Stu_27 wrote:Hi all, just thought I'd share my recently-acquired Repco Traveller; I haven't bothered to check serial numbers or anything but judging from the componentry and condition of the bike I'd guess it's an early-mid 80s model. When I picked it up it was 100% original, down to the tyres and brake pads, so needless to say it needs a bit of love. I picked it up for a good price from a retired bloke with a directive from his wife to clean out the shed "or else..."
Chrome work is pretty much mint, the original foam bar grips are in reasonable condition still, and after a bit of cleaning and re-greasing the BB and freewheel hub both work quite well. I've never owned a roadie before, so I don't have much to benchmark it against, but aside from weighing in at just over 14kg it's a good fun bike to ride!
I have plans! I would like to have the frame powdercoated forest green, get some chromed forks and convert to 700c - if I do that the chances are it'll be going to a cassette hub as well, so there's a bit of learning for me to do as to what I can reasonably expect to achieve. Unfortunately I can't leave it as is, as it turns out the rear wheel (being 30+ year old mild steel) has enough corrosion to prevent it being trued. The front wheel was badly warped so I have already popped on a spare alloy 700c wheel I had in the shed.
Hi Stu, there are lots of people on the forum with a lot more experience than I do, but if it was me, I wouldn't muck with it. The most valuable part of your bike is the condition and the originality. Once you strip this back and powdercoat it then it may as well have started as a rusty junker you picked up from the side of the road. You can't reproduce originality. Depending on how much it owes you I would suggest give it a good clean and polish and pick up some wheels in good condition. Take lots of good photos to show how nice and original it is and how good all the original paintwork, decals etc look. Stick it up on
ebay with a nice description of how good and original it is and you should get a good price for it. Use the proceeds to find a better quality bike like a repco superlight or better, which is in worse condition cosmetically so that when you invest in this with paint and upgraded components, you will end up with a bike that is immeasurably superior to ride and own. With the traveller you'll just end up with a nice looking gaspipe that is nothing special to ride.