After so much elbow oil grease (thank you @Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works ), this is the result I’m proud of: A working Graziella, ready to take me around Salento (area in Pulia, south of Italy)(maybe that’s too much… maybe I’ll move just in the town 😅)

There is still quite some rust, but the pedals flow and the brakes work well (enough).

Do you know this old folding-bike style? The original one was called Graziella, in the '60s, and then all the Italian manufacturers produced their version. But I think it’s not known outside of Italy. Cheap, sturdy, practical… The old ones sell for a good price, if in good state (not this one 🙃 )

Also a picture while I was restoring it:

picture of the bike upside down with a wheel disassembled

crosspostated from: https://social.tchncs.de/users/lgsp/statuses/117150575857916610

  • Che Banana@beehaw.org
    7·
    3 days ago

    I love my ‘Eurotrash’ bike.

    We found it by the dumpsters and the back wheel was almost a V it was bent so badly…I hate dumpster diving but my SO has no problem so I said if you can ride it back to the shop, I’ll fix it up. She did, and I did…7 years later its still my ‘daily driver’.

  • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
    5·
    3 days ago

    Great work!

    If you care about the idiom, in English we say “elbow grease” rather than “elbow oil” but your version is perfectly understandable and I think it’s charming.

    • lgsp@feddit.itOP
      6·
      3 days ago

      thanks!

      funny how some expression are so similar in different languages… In Italian it’s “olio di gomito” which I translated literally, as I forgot it was grease, in English. Thank you for pointing that out!

      • khannie@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        There’s very little difference between grease and oil in English (grease just implies thicker for lubricant so that’s the phrase). I think I prefer the Italian version though tbh!

        Fantastic bicycle and great restoration! Bella!!!

  • 56!@slrpnk.net
    2·
    17 hours ago

    I have that bike too!! branded “stratton”, but has the exact same frame. I’ve been gradually repairing it, and it’s currently in my living room (workshop) waiting for parts (incl. new winding wire for the dynamo). It’s 50% brown paint and 50% rust, and the tyres (presumably original) are splitting apart, but I don’t plan on fixing anything that still works. There is just too much rust for me to feasibly remove or paint over. Will try to add a photo tomorrow.

    Edit (The saddle is temporary, I still plan on fixing the original):

  • ambitiousslab@feddit.ukEnglish
    3·
    3 days ago

    That’s awesome! It looks like it was definitely worth the effort!

    This is what I love about bikes. Simple, cheap, repairable, and last forever with a bit of maintenance. And even if they deteriorate a bit over time, they can be brought back to life again :)

  • Andrew@fedi.xd.fyi
    2·
    3 days ago

    I see tons of similar folding bikes in Spain too - I have a Monty! Can find them for cheap on Wallapop.