Bikedued

Just a for fun custom roadster style build. The first pic is in as found condition, minus the Brooks of course. Second pic is drivetrain installed. Deore RD/FD, Shimano deerhead ratchet thumbies for shifting. (yep, the huge ones with 2 5mm allen bolts) I also used new Tektro FL750 brake levers, pulling on Mafac Racer brakes, with new post mount thin line brake shoes. For cable housing I went with a very metallic looking Jagwire dark grey housing, and a set of soon to be shellacked Dimension cork grips.

The wheels are the set of Pelissier/Mavic wheels I found, for the time being. I want large hub flanges on this one, and slightly fatter tires. I have probably 5-6 sets of large flange wheels, but all are drafty garage dirty, and I need some time to clean a set up. Been working on the bike itself. I am thinking solid black or green on the repaint. For fenders I want to eventually get some alloy ones, with the hammered finish and a coat or two of black(or green) paint. Maybe a white tip on the rear fender?

The ride? Shockingly better than I expected. Almost effortless pedaling, supple ride, and acceptable handling once I got rid of the noodle forks. They bent while removing the semi stuck stem! You should have seen the look on my face, haha. The stem came out, and the forks were several degrees off center, starting about halfway down the legs. It now has a Centurion Tange fork. Anyway, I should have updated pics tomorrow afternoon, as it was ridable right as the sun set. Of course with the clouds, that came earlier than expected.,,,,BD

zazenzach

this was a one year model outsourced from Japan, right? or am i thinking of a world voyageur?

wither way, it looks like it'll make a fun townie to me. nice job

Bikedued

It's a little misleading on their part I guess. The headbadge says Chicago, yet it has a Giant number on the dropouts. Yes I think the WV was a one year.,,,,BD

And once again, great braking and no squeal on the Mafacs with modern cantilever shoes. I must have the right touch with them.

The Golden Boy 

You've got a 1985:

Schwinn 1985 Lightweight Bicycles -- World Tourist

You might actually really like those bars- as far as upright bars go, those are pretty comfy. The old style Schwinn grips seem to work really well with those.

Bikedued

3613 on the headbadge, and G1283 Giant dropout number, I am guessing early 84 model? It has those lugs with the odd stamps in them. Like ES possibly? It's unreadable to me. I think my Nishiki Century had the same lugs. The Construction of the frame of the Le Tour of the same year , and this World Tourist are strikingly identical, other than forged dropouts. The seat stay caps even are even attached the same way. I weighed it, and it came in around 31.01, or something like that. It was possibly over 40 when I got it. It was a TANK, steel wheels, heavy FFS, steel bars, etc. I bet about a good two pounds was cut just by changing the cranks. This bike rides exactly like I had hoped, and then some. It's ready for VO hammered fenders, and a pint or so of paint. I need to grab the Technomic from the ST400, as this stem just a hair lower than I needed on max height.

I was in the LBS, and spotted a whole selection of Velo Orange handlebars, and road size fenders in two different widths. I stopped in my tracks, as I am sure most of us would. If only to check them out. There is a Grand Cru touring flared bar, that I instantly fell in love with. They nicely shaped drops, and the flare was great. They are NOT bad to look at in person. Impressive job they did on those. I gotta have them for a possibly future project. IE: build a bike under them, hehe.,,,,BD

Pics as promised...

Bikedued

A shot of the brakes that the upload failed on earlier. These are firm and sure stopping, with no squeal at all.,,,,BD

The Golden Boy 

I have a set of Nitto B132 bars that I love the bends and flares, but they're not quite wide enough at the hoods. Those VO bars look promising:

The Rando bar has a medium drop, 130mm. The reach (measured from the stem clamp forward) is about 120mm. Available in 42, 44, 46, 48, and 50cm measured from center-to-center at the ends; there is 60mm of flare.

