Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,688
Likes: 3
From: Sterling VA
Bikes: 70 Atala Record Proffesional, 00 Lemond, 08 Kestrel Evoke, 96 Colnago Master Olympic, 01 Colnago Ovalmaster, 76 Raleigh Gran Sport, 03 Fuji World, 86 Paramount, 90 Miyata CF, 09 Ritchey Breakaway CX, Bianchi Trofeo, 12 OutRiderUSA HyperLite
Originally Posted by
BluesDawg
Nice setup. That will make a good rider for someone. Since you flip a lot of bikes, I was wondering if you find much resistance from buyers to bikes with bar end shifters. I love them myself, but with brifters so universal these days, I don't find many other people who like them. Often people don't even know what they are. I've even had people ask me if mine were brake levers.
I would think it would be kind of a dilemma. The cost of adding brifters would make the bike too expensive, but the lack of them would make it hard to sell. What is your experience.
Exactly - that's the reason that many newer style bikes I build have bar-end shifters. Even used STI are expensive and I've bought several that were broken. I actually have two bikes with brifters now, and they're great - but most have bar ends (they work better with winter gloves) The newer builds usually cost 8 - 10 times the money and triple the effort for about twice the profit. That's why most are my size and get test ridden 
To answer your question, the lack of brifters may slow down a sale but bikes over $500 take 1 - 4 weeks on craigslist (even with brifters) versus 1 - 4 days for $150 bikes. I built the Jamis because a coworker's wife may get into triathalons. I'd sell it to her for not much more than cost which is much lower than the original Ultegra (it's 105 now) equipped $2300
Originally Posted by
late
Most steel bikes are TIG welded these days. No lugs. Nothing against lugs, I prefer them, but TIG welding is cheaper and that's what I have....
Yep, TIG welded like my 2004 Fuji World, also 853 steel. The Jamis is a 2002 frame.
Originally Posted by
RonH
Awesome looking bike but those pedals just don't look right. No pun intended. What model Looks are they?
I got 5 sets of pedals from my LBS for $20 during one of the owners weak moments. I gave one set away for karma and have found uses for the last 4 sets. These are older, but not as old as the original heavy very angular styled originals. I guess the sleek single sided SPDs I have on my Colnago would look great.
Originally Posted by
bjjoondo
That is a great looking machine! I do have a question, I thought "steel" bikes had lugged frameset's? I haven't had a road bike since the early-mid 1980's (last was a univega specialissuma(sp?)touring bicycle). Never heard of 853, last I remember was 531 for top of line steel tubing, gads I feel older than my 53 years, LOL.
My Grand Record, Gran Sport, PX10, and Alan Shorter (probably) are 531 lugged steel 
The Paramount is Columbus. I've had other Columbus framesets, including Tenax on some Schwinn bikes.
Originally Posted by
maddmaxx
Another great job robtown. Not only do you build beautiful bikes, but you do it about 8 times faster.
Thanks 
When I have the funds available and some time they come together fast. Of course, I have to rebuild my Alan shorter because I borrowed the stem/handlebars. I bought some parts from the UK on ebay, stuff from Nashbar, Craigslist, and the parts bin for this Jamis.
My latest builds (as opposed to rehab) have depleted my bike funds; maybe I can flip a few bikes this spring to fix that. In the meantime I have a lot of bikes that need some exercise
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See my Hyperlite 411 it's the photo model on OutRiderUSA web page