Originally Posted by bigbossman
Is it just me, or does that rear brake housing look a little on the short side?
Just nit-picking - that's a nice looking bike.
It is - that Dia-Compe lever gave me pure hell when I installed that cable. It has enough play when turned full left though, so I figured I'd leave it like that.
Originally Posted by Mariner Fan
What's wrong with the bottle cage? Just looks?
Not vintage enough, and he is right. After all, this Trek has an unusually similar, backdated appearance to that of a vintage '40s French or English touring bike. A steel bottle cage would certainly finish off the effect.
Originally Posted by Mariner Fan
When I built up my Trek I had to put a spacer on the chain stay bridge to bring the front of the rear fender back. Not a functional difference but I thought it looked better. Kurt, your bike turned out great! Well done.
I considered that, but I can't figure out how to install it - the Bluemels fender uses a steel clip to fasten itself over the chainstay, not a bolt. I could drill the fender, but the clip would be in the way of the hole. One could devise a bolt-in clip adapter, but I don't believe I care to fabricate anything to that extent for this particular build.
Originally Posted by BostonFixed
Frame looks too small and chain looks too long.
Spoken like a true fixie rider...
Originally Posted by mike alanko
I think the chain is that long because of his huge range of gears. Notice it's sitting on the 28 and probably the 14. Crazy range. *still shaking head in disbelief*
You've got it pegged on the 14. Admittedly, it looks a lot better when in the 50/16, but I didn't care to fool around with the gearing when I took the photo.
I believe the RD still has enough extra range to use a rear cog with at least 5 extra teeth larger then my current low, if I so wished. Not that I will do so - I've never been one to believe in big rear cogs if you don't need them (heck, I don't even need the 28t).
Funny thing though, I did happen to get an NOS SACHS 14-30t 7-speed freewheel from the former owner of this bike when I bought it though. And yes, he had the 28t granny chainring on it as well...along with a short cage Shimano 600 RD, which didn't have enough takeup to run on the big ring and either of the two largest cogs - at least, not without some nasty mechanical jamups. Hence why I stuffed the Deore on it that it has now.
^
As I got it - note the 105/600 mix.
Somewhere in the photo below is that SACHS freewheel. Believe it or not, this all came with the bike, stuffed into one Nashbar pannier bag. Probably the best deal I've ever run into - the tools are invaluable to me.
Take care,
-Kurt