and
modification of its lights (they do not fit contemporary safety
regulations, of course).