Classic & Vintage - Why you need to keep one spare part of everything (Workshop musings)

It's been raining for hours. I can thank this typical Florida thunderstorm for forcing me to stop tinkering in the workshop. Not because of leakage, but because of what I have to take out of the workshop to get to the stand:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_1.jpg

That photograph commemorates the day I fit 15 bikes (two behind the camera) into the workshop. Two weeks ago, I would have laughed if someone told me I would have that many flippers coming out of my ears. That, and I would have preferred that it not look like a junk pile. Mind you, it usually looks civilized in here:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_2.jpg

Sure, flipping is fun - it's a tidy little way to entertain the incurable desire to tinker (and for the spare change that undoubtedly gets exchanged into Campagnolo at the LBS), but there's a point where it can become a real pest - namely, that one day that you find that you've run out of cable housing and housing ends at the same exact time (and that you know it'll take a week and a half before anything from Niagara Cycle gets to you):

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_2.jpg

So be it - consumables run out, and it only happens once in a blue moon. There are other more frequent things to get under your skin - such as a missing nut in a set of the only five, single-ring chainring bolts you have in the shop.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_3.jpg

Yes, that's a singlespeed conversion. Before you fellows gang up on me for hipsterizing lugged frames, take a closer look at what it's mounted to:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_4.jpg

These are my BSO test beds - test beds for a second chance at serving a purpose. Ever since I discovered the uselessness of brakes on cheap bikes relative to the potential usefulness of their frames, I've been experimenting with one method or another to turn these steel-wheel bike boom relics into something reliable and decent.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_5.jpg

The yellow Miyata and that pink Chinese thing are the first two flips I'm building with Tektro 800A brakes, which will stop a pair of nice steel rims on a dime. It's better than junking a pair of otherwise usable wheels. Why the Miyata had to be short reach (necessitating a conversion to 26x1-3/8" from 27") is anyone's guess.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_6.jpg

Almost at the back of the pile sits an oddball - an NOS Raleigh Mojave 2.0 from 2006/7, previously torn apart for parts by the LBS - they do that on occasion, and I wind up purchasing the rather minty remains. It has its drawbacks - I can't stock 7-speed anything anymore. Shimano has once again pulled their trickle-down maneuver and given John Q. Public access to affordable 8-speed on basic hybrids. Makes you wonder why 8-speed cassettes remain rather expensive in comparison to freewheels.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_7.jpg

I honestly don't know whether I'm going to tear apart this Free Spirit 3-speed for the few parts it has, or try the Tektro trick on it. All I know is that whoever designed that reflector spent too much time watching This Island Earth. Either that, or this bike is from outer space - the construction values of most Free Spirits seem to reflect that.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_8.jpg

Here's the little gem I'll finish off with - the one catch that puts a smile on my face - a Centurion Commuter 5. It looks as if it'll be sticking around if it rides well, for it's a pretty good substitute for a genuine French randonneur, and a a general purpose hauler. Haven't had a proper rack-equipped bike yet; maybe this one will be the charm.

-Kurt

It seems to me that no matter how much of everything I keep on hand, I will always run out of that one OTHER thing that requires a care package from Niagara or Loose Screws before a flip can be completed.

- A cable end, some colored housing, a chain ring bolt, a stem clinch bolt, a headset spacer, etc.

- A cable end, some colored housing, a chain ring bolt, a stem clinch bolt, a headset spacer, etc.

It's usually more drastic here. For instance, the Chinese thingamabob needs two 27" tires - and there's no point in getting brand-new tires for something that I'll sell for peanuts just to cover my expense of putting it together. Time to hope and pray I can find some decent used tires - for I'm fresh out of 27"s. As Murphy would have it, I've been finding 700C tires right and left.

-Kurt

I think its ok to leave quite a few of those out in the rain. Actually I'm kinda surprised to see some of those... things in your possession, for flipping or not. I guess the reason they were brought into existence in the first place lives on and stays with them forever.

I think its ok to leave quite a few of those out in the rain. Actually I'm kinda surprised to see some of those... things in your possession, for flipping or not. I guess the reason they were brought into existence in the first place lives on and stays with them forever.

You know my dirty little secret - I'm not a bike snob :P

Even a low-end machine should have a chance to serve as reliable, basic transportation - provided the frameset is decent. The problem lies in that it's usually prohibitively expensive to tear down a decent entry-level frame (dismissed only because junk was hung on it when new) and build it back up with good, reliable components. What's more, nutted dual pivots were a pipe dream until recently, and they're usually required because of the poor sidepulls on these bikes to start with. That said, the 800A and other Tektro brakes offer a solution to that problem, and I have spare bits for the rest.

I wouldn't keep anything outside with exception to junk destined for parts.

-Kurt

That centurion is cool, I wanna see more pics of that.

That centurion is cool, I wanna see more pics of that.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/752405-A-RobbieTunes-randonneur-for-30.

-Kurt

I like that cannondale. If I could find one like that in my size it would be a keeper for sure.

Also, on another note, I saw an old guy riding around on a miyata exactly like the one you have. I had to do a double take when I noticed the name because I've never seen one that old.

