I recently re-homed a lovable vintage drop-bar conversion, and I found I needed another one to fill the hole in my heart.
In
my original post I noted that the components on this Crosscut were in good shape when I found it, and that I hoped to salvage the paint job. Unfortunately, that last part didn’t pan out as rust from the chrome headset and seat post clamp had bubbled nearby paint. Repainting was easier than all the work it would have taken to try to repair the existing finish. But as I’d hoped, I was able to restore and keep most of the components.
Besides the virtues others have noted about these bikes, such as the long wheelbase, relaxed geometry, and space for larger tires, there are other things I’ve found interesting: Although the brakes are cantilever, they are actuated with bridge cables and yokes like center-pull calipers. So far I’m impressed with their stopping power. It also has Shimano’s Biopace oval-ish chainrings. And the model name for the Shimano group set is Exage which I haven’t come across before and,
according to their website, is “coined from excellent, exceed and age.” Okay then.
I don’t have a lot of time logged on it yet, but I'm liking how it rides. I haven’t been able to directly recognize a difference with the Biopace chainrings, but
Sheldon Brown has said my knees will thank me later.