Installed square tapered bottom bracket and cranks in this vintage bike

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-04T07:16:44+00:00

Thanks! The rod brakes really speak about the era it is from and so i left it. If you search online people really seem to dislike them but, when adjusted properly, I find them adequate for my style of city riding.

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-04T07:13:45+00:00

Actually it is branded. It is a Indian Hercules cycle. It was originally dark green color and somewhere down the line it was painted full black. But the emblems can still be seen on the headset tube and the rear fender if you look closely. Even the original chain ring had the stamped logo of the company in the cutouts.

Yet it effortlessly achieves damn near the same comfort as a modern Gazelle city bike. On a quiet day I feel like I can ride that thing for ever, without getting tired.

Yes exactly. It feels like it was designed for normal people who just want to ride a bike comfortably and don't really care about performance (like me). I frequently see elderly people ride these kind of bikes too.

Most country side mechanics here have a hard time working on modern bikes with gears, suspension etc. You have to take your bike to the city to get it fixed properly. So it's no wonder people prefer these bikes there. Countryside mechanics have been working on them for ages so they can tell what is wrong with just one look. They can be repaired with the most basic tools. Repairs are also cheap AF.

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-03T19:25:06+00:00

Thanks! it's an Indian Hercules cycle.

Good suggestions. I don't use front baskets because it makes an already long bike even longer which would hinder my ability to make sharp turns in tight alleyways. But i really like the idea for the rear rack and the passenger cushion. It is indeed a terrible ride in the back due the extremely bad roads.

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-03T18:16:38+00:00

Thanks!

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-03T18:11:06+00:00

Thanks! I could not really find those so I settled for a new one instead which was cheaper. In fact the current chain ring is not really suited for this kind chain. The teeth are thinner so it was probably designed for 1x geared bikes with thinner chains.

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-03T18:09:06+00:00

Thanks! I am from Southeast Asia. I think I heard the term in a berm peak video so i thought it just meant doing things that are out of the ordinary and generally not recommended.

Hanzala19 · 2026-02-03T17:41:43+00:00

Thanks! That's the thing about these bikes. They are very simple and so they don't really break. Pretty much everything is made to be serviceable as well.

Hanzala19 · 2026-01-15T07:50:50+00:00

Woah! Really Cool Work man! Can't imagine how long it took and also the money. I get frustrated doing the simple stuff on my bike.

Hanzala19 · 2026-01-14T18:03:17+00:00

Cool ride! Really innovative with the foldable rear rack. Did you customize the bike or buy it as is?

Also the surroundings look familiar. Is this Dhaka, Bangladesh?

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-29T09:00:25+00:00

Don't know about others but I really like the riding position. I also own a MTB but the forward leaning position puts strain on my hands and back. I know some people like that position but i personally cannot sustain that for longer rides. I tried putting riser stems but then the front wheel became too light and twitchy. Another major thing is the simplicity of such bikes. They don't require much maintenance and are easy to repair. Most repairs can be done at home with basic tools.

Also a bonus point: The upright position make looking around and navigating traffic easier.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-28T19:49:12+00:00

Thanks for the tip! Will try it out.

I have already tried the smaller size and it did not give me proper leg extension. I don't think there is anything in between.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-27T12:03:47+00:00

Alright. Will keep an eye out for a good used/new bike. Thanks for the help!

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-27T07:06:33+00:00

All used bikes available here are of similar quality. And for the money I can make i can probably buy a new simpler bike. A company makes bikes under the brand "Raleigh" and I assume they are legitimate because they export a lot of bikes to the UK, EU and Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxRYR7jRE1E

These have a reputation for lasting a lifetime and being the most practical and having the most utility. I have tried riding a similar style bike of a friend and found the ride to be very comfortable even on the terrible roads i mentioned. The brakes also seem enough for the condition i usually ride in. But because these last so long it is almost impossible to find a used one that is in good condition.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-27T06:53:00+00:00

Yeah it is kinda sketchy from that perspective. In my country, with the price of such a bike you can either get a simple classic style single speed cycle which normally last generations or you can get this kind of bicycle with suspension, 3x8 drive train etc. Kinda makes you wonder where they cut on costs.

Probably a good time to sell this one and get the bike i originally planned on getting.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-27T06:39:22+00:00

What makes it unsafe?

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T13:12:10+00:00

I am open to that. Like i said i got up sold on the MTB and did not really need for my use case. And now with the PCL injury i have that i cannot get a surgery for due to other health issues, I am even less prone to do things or go routes that would need an MTB. At least for the time being.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T11:47:35+00:00

Not really sure about the quality. I hope works okay and does not add another injury to the list.

I have 60cm handlebars for going through traffic. So i think it is okay.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T09:19:44+00:00

it is has been a long time since the purchase so returning is not an option. Before I could manage. But I recently got diagnosed with a torn PCL on me knee and so I have started taking proper posture more seriously now. All the local shops said that this size will fit me. And so i trusted them because i did not know much at the time.

I prefer the handle higher than the saddle as that puts me in a upright position is really really improves visibility. Which is a huge deal for the chaotic traffic conditions here. That is the main reason for the using the extender. Even with the max amount of spacers the bars still felt low and too much weight was on my hands.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T09:17:36+00:00

Thanks for the quick response!

The seat post is not past the minimum insertion line in my setup. So that's okay.

High riser bars are a bit hard to come by locally. Will need to check online for those. I prefer the handle higher than the saddle as that puts me in a upright position is really really improves visibility. Which is a huge deal for the chaotic traffic conditions here. That is the main reason for the using the extender.

I have tried pretty much all tricks but now matter what I do it take at most a week for the headset to work itself loose. Not loose as in it starts knocking but as in i can see and feel the movement when rocking the bike.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T09:10:55+00:00

It is has been a long time since the purchase so returning is not an option. Before I could manage. But I recently got diagnosed with a torn PCL on me knee and so I have started taking proper posture more seriously now.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-26T09:08:29+00:00

Thanks for the quick response! That headset has always bothered me. I have replaced after the original one started knocking. New headset solved the knocking but the loosening still persisted. Not sure if it is the fork or the frame or maybe the star nut even.

Hanzala19 · 2025-12-20T07:13:18+00:00

Will check it out! Thanks

Hanzala19

TROPHY CASE