C&V Clunker Challenge 100
#51
Senior Member
ok: I got most of my clunker. $50 for all of this, with the brifters and bars i bought earlier for ~$17 thrown into the pic:

i think I can build a bike out of that for the most part. the deal was that the tires are actually pretty new conti ultra sports that the kid put on not long before he wrecked it. (see bars on top frame) so that is ~$30 in tires. sadly, the larger frame that would fit me has bent seat stays - so its do I make the smaller one fit somehow, or do I do something ghetto and try and fix the stays:
another bonus: SPD pedals! so i can use my shoes with it.

everything has been sprayed black-- even the cables and cranks and ... well.. everything.


except the bar end shifters.. thankfully

the larger bent bike is a nishiki. - found it under the paint. the other bike is yellow under all that which is interesting.

i think I can build a bike out of that for the most part. the deal was that the tires are actually pretty new conti ultra sports that the kid put on not long before he wrecked it. (see bars on top frame) so that is ~$30 in tires. sadly, the larger frame that would fit me has bent seat stays - so its do I make the smaller one fit somehow, or do I do something ghetto and try and fix the stays:
another bonus: SPD pedals! so i can use my shoes with it.

everything has been sprayed black-- even the cables and cranks and ... well.. everything.


except the bar end shifters.. thankfully

the larger bent bike is a nishiki. - found it under the paint. the other bike is yellow under all that which is interesting.
Last edited by jetboy; 06-05-16 at 03:37 PM.
#52
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Nice clunkers @jetboy
Im going to look at one tomorrow that also looks to have spray painted cables. Lol.
Im going to look at one tomorrow that also looks to have spray painted cables. Lol.
#53
Senior Member
nice dude. friggin spray paint! this is a lot of work. even the chain was spray painted.
some nice surprises- an ultegra FD under all that!


the stripping has begun. the yellow paint is SOO friggin thick I think I have lost a lb of the weight of the frame.. and still more paint! also, I can't get the pedal off the left side... so I left the crank on as I try.
this could end up being a nice little touring bike... the frame is fairly heavy but not terrible- 26.6cm seatpost. tange headset! I wonder what this bike is.
some nice surprises- an ultegra FD under all that!


the stripping has begun. the yellow paint is SOO friggin thick I think I have lost a lb of the weight of the frame.. and still more paint! also, I can't get the pedal off the left side... so I left the crank on as I try.
this could end up being a nice little touring bike... the frame is fairly heavy but not terrible- 26.6cm seatpost. tange headset! I wonder what this bike is.
Last edited by jetboy; 06-05-16 at 07:49 PM.
#54
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Excellent updates. I think 100 Riel is reasonable. Ok, the equivalent of $100usd.
This is a reason to buy a new bike but if you've got something already I don't see why you can't enter it. The more the merrier. I'm enjoying seeing the yellow bike spray painted take shape. It was certainly a turd and the turdier the better in this game.
This is a reason to buy a new bike but if you've got something already I don't see why you can't enter it. The more the merrier. I'm enjoying seeing the yellow bike spray painted take shape. It was certainly a turd and the turdier the better in this game.
#55
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I'm in. My wife and I were at the co-op yesterday for a slight brake tune-up on my commuter, but we ended up buying her an old Ross cruiser (step-through frame, fenders, Sturmey-Archer 3-speed) for $35. It would have cost $40, but we got a $5 discount for donating her old crappy Huffy MTB. The brakes need adjusting (and/or new pads and maybe cables), but otherwise it seems rideable as-is.
I also tried riding it, and think maybe we should have kept the Huffy instead!

#56
Senior Member
Those type of bikes are surpisingly hard to ride...your challenge now is can you make it 100km? I say you put some drops on it.
#57
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Just picked up my clunker.
1983 Puch Alpina.
Not quite as junky as I would have liked, but at $75 I'm going to have to make some hard choices for refurbishing. Right now the brakes don't move and I'm quite worried about 100k on a 53/16 single speed! It's got new tires though! I've got some plans for being creative with some of that free labor.
1983 Puch Alpina.
Not quite as junky as I would have liked, but at $75 I'm going to have to make some hard choices for refurbishing. Right now the brakes don't move and I'm quite worried about 100k on a 53/16 single speed! It's got new tires though! I've got some plans for being creative with some of that free labor.

