grayEZrider

BlueDevil;

BLUE, devil!

grayEZrider

After weeks of swapping out upright bars and then drop bars (and wasting good tape) i finally found the answer today and got the "feel" right. I remembered someone built a cheap single speed "beater bike" by simply flipping the original bars upside down. Jeez

Briggs2

About to start working on a complete '84 Trek 510. Pretty much all original except for the clamp on downtube shifters. Trying to decide if I'm going to keep it all vintage or update everything... Any advice?

DQRider 

I've had this old U08 knocking around for a while; built up for paved trail rides during the winter and city bike duty the rest of the year. But I haven't been riding it much because my other bikes are a bit nicer.

Then my brother-in-law had a heart attack. Flash back about three years to my own cardio wakeup call, which got me back into cycling, and I knew just what to do.

Mikey hasn't ridden in at least three decades, and he smoked for most of that time, so needless to say he is quite out-of-shape. His doctor told him he needed a fitness plan if he didn't want to be battling this for the rest of his life. I offered to build him an easy-to-ride bike that would gently and enjoyably get him back in shape.

So I quickly looked around the shop and came up with most everything I needed to build this:



I've used a Fuji/Suntour VX rear derailleur from my Royale and a double-crank converted to single with washers for the drivetrain. Gear-change happens via a SunRace SL-M10 friction thumb shifter. Wheels are stock steel front with the rear wheel from my old Miyata 1000 to replace the damaged stock one. That should handle his non-trivial weight just fine. Tires are Panaracer Pasela 27x1 1/4.



First rides revealed a horrendous shrieking from the old, dried-out brake pads against the steel front rim. (I had used a set of Mavic 700c alloy rims for the city bike build and there was no noise with those. But they were a bit too light for this build.) So I ordered up a set of salmon Kool Stops and that solved the problem.



Cosmetically I stuck with my usual classic approach: Brooks B72 saddle, porteur handlebar with shellacked cork grips on a Kalloy dirt-drop stem, a Zimbale leather toolkit, and stock pedals.

Total spend was minimal for things I didn't already have. I'll be giving it to him tomorrow, and I'm actually quite excited to see how Mikey likes it.

(The seat is slammed like that because Mikey has short legs and a long torso. I'll start it there and adjust as necessary.)

2cam16

A thousand miles or so overdue maintenance done on my main ride today:
IMG_1078 by 2cam16, on Flickr

noglider 

Saturday, I cleaned my Lemond with furniture polish in a can and a rag. It works great. I've been riding it on wet and dirty streets. I lubed the chain with either Chain-L or chainsaw oil; I don't remember which.

It's nice to notice that the gears and brakes needed no adjustment and the wheels needed no truing.

I did the work on my wood living room floor. It was easy to clean up the schmutz with some more sprays of the can and the rag. I think the floor is cleaner than before. Of course, I did put paper towels under the chain when I oiled it.

Andy_K 

A friend gave me this partial 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert this weekend, saying he wanted to get it out of his garage and thought I might have a use for the 105 parts.



I think instead I'm going to restore it as close as possible to the original specs and pass it along to someone it will fit. I found the right shifters and brake levers on eBay, but they're going to need some clean and polish. Last night I tore the bike down to the frame, minus the headset. I think this is going to clean up into a nice bike. It should be a fun project.



Did people really use 700x20 tires?

ecnewell 

Nice, Andy! That's going to make someone very happy. I think that's my favorite Ironman colorway.

noglider 

I used to. In fact, I had a bike with 18mm tires! Right! If narrow is good, narrower must be better, right? And even narrower is even better, right?

I have one bike with 25mm tires, and even that is a little too busy, but they're all that will fit.

Grand Bois

I just finished reworking my 1959 Carlton 3 speed conversion. The new 700X35c Paselas turned out to be too big, even though the 700X38c Specialized Nimbus IIIs they replaced were not. I added a white down tube decal that is a copy of an original. The gold ones that were on there was something I had made by an online sign maker.



I had put a big gouge in the head tube with a wrench. I was out of the yellow urethane, so I used white acrylic enamel. I used a liquid masker on the lugs this time and it worked really well.



I continued the paint all the way to the dropouts. The chrome on the stays was pretty bad.



Portuguese cork ring grips with one coat of amber shellac. It makes it easier to keep them clean.

3speedslow

^^ All looks very nice!

Grand Bois

Thank you.

Looking at the pictures, I think I should switch to white housings.

jimmuller 

Put different pedals on the Tommasini. Soon I'll have to replace the headset on the Motobecane.

3speedslow

White or silver.

noglider 

Wow, @Grand Bois, your bikes always look like they're from a showroom. What kind of riding will you do with that amazing Carlton?

randyjawa 

I agree but the black looks OK too. White would blend into the overall picture, which is pretty darn nice to begin with. Well done.

And speaking of finished, got the X10E road worthy today but still a thing or two to do before I can say its done...



Next on the block(well, in the stand to be more precise) - the Quintanna Roo(pics to follow in another thread, probably).

top506

Details and better pictures in my Trek Across Maine AAR next week.

Top

SJX426 

I mentioned in another thread that I had tried to sell the Masi Gran Corsa and failed. A BR'r contacted me and we made a deal. I spent time disassembling it down to the frame, as that is the way he wanted it. Delivering this weekend. Having twinges of seller remorse. It is the only Masi I have and.....

Did you know you can buy a Gran Criterium new from Masi for $1100?! 525 tubing. Chrome lugs too!

jimmuller 

Nice PX! Best of luck in the TAM. Pics next week are required.

I sent part of yesterday putting new bearings in the Motobecane's headset. We'll see if and how quickly the races wear away further.

Grand Bois

I only take pictures after I have cleaned and polished them. I had it apart to do some painting and make some changes.

It's not suited to riding in the hills where I live, but it's perfect for cruising the MUP around the bay.

Grand Bois

Thank you.
Speaking of housings, yours should be white along with the tape to make it closer to your 100% original goal. They used the thin grooved housing that came with MAFAC brakes. The tape was plastic, of course.

noglider 

I infer from that that you let them get dirty but don't take pictures at that point.

That path must be gorgeous. I've visited the area a few times, and it's spectacular. I used to think I had no use for trails and such, but I've found I like them.

bikemig 

This is such a fine looking build and a great way to repurpose a UO 8 for your brother. They make superb townies.

RiddleOfSteel

Did a sort of build or swap challenge for myself. Stripped parts off one bike ('87 Super Sport) to go onto another ('88 Trek 560) and did it in an hour and a quarter. I had put the SS together and initially test rode it, thought it a touch harsh, threw some new brake pads on it, different chain ring, and different (better) saddle. Test rode it again and it was bone-jarring. I haven't had a bike this punishing yet, and I have two '80s SR Cannondales! Needless to say, the Trek was a lot better, and the SS will be built up to sell. Interesting how some bikes can be that way. So it goes, I guess.

I will also be swapping out rims on a wheelset that I bought as part of a bike and the spokes were all 3-4mm too short (threads showing below the nipples). Found a great deal on used (but great shape) rims, which is great. The ERD should also work as well, which is obviously important. Hopefully it will turn out well.

DQRider 

Thank you! My sister tells me he loves it, and can't wait to ride it whenever he comes home from work. I hope to get some photos of him on it this coming weekend.