Beater Bike Smack Down
02-05-14, 09:34 PM
#51
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Not vintage but I started building this to replace my original beater but it cleaned up a lot better than I thought it was going to:
So, and I know you're probably getting sick of me posting it but........... I kept the old beater and I'm still "fine tuning" it. It has since had the bars and stem replaced with trekking bars and a quill stem to threadless adapter plus some other refinements. It is at least "vintage". I know it's a dorkmobile but for some reason I love this one.
So, and I know you're probably getting sick of me posting it but........... I kept the old beater and I'm still "fine tuning" it. It has since had the bars and stem replaced with trekking bars and a quill stem to threadless adapter plus some other refinements. It is at least "vintage". I know it's a dorkmobile but for some reason I love this one.
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Last edited by Murray Missile; 02-09-14 at 02:13 PM.
02-06-14, 06:38 AM
#52
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The bars and stem came as a set from Belgium. The bars are marked "Luxe".
02-07-14, 08:45 AM
#53
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Thread Starter
Update on my beater bike. It will need a new crankset and I found one inexpensive enough to keep in the beater spirit. I decided it was cheating to buy an unnecessarily nicer crankset for my touring bike and move it's crankset to the beater, fuzzy logic at work.
Brad
PS It makes sense to me that somebody attracted to C&V would use a modern bike as a beater. No age restrictions apply here.
Brad
PS It makes sense to me that somebody attracted to C&V would use a modern bike as a beater. No age restrictions apply here.
Last edited by bradtx; 02-07-14 at 08:48 AM. Reason: PS
02-07-14, 08:47 AM
#54
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Yes, I'm currently completing a 1987-ish Trek 400 for my son. He needs a commuter bike for college. It will probably be stolen, so I'm trying to keep the investment low.
I have purchased new wheels for $125 (lower-end Treks came with lighter-duty wheels in the day). I didn't need new tires, I had a set of almost new Vittoria Rubino Pro-techs, but I purchased a new set of commuter tires with reflective side-walls. If this keeps up, I'll have 150% of market value in the bike.
I blame the winter weather. I should be riding, and I'm inside looking at ways to improve the bikes.
This is will be the second time I've overspent on a Trek 400, I do like the utility of these bikes. The last restored 400 I owned is pictured below. It became a 2x10 with Ultegra derailleurs and Dura-Ace bar ends. It also got Mavic Open Pro rims on Dura Ace hubs. I already had most of the parts from a drivetrain conversion on a modern bike. It sold for a loss after 2 years and 3000 miles of year-around riding. I shouldn't complain.
I have purchased new wheels for $125 (lower-end Treks came with lighter-duty wheels in the day). I didn't need new tires, I had a set of almost new Vittoria Rubino Pro-techs, but I purchased a new set of commuter tires with reflective side-walls. If this keeps up, I'll have 150% of market value in the bike.
I blame the winter weather. I should be riding, and I'm inside looking at ways to improve the bikes.
This is will be the second time I've overspent on a Trek 400, I do like the utility of these bikes. The last restored 400 I owned is pictured below. It became a 2x10 with Ultegra derailleurs and Dura-Ace bar ends. It also got Mavic Open Pro rims on Dura Ace hubs. I already had most of the parts from a drivetrain conversion on a modern bike. It sold for a loss after 2 years and 3000 miles of year-around riding. I shouldn't complain.
Dam good looking bike..
02-07-14, 08:49 AM
#55
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Yes. That bike is no longer in my collection, but it's replacement is almost as nice!
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
02-07-14, 03:20 PM
#56
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
The beater winter bike got a new old Sugino crank last night... lighter, stronger, and longer than the old steel Sugino it had.
Still putting the B in beater...
.JPG)
Still putting the B in beater...
02-07-14, 04:23 PM
#57
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^ wow, is that a 52T chainring on a singlespeed? You must only ride downhill 
02-07-14, 05:59 PM
#60
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Tyres are Specialized Team Control (folding) and they are practically awesome...