#58
Senior Member
Not often that someone complains that the bike they just bought is not junky enough. Looks good. Id consider putting an fd on there so you have a high and low gear at least.
#61
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#63
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#65
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#66
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Impressive work - what'd you use to get the spray paint off? Just paint thinner, sand paper, and elbow grease?
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#68
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I used paint stripper (Jasco) . paint thinner does basically nothing - acetone is really the best for spray paint but I was in a hurry and didn't have any on me. I'll have to add the cost of a 1/2can of Jasco to my build price. the acetone would not have worked on the the yellow coat is way thicker and needed the Jasco to just get started. now its damaged enough that a wire brush will get most of it.
I used a soda blaster for some of it, works great but turns shiny aluminum dull (see the RD and cranks.. ill have to reseal them)). I only used it a bit and probably used $.50 of soda. I forgot to take a pic of the seatpost.. it cleaned up real nice under all that black. The seat itself was also sprayed black by BTW.
I am thinking of trying to do a pretty nice job on the respray (rattle can yes.. but do it right) I think I can still stay under $100 - particularly if I skimp on other areas.. like re-use bartape etc.
I also know a guy near me who sells full sets of "Jagwire" brake & shifter cable kits for $10. so that will help. only the best for this bike!!
another fun fact: the yellow is also not original - and there is nothing under it but bare metal. no primer or anything. the stem also had a thick layer of yellow under the thin black... I am pretty sure they just brushed the yellow on. in some places I was carving it off with a knife.
I used a soda blaster for some of it, works great but turns shiny aluminum dull (see the RD and cranks.. ill have to reseal them)). I only used it a bit and probably used $.50 of soda. I forgot to take a pic of the seatpost.. it cleaned up real nice under all that black. The seat itself was also sprayed black by BTW.
I am thinking of trying to do a pretty nice job on the respray (rattle can yes.. but do it right) I think I can still stay under $100 - particularly if I skimp on other areas.. like re-use bartape etc.
I also know a guy near me who sells full sets of "Jagwire" brake & shifter cable kits for $10. so that will help. only the best for this bike!!
another fun fact: the yellow is also not original - and there is nothing under it but bare metal. no primer or anything. the stem also had a thick layer of yellow under the thin black... I am pretty sure they just brushed the yellow on. in some places I was carving it off with a knife.
Last edited by jetboy; 06-06-16 at 07:15 PM.
#69
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#70
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Okay, I took some photos of the bike I might be using for this Challenge. I believe it to be a 1987 KHS Triathlete Pro, "John Howard" edition. I got it from the original owner, who I believe upgraded to a newer road bike, and he said that this one has only been used on a trainer for the last few years. I suspect that trainer may have been outside. At a beach house.
I do like the fact that before it was consigned to the trainer, it was ridden up and down the west coast.
Cons, from the Challenge perspective:
Pros, from the Challenge perspective:
So what do you all think? Clunker-rific enough? [edit]Oh, yes, I'm into it for $50 as you see it.[/edit]
A couple photos (more available):


I do like the fact that before it was consigned to the trainer, it was ridden up and down the west coast.
Cons, from the Challenge perspective:
- If I can get it cleaned up and running, it's actually a nice Tange 1 frame with a Tange chromoly fork.
- It has a full Shimano 600 (6200 series) group, which was my main reason for looking at it in the first place.
- Cleaned up and tuned up, this might be too nice to qualify as a Clunker.
Pros, from the Challenge perspective:
- Patina - seriously, check out the rust on the fork especially.
- Rusted derailleur cables... with the FD cable actually broken.
- Brakes are virtually immobile.
- Spoke nipples are corroded (but wheels might be true enough to get by for now).
- Tires are probably unsafe to ride and will need to be replaced.
- Plenty of crud to remove.
- Angry mastodon handlebars.
So what do you all think? Clunker-rific enough? [edit]Oh, yes, I'm into it for $50 as you see it.[/edit]
A couple photos (more available):


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Last edited by echo victor; 06-06-16 at 07:10 PM. Reason: added cost
#71
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I used paint stripper (Jasco) . paint thinner does basically nothing - acetone is really the best for spray paint but I was in a hurry and didn't have any on me. I'll have to add the cost of a 1/2can of Jasco to my build price. the acetone would not have worked on the the yellow coat is way thicker and needed the Jasco to just get started. now its damaged enough that a wire brush will get most of it.
I used a soda blaster for some of it, works great but turns shiny aluminum dull (see the RD and cranks.. ill have to reseal them)). I only used it a bit and probably used $.50 of soda. I forgot to take a pic of the seatpost.. it cleaned up real nice under all that black. The seat itself was also sprayed black by BTW.
I am thinking of trying to do a pretty nice job on the respray (rattle can yes.. but do it right) I think I can still stay under $100 - particularly if I skimp on other areas.. like re-use bartape etc.
I also know a guy near me who sells full sets of "Jagwire" brake & shifter cable kits for $10. so that will help. only the best for this bike!!
I used a soda blaster for some of it, works great but turns shiny aluminum dull (see the RD and cranks.. ill have to reseal them)). I only used it a bit and probably used $.50 of soda. I forgot to take a pic of the seatpost.. it cleaned up real nice under all that black. The seat itself was also sprayed black by BTW.
I am thinking of trying to do a pretty nice job on the respray (rattle can yes.. but do it right) I think I can still stay under $100 - particularly if I skimp on other areas.. like re-use bartape etc.
I also know a guy near me who sells full sets of "Jagwire" brake & shifter cable kits for $10. so that will help. only the best for this bike!!
Also, I don't think cleaning supplies count towards your budget.
#72
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EV,
That is actually a really nice frame. I think you did really good there. Plenty of work cleaning and polishing ahead of you though!
That is actually a really nice frame. I think you did really good there. Plenty of work cleaning and polishing ahead of you though!
#73
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cleaning supplies don't count towards your bill.
Also, I was too lazy to count but September 9th, 2016 it is. That gives everyone most of the summer.
Also, I was too lazy to count but September 9th, 2016 it is. That gives everyone most of the summer.
#74
Senior Member
maybe it means this bike has killed some cars.