ofgit

The headset, where the fork pivots in the frame, has upper and lower bearings that should have enough preload so the front end will smoothly and easily turn either direction when you hold the front wheel off the ground. If you drop the front tire onto the floor from an inch or so high, the bearings should not make a sound. Another check is to squeeze the front brake in your left hand while touching the interface of the head tube and fork crown with a right finger while pushing/rocking the bike forward and backward enough to feel for any non rotational play or slop. Angling the front wheel some while pushing helps.

If you push the bike by the seat, with a bit of a lean to the right, will it turn right? It is easy to steer a bike around by the saddle by leaning it.

ehjun

No play. Leaning right does the same thing but right. Although it has to be leaned pretty right. Even close to vertical it goes left. Univega problems - YouTube

wrk101

Forgetting the Brooks for a minute, the last Paselas I bought were $10 each (great sale, I loaded up).

Chain is $5.50, freewheel $12

Cables: $1 each for stainless, by the box. Housings, bought in bulk, less than $2 for the bike.

Bottle cage: aluminum: $2.

Bar tape: $5 (on sale, load up).

Saddles: take offs, nice used ones, garage sales/donor bikes, and so on.

Misc consumables: ball bearings, grease, $1.

Optional: Add $10 for a UN26 BB, needed about 25% of the time.

I rarely get any of this on ebay. I have bought stainless cables on ebay, left over partial boxes can sometimes be found at low prices. Bought a partial Shimano SS cable box once for 50 cents a cable, that was a deal.

$50 to $75.

Local co-op sells new parts at cost to anyone who wants them. They have decent new tires (not Paselas) for $6 to $7, chain for $3.

These are $1.12 a cable right now, note auction includes best offer option. There is a Hong Kong seller right now, stainless cables are 99 cents each delivered, with NO MINIMUM!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunlite-Cabl...item56645867d0

cycle_maven

Ride it straight through a puddle, and see if there are two tire tracks or one. Make sure the back wheel is centered between the chainstays and between the seatstays. The frame could be bent or the dropouts not aligned, or the fork could be bent or the rear wheel could be dished too far one way or another. Bikes should track straight. I'd fix that first.

But if it doesn't fit, you should sell it and get one that fits.

eschlwc

thrifty bill, the difference between us is flipping in bulk vs building keepers.

for example, i could find cheaper paselas, but not in the size i want. there are cheaper cages, but they don't look the way i want. i have to have fizik tape in the right color for the bike... etc etc...