Act Three- Piece together the bike.
Other than the bottom bracket, everything slid into place smoothly. I usually pop the bottom bracket on first. Then the cranks and pedals. That way the front derailleur had a reference. I oiled and greased derailleurs and brake calipers, they bolted right up.


(also, I had no idea weinmann was Swiss!! I thought it was English)

I like to throw the wheels on and set the bike down, sin chain. Then it’s cockpit time. Install the naked bar and stem, position the levers and tape the bars. I usually like to go top down because it starts and ends in a really clean way. I don’t mind the downside of having the tape peel down by the hoods while riding. (I don’t know what that section is called but I think we all know what I’m talking about.) Because I know the “right” way to do it is to go bottom up and finish at the top to insure the tape lays nicely as you ride, I chose to do it that way for the ol’ man. I’m sorry for not having pictures. It was December 23rd and I was frantic trying to make sure it was ready.

Next is the cabling step. All the derailleurs, shift levers, brakes and their levers are installed. So it’s just a matter of clamping the clamps and routing the housing and the cables. This was pretty straightforward and easy. The extra housing I had left over from my international was perfect! This is high end pre greased housing and I think the white looks great. It was a risk, my pop doesn’t like flashy, but I’m glad he liked it this time.

This leaves the final assembly step to be the chain. I like it this way because you tune the derailleurs as a part of sizing the chain. Then, you’re ready to hop on and take it for a spin! With a modern chain, it was a breeze. And off I went around the block.

My Pop was very happy. His back has been really
bad the last couple weeks so we haven’t gone for a ride yet but I can tell, he is really excited! I’m really happy I got it together to give to him. It’s special to me and it seems like it is just as special to him. Here it is! as found on Christmas morning and a clear shot in the sun.