02-07-14, 06:04 PM
#61
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02-07-14, 07:10 PM
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I have that same set of tires sitting in the closet. I also have the Fear master model (90s downhill MTB) of that tire with a red stripe. One of the heaviest tires I've ever owned.
02-07-14, 07:27 PM
#63
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I was imagining a 14T or 15T cog. It's all about the combination of chainring to cog, isn't it?
I have that same set of tires sitting in the closet. I also have the Fear master model (90s downhill MTB) of that tire with a red stripe. One of the heaviest tires I've ever owned.
I have that same set of tires sitting in the closet. I also have the Fear master model (90s downhill MTB) of that tire with a red stripe. One of the heaviest tires I've ever owned.
The Specialized team tyres are really nice and are in pretty much new condition, for those who don't know they are directional and front rear specific and the hookup is excellent and they even handle ice rather well.
02-07-14, 07:28 PM
#64
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
02-07-14, 08:20 PM
#65
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Same bike, 18 years later, still a beater with a Duomatic. Lipstick on a pig but lot's of km's put on it getting groceries. My wifes daily bike
Last edited by clubman; 02-07-14 at 08:28 PM.
02-07-14, 08:37 PM
#66
Senior Member
Sadly my beater bike got the smack down today. I finally admitted that it is too small (again). Some of you may have seen it in the vintage drop bar conversion thread recently, putting drop bars on it was my final attempt to make it fit, but alas it is still to small. Most of the components have been transferred to a worthy Univega frame.
Here it is in its sad state waiting to be sold for dirt cheap on the list:
Here it is in its sad state waiting to be sold for dirt cheap on the list:
Last edited by turky lurkey; 02-07-14 at 08:43 PM.
02-07-14, 08:59 PM
#67
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[QUOTE=Sixty Fiver;16477161Tyres are Specialized Team Control (folding) and they are practically awesome...[/QUOTE]
now i know what should be on the beater i am building. thanks!
now i know what should be on the beater i am building. thanks!
02-07-14, 09:11 PM
#68
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
02-07-14, 09:54 PM
#69
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02-07-14, 10:07 PM
#70
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This is my beater. Centurion Pro Tour (maybe 76-79, I'm just guessing) currently doing shopping/carting/need to lock it up somewhere duties.
02-08-14, 10:51 AM
#72
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A Pro Tour as a beater?! dannng. those are not beater bikes!
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02-08-14, 06:13 PM
#73
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It still gets treated with respect! and is waiting til I have the money to get it repainted/refurbished. It came to me pretty cheap off ebay after I gave away the other Pro tour I had (to a good friend who rides it almost every day). Both seemed to fly under the ebay.com.au radar.
The rack came all the way from France! It's very old and very heavy.
The rack came all the way from France! It's very old and very heavy.
02-20-14, 10:02 PM
#74
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Quick Update
The beater bike is almost finished. I'm waiting on the reproduction cable guides because after checking the other bikes with this arrangement the housing moves fore and aft a little as the 'bars are turned and it's maybe not good to anchor the housing down, I don't really know for sure. They should be shipped this coming Monday.
So far all I've had to buy is the crank set and the cable guides. I did buy some rim tape, only to find some in the parts bin. Still too much spent to enter the '100' thread.
Brad
So far all I've had to buy is the crank set and the cable guides. I did buy some rim tape, only to find some in the parts bin. Still too much spent to enter the '100' thread.
Brad
02-20-14, 10:34 PM
#75
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
My 1951 CCM is really a beater... the frame was saved from the tip and re-sprayed in the shop and the fork is a cheap reproduction while the rest of the parts were salvaged or given to me. The wheel set came from my old Super Grand Prix and has a suicide cog and has been holding up well for 10,000 km, tyres were pulled from the recycling bin too.
The only other new bit was the chain.
The only other new bit was the chain.