I like that cannondale. If I could find one like that in my size it would be a keeper for sure.

It's been difficult putting together a nice group for that one. I've debated whether to continue putting together a group to match the 8-speed rear wheel on it now, or to follow the lead of the 7-speed 105 downtube shifters on it.

I'd love to build it up with STI levers, but even the old RSX units are prohibitively expensive, much less the later equipment. Brifters are rarely found inexpensively, locally or otherwise. What's more, the early STI's are needlessly finicky and prone to problems - I prefer to avoid passing on a potential future headache; after all, I take pride not only in my work, but in my choice of components.


Also, on another note, I saw an old guy riding around on a miyata exactly like the one you have. I had to do a double take when I noticed the name because I've never seen one that old.

It is an early machine, that's for sure. Some might say it is on par with a department store bike in its original configuration - steel rims, bulky cottered crankset, cheap steel centerpulls. It's not a bad canvas though - it'll make a nice city bike once converted. The Tektro 800A's and a later SR cotterless crankset improve it greatly.

-Kurt

I also ask myself sometimes why I need three Mavic 851 derraileur sets for my Carbone.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/Picture136-1.jpg
I don't think I'd ever really wear out the one on the bike presently, save maybe for the jockey wheels, but I keep getting them when I come across a good buy for them.....:rolleyes:
Maybe I should just really find that Gitane or Peugeot frameset to put them on, once and for all.....:rolleyes:

Chombi

I also ask myself sometimes why I need three Mavic 851 derraileur sets for my Carbone.

Welcome to the club - I hoard Nuovo Record derailers and cranksets.

-Kurt

I sold off everything. I dont have anything to run out of.

It's been difficult putting together a nice group for that one. I've debated whether to continue putting together a group to match the 8-speed rear wheel on it now, or to follow the lead of the 7-speed 105 downtube shifters on it.

I'd love to build it up with STI levers, but even the old RSX units are prohibitively expensive, much less the later equipment. Brifters are rarely found inexpensively, locally or otherwise. What's more, the early STI's are needlessly finicky and prone to problems - I prefer to avoid passing on a potential future headache; after all, I take pride not only in my work, but in my choice of components.


Tough call. I think either 7 or 8 speed indexed dt shifters are the way to go. I agree that it's not worth paying fair market value for 7/8 speed STI shifters. That said, I bought a bike with a full RSX group for cheap in order to part it out and make some money, however everything works flawlessly and my girlfriend claimed the bike and enjoys it very much. I didn't find them finicky at all to set up, but maybe mine are just in good shape.

I sold off everything. I dont have anything to run out of.

No tinkering = no fun.


Tough call. I think either 7 or 8 speed indexed dt shifters are the way to go. I agree that it's not worth paying fair market value for 7/8 speed STI shifters. That said, I bought a bike with a full RSX group for cheap in order to part it out and make some money, however everything works flawlessly and my girlfriend claimed the bike and enjoys it very much. I didn't find them finicky at all to set up, but maybe mine are just in good shape.

It's almost not worth it to dig up 8-speed downtube shifters either - that extra detent can cost a good 200% of the price of 7-speed downtube shifters.

RSX brifters are pretty reliable in comparison to the older 105's and 600's. The 600's are a particular crap shoot (apologies to RobbieTunes) - sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. The last set I had seemed to be sensitive to humidity, of all things - they'd work fine on dry days, and go nuts when muggy.

Just the same, the LBS offered me a nice set of RSX STI's for $50 last week. I passed on them.

-Kurt

No tinkering = no fun.
-Kurt

I still wrench but I tend to 'buy as I go'.

Welcome to the club - I hoard Nuovo Record derailers and cranksets.

-Kurt

Me too, I have stripped and sold frame sets such as my old burgundy Paramount, but I can't force myself to part with the Campy parts. Same with Mrs. K's old opaque blue Paramount, all the components are stored in case I want to make my chrome P-15 factory correct.

It's a sickness, I tell ya! :twitchy:

This one is for divineAndbright - a photo of the rapidly progressing Made In Chinamobile (under a brand new shop worklight :D). The front cantilevers and the Tektro 800A feel quite responsive; I have a good feeling about their expected performance.

Strangely enough, I chose a pair of plastic-casted (over a metal frame) Chang-Star cantilever arms over all the Shimano SLR arms I had in stock. The spring housing on the Shimano cantilevers crack far too easily, rendering the entire brake arm useless. I was impressed with the Chang-Star as its molded-plastic design encloses the spring housing as part of the unit - and the thickness of the C-Star plastic is much greater than that of the Shimano SLR's.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/workshop_a_9.jpg


Me too, I have stripped and sold frame sets such as my old burgundy Paramount, but I can't force myself to part with the Campy parts. Same with Mrs. K's old opaque blue Paramount, all the components are stored in case I want to make my chrome P-15 factory correct.

It's a sickness, I tell ya! :twitchy:

Not to mention when we keep those groups "just in case the right frame" rolls along. Invariably, a frame of the wrong period shows up, or it'll have all of its components intact.

-Kurt