'87 Fuji build
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5136d07dd3.jpg

This bike started life as a yellow Fuji Tiara with some nasty rust spots. I stripped, sanded a lot of it and went over it all with Barkeeper's Friend. I also soaked the rust chrome headset in the same. The steel came out an even flat gray with plenty brass showing at the lugs, so I put off painting it and built it up.

I built it like a '90s Bridgestone - one group for shifters and derailleurs, a different crank and brakes. I used 7 speed Ulegra, a DA 7410 crank, NOS Aero Gran Compe 251 levers, Force brakes on my old Campy/Mavic Open4CD wheels.

This is my first lugged steel bicycle, and only the second with a steel fork. The Tiara was mid range, quad butted frame. I measured the DT wall thickness as .6mm, about like Columbus SL, but I would not be surprised if the butts were thicker. But the 52cm frame is still about 4.5 pounds - which ain't bad. The whole bike with pedals is over 22 pounds, which is easily the heaviest road racing bike I've ever owned.

It rides great. Nice handling, stiff enough when climbing. You don't really feel the weight on the road, despite this bike being 6 pounds heavier than my Merlin. Per the recent thread about big tires, the steel fork is super stiff compared to the carbon forks I'm used to. The Icon fork on my steel Lemond couldn't be more different. Streets that feel smooth with the same 23c GP4000s are noticeably 'textured' with this bike. Watching this fork over bumps shows no movement, while my carbon forks can totally see why many riders using steel forks or the newest carbon forks want big tires.

The AGC 251 levers are simple and beautiful - great feel. The goofy spring loaded Ultegra left down tube shifter is the nicest shifting lever I've used, and I have Simplex retrofrictions.

Having the ability to switch to friction on the fly with these levers, I've decided that I don't like friction shifting index derailleurs. The shifting is too precise - you need to put the derailleur in exactly the right spot. With the old Nuovo Record style, there is enough of a gap between the cogs and upper pulley that you can just get the shifter close and the chain will flex to make up the difference.

Overall, a nice bike. Hopefully I'll get around to the priming, sanding, painting, masking, painting and clear coating while it is still summer.