On this bike from the 1990s, everything has aged. Arnaud, his owner, even finds him dangerous. A visit to a mechanic is inevitable to put it back on wheels.
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Arnaud, an engineering school student, lives in Cernay-lès-Reims (Marne), a town near the Champagne capital. This 23 year old athlete years old only travels by bike.
Arnaud has quite a history with his bike and the least we can say is that he has had a good life. “Comfort and bikes from the 80s are not that at all”jokes the young man. Another problem : wear and tear has taken its toll, almost everything needs to be changed. The brakes no longer slow down the two-wheeler, the cassette and chainring are noisy, the gear change is not smooth, etc. It’s time for a refurbishment.
“My bike really needs a facelift, explains Arnaud, hoping to find it as good as new. Only exception : keep the pink-purple color gradient on the steel frame and fork. That’s what makes it so charming.”
Arnaud’s road bike, before its renovation.
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© Media Puzzle, France Télévisions
It is in Nancy that Arnaud’s road bike will be pimpé in the expert hands of Fabio Vuerich, the show’s repair specialist The bike workshop. “The paint is chipped in two or three places, but we could do some touch-upsanalysis Fabio, expert in cycles. It would still be a shame to repaint it.”
The bike is completely disassembled : the wheels, the cables, the derailleur, the handlebar tape, the brake levers, the seat post… all that remains is the frame and the fork. Aesthetic defects are repainted using paint in the form of aaerosol.
New white wheels are fitted, a cassette of 8 gears replaces the previous model to gain performance, a new brake and gear shift lever is also integrated.
Verdict after 15 working hours
Fabio’s ultimate asset for enhancing nighttime visibility ? Phosphorescent handlebar tape. “Arnaud’s bike is finished. We tried to keep it as much as possible in its original spirit, but giving it a little modern side,” concludes the mechanic.
The road bike repainted and renovated by “L’atelier vélo”.
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© Media Puzzle, France Télévisions
“Oh yeah! The paint is like new! With this new brake, it’ll brake well, I’ll stay alivejokes Arnaud. He even thought about mile counters and lights to stay safe. He is 30 years younger !
Making something new out of something old is the challenge that the team at The bike workshop. Discover other surprising repairs in video on france.tv and in the YouTube playlist of The bike workshopa show from France 3 Grand Est.
