DA_FN

Hi all,

I recently made a post in the appraisal forum about a Tourmalet that I was going to buy. Now that it's mine I was looking for some advice on the upgrades that I should give the bike. The seat, tires and awful handlebar padding need to go first and foremost.

Ideally I'd like to put a Brooks saddle and some leather tape on the handlebars (is that cliché?) and I was wondering what model of saddle would be period correct. Would a B17 work or should I use something slightly more 'sporty'?

I'm a newbie when it comes to tires so any help there would be appreciated. Also, should I change out the rims and other components? Keep in mind that I'm a student so I'm treating this bike as a project to slowly enhance over the next year.

Here's the specs and pictures of the bike:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1122243...eat=directlink

Sachs Huret Rival front and rear derailleurs
Nervar cranks
Weinmann side pull brakes type 500
Lyotard 82 quill pedals with straps and Christophe clips
Quick release Rigida 27x 1 ¼ rims
Sachs Huret cyclometer

Thanks!

cb400bill

Nice looking bike.

I think you have a couple of color schemes to work with. Keep it all black or go with a brown saddle and matching bar tape.

If it were mine, I would get a brown Brooks B17 and their matching leather bar tape.

For tires, a new set of 27" Panaracer Pasala skin sidewall tires would be good.

Hieronymous

Hi
That is a sports bike from the 80's so i'd say some cloth tape and a plastic saddle would be more appropriate. Ideale 2000/2002 to keep it French, or maybe a Turbo, or even a Flite? The 80's weren't the most glamourous era
Regarding upgrades... Less is more. You already have components that were high end and reliable for their time... and they are in good shape. What more could you wish for?

DA_FN

Thanks, that's great advice! Yeah, I was thinking of going for the brown leather saddle and tape combination. Good to know that the parts are decent!

Chombi

Depending on the type of riding you will be doing, if you spend more time kinda upright on the saddle, on the tops of the bar, you might be OK with the B17, as many noted that it works well with a more upright riding position because iof it's wider top and deeper sides design. If you often go to the drops, a Swallow or Swift might work out better. Good thing with Brooks is all of its models are pretty much considered as "period correct" as the product has been around for so long and spans different eras of bicycling with minimal changes to their designs.

Chombi

anixi

I would think that a period correct black Brooks Professional and black leather bar wrap would be cool.

DA_FN

Thanks, I think I'm gonna go for a dark brown Brooks B17 or Professional with matching tape. This bike is just going to be used for cruising around so most of the time I'll be on top of the bars. Good to know that the other components are of a decent quality. Thanks!

Hieronymous

Depending on how you ride, Kool Stop Salmon brake pads may be in order. I am not affirmative about this because i still have the original brake pads with steel rims on my 3 speed roadster, and I do feel I can live with them, even when it is rainy - simply by riding prudently. But then it is much easier to get speed beyond control on a roadbike, so that is one upgrade to consider.

hughes208

I think the brown would look very good