agmetal

[split into two posts because of picture limits]

A few months later, I decided to revert to the bike's original stem, and flipped the bars back over:


And, most recently, I got tired of those bars, and searched for a way to put drop bars on, shorten the reach enough for it to be comfortable for me (the top tube is a bit long, and seat tube angle a bit shallow, for me)...meanwhile, also searching for a way to keep the shifter right at my fingertips. With a bit of Sheldon-esque mad scientist experimentation (and finding a really good deal on a left-hand brifter), I now have the bike set up like this, and it's about as comfortable as my other bikes (finally!):









Meanwhile, after the collision that destroyed the Fuji (built as a singlespeed), and building up the 3-speed, I decided that I really enjoyed riding a singlespeed and wanted to have one of those also, so the Fuji's place became taken by two bikes. Here's the second:

mountaindave 

Wow, you have had some bad luck with bikes recently. They're all great builds. Regarding the 3 speed with brifters, how did it work? I've though that a S/A 3 speed would be the way to go instead of a SS build. Just a little lower for the hills, just a little higher for the descents. I love the clean look of a fixie or SS.

Glad the bikes are the only things being harmed in your accidents!

mountaindave 

That's one heck of a parts bin. I need to show my wife the parts bin thread so she will get off my case...

agmetal

It seems like I have a notable crash every six months or so! The 3-speed with the brifter works surprisingly well (and was surprisingly easy to set up). Basically, you just set it up like normal, with the middle gear on the hub aligned with the middle gear of the brifter. One quirk, though: the Shimano left-hand brifters have trimming positions between the main ones, and while it's between 2 and 3 on my derailleur-equipped Bianchi Volpe, this one has it between 1 and 2 instead, which means it lines up with the neutral position between 2 and 3 on the older SA hubs. It works, but you have to be aware of this when shifting, and make sure to shift all the way before putting weight into the pedals.

I have it geared with a 43t chainring and 16t cog on 700Cx35 tires and 170mm crank arms, for ~73 gear inches in the middle gear, which is where I like a singlespeed. The low gear is almost identical to what I use as my "starting" gear on my Bianchi, and the high gear sees relatively infrequent use, unless I'm feeling particularly energetic or going downhill.

mountaindave 

I think I've got a 3s left-hand brifter without any trim. PIA for road riding, but could work nicely for this kind of setup.

Steve Whitlatch 

Not only do I have parts accumulated on my own, I purchased a huge parts bin lot off of CL for $200 because I wanted that brooks and that was in it. I have a lot of parts. I sold off enough of the parts from that lot to well more than pay for the lot. A true score.

mississippimud

It needed brighten just a little bit

Murray Missile 

Major improvement. I know a lot of people don't like the multi color bar tape but sometimes on the right bike it works, I think this is one of those times.

velomateo

This is my Serrota Speciale from Performance. Yes, I posted it in that thread too - but I like this thread. Anyway, I had the frame resprayed by Alan Wanta, and it came out beautiful IMO. I switched out the original Athena group to a bit of a mixed bag of parts, a SRAM-pagnolo if you will. Super Record FD & RD. SRAM Rival cranks and BB + SRAM Red brakes. King headset, Cinelli stem and Deda bars with Campy aero levers. New Brooks C15 saddle and Syncros Ti post.
I did the shake down today and it was great. It's a nice view from the cockpit.

Here's a few pics:

Before


After

JonnyHK 

I also believe it makes the bike more 'period correct'.

plonz 

Wow! Didn't see that transformation coming. The Before iteration looked to be in great shape as it was and most of us would have left well enough alone. I commend your vision for seeing what it could be. Outstanding!

FWIW, I have an Alan Wanta respray as well. Good stuff.

danmyersmn

Which front fender is this?

velofinds

SKS Longboard.

velomateo

Thanks. I know a lot of guys would have left it as-is, but I felt the frame deserved better. There was a lot of paint missing on the top tube and the drive-side chainstay had received it's fair share of chain slap. I think the current paint matches the level of build quality the frame had all along.

itsallwright

the Teton was my first mountain bike

non-fixie 

I like this thread. Let's do some more.

Austro-Daimler Inter 10:

As bought:


Today:


Unidentified as yet:

Before:


After:


Locomotief Tour de France:

Before:


After:


Another unidentified frame:

Before:


After:

juvela

more outstanding work!

thanks for sharing these finished projects non-fixie.

i'll wager you wished your train-puller was fitted with a rear mech which could wrap more than 28t so you could have built with lower gears for your recent chiantishire sojourn.

"le mystere d'orange" turned out very fine indeed. luv the colours.

do tricouleur bands indicate a cockerel land heredity?

thanks again for sharing these machines.

noglider 

I like what you've done with the Locomotief, @non-fixie, and I love that it's dirtier in the after picture than in the before picture.

eastbay71

Wow this thing turned out really sweet!

eastbay71

I can't help myself. I've posted this in two other threads but I 'm so happy with the way it turned out I'm posting it again;

Before:
'86 Gazelle Champion Mondial 753 frame w/ Shimano Sante 7 spd SIS and Campagnolo wheels



after;
new paint and decals Shimano 5700 105 groupset with Mavic wheels

kevins08 

bertinjim 

non-fixie-

I think your chromed bike is a 1968ish Carlton Franco-Italia with an early 70s Peugeot touring fork. Look about halfway down the page at the link here. Love that 'after" photo of the Locomotief!

velomateo

Nicely done. I dig the wrap around seat stays and the number plate tab. Did you get a chance to weigh it? I know those 753 frames are quite light.

EastCoastDHer

Seriously impressed! Be proud of this, you did some great work here!

texaspandj

1988 Centurion Ironman Master. Before and after.