My first true project bike is near complete! I can at least take it for a spin, finally.
The frame is a slight variant on a holdsworth mystuiqe. It originated in one of the Harding cycle shops, hence its branding as such. I bought it from a nice gentlemen off the CL.
It's original form was a 5×3 with a front derailur that was only designed for 2 gears on 27" tires.
First picture. Its truest (but still semi-frankienstiened) form.
The shifting was rough and the tires where shredded so I did some experimenting with parts I had from a stripped frame whose shifting was profoundly smooth.
I performed a full drive change swap over with indexed shimano 105 DT shifters on an origin8 down tube adapter. This life and it's current gave the Harding 700cs. The deep V front rim came to me free and its got a Hope Pro hub in it so I'm finding it difficult to let go despite the stylistic mismatch. The tires cost me $20 total and frankly I was curious to see if the clearance could handle 700c×40. They are truly, foolishly large tires. They are comfy but I will definitely be changing them out for something more reasonable when I can.
Its first, second life, pre DT adaptors it required for 105 shifters.
The rear rim turned out to be shot so I put the cassette on a newer 700c. It needed a spacer and this pushed the cassette so close to the frame that the chain had about a hairs clearance from the frame in the lowest gear. I wanted to eventually put a rear rack on it so this would not do. I went back to the drawing board. I toyed with turning it into an IGH 3 speed and then bought a NOS 4 speed hub off Ebay on a lark. It didnt come with a trigger and that plus a wheel build and all the bits I still needed were adding up fast.
My local LBS, listening to me opine, brought out a dusty alfine 8 wheel build they had on the shelf and sold it to me for basically cost. It was $250, but I was so exhausted with trying to get this bike into actual rideable shape that I was happy to pay it just to have a guarantee things would work once I got it together.
Now finally with that IGH alfine 8 hub its alive! It rides!
"Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos; the materials must, in the first place be afforded: it can give form to dark shapeless substances but cannot bring into being the substance itself."
"We are fashioned creatures, but half made up."
"Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me." Probably the prettiest angle of the monster.
The crankset is shimano 600 I got for $7 with an origin 8 chainring. This I will eventually change out for my Lambert of England TA style cranks with a TA chainring.
The handlebars are Nitto Noodles I got off an old super course.
Oh and the stem. Just look at that stem!
the old appropriately silver stem I had was much much too long as it had some sweep back bars on it. When I converted to drop bars, to work with the alfines trigger shifters, I was terribly stretched out. This stem was laying on the work bench of the LBS and they just gave it too me. "Bring it back when you have something better" she said. Well I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth so I threw it on. No tape yet because I'm making sure the drops are placed right (I'm thinking a tad higher may be nice). When I do wrap them up I'll have Black brooks leather tape on the noodles. I'll clearly need a new seat to match!
The bag was a lovely gift from my lovely girlfriend and the fender is a cherry and black walnut from woodys. It will be reviving a matching front partner come Christmas.
There is clearance for a rear rack, the shifting is smooth and I'm happy... mostly.
I can't ride it no handed like I can my 70 Raleigh sport. I think it also needs a new headset. But hey, I'm close!
I'm happy to hear critiques, suggestions, or anything else that comes to mind.
All quotes from Mary Shelly's Frankienstien because I am uninspired and thoroughly enjoy cliches.