THEJAPINO

I want my Paramount to be a road bike again (currently a 3 speed) but before I start transferring parts, I'd like to get the frame and fork checked out. I can cold-set it myself to fit a 130mm rear wheel but I worry that 20+ years of use, the frame isn't perfectly aligned like it was from the factory. Any places in the Bay Area, CA you guys suggest I call up? I realize this should probably be in the regional forum but it's an old steal frame and I have a better audience here. thanks alot!!

gaucho777 

Perhaps one of the local frame builders? You might try Mikkelson frames in Alameda. I spoke with Bernie Mikkelson once (about adding a longer steerer tube to a fork, which he was willing to do, though I ultimately decided against it), and he seemed to be a very nice and accommodating guy. https://www.mikkelsenframes.com/

Veloh

Ed Litton. Also be aware that the Bay Area is a hub of amazing frambuilders. You have many choices. Maybe too much.

THEJAPINO

Wow, didn't know that I was in the right place for such a thing. Does anyone know of some DIY ways to check frame alignment? If a frame is twisted as in the seat tube and head tube not being in the axis, is there a way to check for that? How about a fork, the ends being inline and centered with the steerer tube. I know these things would be a piece of cake for a builder but if I can do some of things myself easily, its always good to learn something new. Thanks for the suggestions, still weighing out my options!

gaucho777 

Of course, Sheldon had something to say on this topic (scroll down about half way down the page):
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

ScottNotBombs

+1.
I was going to say, if all you want to do is check rear dropout alignment, wrap a string from one dropout, around the headtube, and to the other dropout and measure the distance from the string to the seat tube... I use dial calipers

unworthy1

there's somebody in the Mission (SF) who has an alignment table...I'll get the name/address and update this.
Otherwise I'd happily recommend Ed or Bernie, but you'll definitely have to wait for Ed, maybe Bernie, too.

THEJAPINO

Yeah, I've used Dr. Brown's method to respace the rear triangle. I even thought of a decent way to make the dropouts parallel after cold-setting triangle. I'm just hoping that the fork is straight and the headtube and seattube are in the same plane in relation to the bottom bracket.

Unworthy1. Thanks

randyjawa 

Though I have never spread stays for purposes of alteration, I have cold set them to get them back where they belong. This is How you can come pretty darn close, using a string and a ruler to check things out. Have a look at Frame and Fork Preparation and it should help you decide who gets to do the work on your bike.

Hope it is a help.

bikingshearer 

For something like this, take it to Steve Howard, the owner of Livermore Cylery (the one in Livermore, not the one in Dublin). It's a big shop, so ask for Steve by name. He takes Sundays and Mondays off. Have him do the spreading to 130mm, too. Depending on what he needs to do, expect to pay $50 to $75. If you care about the frame, it's a very worthwhile investment. Call ahead for an estimate of how long he'll ned to ahve the frame (probably not more than a couple days - if make arrangements ahead, he may be able to do it while you wait). Ken, the short mechanic there who looks like he got out of rehab last week, also knows his stuff - I have watched him straighten out a badly bent RD dropout on one of my good frames, and I would trust him to do what you need with no hesitation.

Ed Litton absolutely can do this work, but he is not as easy to get a hold of as Steve and his time estimates are less accurate. For painting, frame repairs or frame building, Ed is your guy. For this, Steve is a better choice.

Both are great, honest people who do excellent work for a reasonable price.