Bikedued

On one bike I have a set of Raleigh mid 80's touring bars. I got them off a basket case touring bike that came in to the shop. They are a very similar shape and width. I like them, but how often do you find mid eighties Raleigh touring bikes? These have the shape I liked from the Raleigh bars, and can be bought on the shelf. IE: No shipping;-). I love having even a small selection of VO stuff to browse in person.,,,,BD

Bikedued

Here's where this project is now. I decided after a few rides that the WT frame was too short in the top tube. This frame was a full inch longer in the top tube, though I kind of need a tall road stem to get the handlebar position right. I think I need a little more stem extension, and I have a technomic that would do it. Picking up a set of hammered VO fenders tomorrow or Sunday. I have heard they are kind of a pain to install, but I have lots of fender experience. The project is on the Volkscycle Mark100 frame now.,,,,BD

I have to get used to this handlebar style all over again. It feels like you are ten feet in the air on upright bars. The seat is a couple of inches lower now, and I steel wooled the post. A little more shiny than the pic now. Imagine this with a technomic.

Bikedued

And the final pics, as no one seems to care anyway. I changed the stem, shellacked the grips, and installed some Velo Orange dimpled fenders. The fenders are amazing in person. Quality is there right down to the hardware. It no longer feels cramped while riding. Very relaxing ride yet able to cruise at a pretty decent top speed. I want a little fatter tires, to fill in the fenders. There's also the chrome steel rack from the 6 dollar Peugeot, and maybe the generator light set too. Fender mounted light on the rear, that I can probably transplant.The generator is missing though. I used to have a few of these, but if I do they are way deep in the stash. I have not seen them in a year or two.,,,,BD







LOVE these brakes. No squeal at all, and V-brake like power. The whole time looking ancient and very cool.

Velocivixen

@Bikedued - it looks fabulous. Thanks for posting the "in progress" photos. Your fenders really set it off. Nice job.

Italuminium

Schweet! Mafacs and hammered fenders, yum. So nice to have a roadster that doesnt break the 40 pound mark, like the old school raleighs do. I grew up on roadsters with bars like this, so they feel natural to me.

Bikedued

I think it was 27.06 with the fenders? I was shocked, but the fenders are pretty light. I also noticed on the ride on Sunday, that it will probably ride no handed easily. Not that you ever really need to, but it's nice to know it's that straight. Some bikes look awesome, but head to the ditch the second you take your hands off the grips.,,,,BD

dweenk

Great job BD. Is that the same blue fork pictured earlier? Please talk about the paint job as well.

Bikedued

I swapped the entire frame since the top tube was way short for my needs. All the parts are the same mostly except the frame, fork, and fenders. It's 73-74 Volkscycle Mark100 I've had for a few years now. It lost 3-4 pounds and rides a LOT better than the Schwinn. Double butted vs. straight gauge tubing I guess? The wheels are the Pelissier/Mavic ones I got at a bike swap a few weeks ago. I will eventually trade those out for the original VC wheels. Large flqnges and a little fatter tires would send this project into overload.,,,,BD

spiker

I need to print out a copy of the final product. Hang it next to the 27 1/2" Raleigh Grand Prix frame I picked up a few years back with the same intention, a roadster in my size. I'm thinking IGH. Pretty bike. Nice work!

Bikedued

I was very tempted to IGH, but then I wanted gears up front too. It's got everything from climbing a hill to flat out cruising with the road triple.

And thanks, that's a nice compliment. I have projects like that too. I have two going right now. This one, and a not so vintage 01-03 Lemond Tourmalet. I just swapped over some old 8 speed Dura Ace parts, and got rid of the triple Tiagra cranks. I also bolted on my Look Keo Plus pedals. It has no chain at the moment, and feels way lighter than before. Those Tiagra cranks and derailleurs from back then are semi pretty boat anchors. I am excited about riding the finished product. As always it got dark before I got tired of wrenching. It only has a lowly Biopace 600 crank at the moment. The plan is all DA eventually.

The other project... It has already progressed past this point... I can say it looks WAY better with an all silver crankset and Dura Ace derailleurs.



LOVE this Fizik wrap.