What should I do with this Fuji?
01-17-17, 02:20 PM
#1
small ring
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What should I do with this Fuji?
1986 Fuji Allegro
At 21" it's about 3" too small, so the easy answer is to give to someone that's the right size. The problem is that it's my bike. It was my first real road bike, bought new for me in 1986. My father recently passed away and I found this buried under stuff in his barn. I thought he got rid of it about 25 years ago but there it is. I would like to keep it for sentimental reasons, but I'm not really into "wall hangers". So, should I just clean it up, and probably never ride it? I could put the longest stem I can find on it so it would be rideable but nothing I would do a century on. Maybe switch to downtube shifters. Open to any ideas.
At 21" it's about 3" too small, so the easy answer is to give to someone that's the right size. The problem is that it's my bike. It was my first real road bike, bought new for me in 1986. My father recently passed away and I found this buried under stuff in his barn. I thought he got rid of it about 25 years ago but there it is. I would like to keep it for sentimental reasons, but I'm not really into "wall hangers". So, should I just clean it up, and probably never ride it? I could put the longest stem I can find on it so it would be rideable but nothing I would do a century on. Maybe switch to downtube shifters. Open to any ideas.
01-17-17, 02:32 PM
#2
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Do a component swap. That way you'll still be riding most of your old bicycle. The contact points (saddle handlebars, pedals, brake & shift levers) will all be the same, so you'll still be interacting directly with your old bicycle. If you're lucky, you may even be able to find a 1986 Fuji Allegro frame in your adult size. Try here: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ound-game.html
01-17-17, 02:43 PM
#3
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Do a component swap. That way you'll still be riding most of your old bicycle. The contact points (saddle handlebars, pedals, brake & shift levers) will all be the same, so you'll still be interacting directly with your old bicycle. If you're lucky, you may even be able to find a 1986 Fuji Allegro frame in your adult size. Try here: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ound-game.html
Decent Fuji Valite framesets in your size are plentiful, and can be had without breaking the bank. Resist the temptation to buy a whole bike, or else you'll be right back where you started! (ewps... that means ignoring my signature line...) Hanging just your old frameset might be more acceptable to you.
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Last edited by Hudson308; 01-17-17 at 02:47 PM.
01-17-17, 02:53 PM
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sorry about your loss. when my Dad passes, we're gonna be faced with a lot of those decisions. he was a big influence on my mechanical geekiness so it will be hard to part with things like this
01-17-17, 04:44 PM
#6
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I think within these few posts everybody has given you the best advice.
2nd the condolences on the loss of your Father.
2nd the condolences on the loss of your Father.
01-17-17, 06:29 PM
#7
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I had a similar issue, in that in latter years, I became nostalgic for my first decent road bike, which I outgrew at age 16 and let go of with little to no emotion at the time.
I acquired an identical replacement from a member of this forum, but one size larger, that I'm now in the process of restoring. The components are in great, barely ridden shape, however the frame was so rough from storage that it needs a repaint, which is pending.
In your case, you still have the complete original bike; so all you need is the right size frame of the same model, regardless of completeness of the bike as a whole, or components swapped and/or reaching end of life in the mean time.
I acquired an identical replacement from a member of this forum, but one size larger, that I'm now in the process of restoring. The components are in great, barely ridden shape, however the frame was so rough from storage that it needs a repaint, which is pending.
In your case, you still have the complete original bike; so all you need is the right size frame of the same model, regardless of completeness of the bike as a whole, or components swapped and/or reaching end of life in the mean time.
01-17-17, 06:32 PM
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I still ride my dad's bike a lot. We both loved cycling. I think the idea of finding the right sized frame and riding it makes a lot of sense. The other possibility would be to find a family member who could ride that bike.
03-18-17, 11:28 PM
#9
small ring
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Well this took a different turn.
Going through more of my dad's barn, I came across his old bike in a sad state of condition. Wait a minute, are those Nervex lugs?
Early 60's Allegro Special, sn 167974
The Good: R531, Nervex lugs, wrap around seat stays
The Bad: Swiss (French) threads, rewelded dropout, chrome is mostly toast, mixed parts
The Ugly: Are those brush strokes in the paint?
After lots of paint stripper and sanding, I found lots of dents and dings. And colors. Used to be a lovely shade of blue. This bike will never be a show piece, at least not without significant money. At this point I thought it would be a great place to put all my Fuji parts. I masked the lugs and rattle canned it. The primer black did a decent job of hiding things and I kinda like the way it looks.
New headset, bottom bracket, and seatpost, then all the Fuji stuff went on. I present to you my Fuji Allegro Special.
So I took both Tmar's and Hudson308's suggestions. I will hang the Fuji frame, and ride the parts on my dad's old frame.
The saddle and wheels have to go though. Anyone need some really high rise bars?
Going through more of my dad's barn, I came across his old bike in a sad state of condition. Wait a minute, are those Nervex lugs?
Early 60's Allegro Special, sn 167974
The Good: R531, Nervex lugs, wrap around seat stays
The Bad: Swiss (French) threads, rewelded dropout, chrome is mostly toast, mixed parts
The Ugly: Are those brush strokes in the paint?
After lots of paint stripper and sanding, I found lots of dents and dings. And colors. Used to be a lovely shade of blue. This bike will never be a show piece, at least not without significant money. At this point I thought it would be a great place to put all my Fuji parts. I masked the lugs and rattle canned it. The primer black did a decent job of hiding things and I kinda like the way it looks.
New headset, bottom bracket, and seatpost, then all the Fuji stuff went on. I present to you my Fuji Allegro Special.
So I took both Tmar's and Hudson308's suggestions. I will hang the Fuji frame, and ride the parts on my dad's old frame.
The saddle and wheels have to go though. Anyone need some really high rise bars?
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59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
03-19-17, 01:05 AM
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This is one of the best short stories I have ever read, so cool, well done and sorry for your loss.
03-19-17, 04:26 PM
#11
small ring
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About 20 miles on the MUP today. Tires are hard, wheels aren't round, headset too tight, horrible saddle.... but yeah, it was great!
__________________
59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
03-19-17, 08:45 PM
#12
PeopleCode delaminator
That is perfect.
I could only hope that someday my kids would do that with one of my old bikes.
Please put new tires and brake pads on it though!
I could only hope that someday my kids would do that with one of my old bikes.
Please put new tires and brake pads on it though!
03-19-17, 09:34 PM
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+1 for this story. I've got my dad's old bike sitting in my mother's garage. I need to rescue it and get it operational.
03-19-17, 11:05 PM
#16
small ring
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The whole thing is bit cathartic. I wanted to get one ride in with all the old stuff, but I've already got some new parts for it.
Thanks for the kind words everyone.
__________________
59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
03-20-17, 06:01 PM
#17
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Nice result though. Keep us updated!
