Thank you both for your replies, much appreciated.
Here’s a link to the ad (the pictures are low quality unfortunately; not much detail is discernible, but I can see the bike is in poor condition). The bike is available in Poland.
olx.pl/oferta/rower-univega-via-carisma-wysoki-stary-solidny-sprzet-CID767-IDzMLEA.html#f3954e4cdb
(Please paste the above address into your web browser. I’m still not allowed to post pictures or links – I’ve got few posts).
1. Canklecat: while taking the measurements in question could you please get size of your frame (best c-c seat tube), the wheel base as well as the chain stay length?
2. Also, have you ever used rear rack and panniers on your Carisma? If so, was there enough distance between the panniers and your heels enough?
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I see the 130 mm should be fine; well at least it’s not too narrow. I’ve been wondering whether, if I want to, it’s possible to install a 700-C wheel I’ve already got:
The current setup I have is spaced at a little less than 120 mm (I can’t remember the exact number right know) in the rear fork, but I guess that’s not very troublesome as it’s possible to either narrow the fork by cold setting or widen the rear hub by adding, for instance, a few washers and possibly a new axle- I guess the latter option would be more convenient in my case bearing in mind I would like to use the original wheel with the rear derailleur too (provided it can be salvaged).
3. I’ve got a Shimano Nexus 3 Speed internal gear hub (SG-3R40- no coaster brake) fitted in semi-horizontal dropouts – I really do like this hub and would like to be able to sometimes install it in the Carisma, but is it possible to fit it to vertical dropouts which I believe the Carimsa has (correct me if I’m wrong here)?
4. Can you tell if Suntour or Exage 500 CX derailleurs are fitted and the bike’s manufacture year?
5. Any idea how to explain how to measure a bicycle frame (the simpler the better, to make it easier for someone who may not necessarily into bikes)? This is the first condition that needs to be met before I can go on any further.
I’m not sure yet who’s gonna overhaul the bike. I’d really like to do it myself – I’ve recently become fond of tinkering with the bikes we’ve got in my family and I find it really enjoyable
, but I don’t know first if I can do it and second if I’m gonna have enough time for it. While the first ‘if’ may not be that problematic—I realise I may not be able to do certain things myself even though I’m eager to learn stuff; I may have an LBS mechanic do certain things for me (wheel building/truing comes to mind), the second ‘if’ may unfortunately be so…
6. One more question: how many bottle cages can you mount onto the Carisma’s frame? I think I can see two.