Meet “Barney”, The 1898 Glenwood
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,282
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 652 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times
in
297 Posts
Meet “Barney”, The 1898 Glenwood
After 6 weeks of intense reconditioning, the barn find Glenwood went out for short shakedown cruise downtown to showoff a little bit. Overall, this has been a tremendous learning experience that has stretched my abilities. How the bike survived 122 years and ended up in my shop is mostly due in part to a very good friend and bike scout fanatic and the rest is just plain miraculous. The bike is wearing new spokes, tubular cyclocross tires and new handcrafted wood grips coming from Germany. I have had a significant push forward by the good members here and The Cabe. Here it is, a preview with better pics to follow. Thank you for reading, offering info and following along.
Here is Barney, the amazingly intact barn find:
Here is Barney, the amazingly intact barn find:

Likes For OldsCOOL:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 8,928
Bikes: 85 team Miyata (modern 5800 105) , '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 94 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1894 Post(s)
Liked 1,736 Times
in
1,037 Posts
wow, super nice. can't wait for an extended ride report and glamour shots with flowers in the spring
I think it is interesting also in the timeless look and lifetime of the steel, lugged, diamond frame design
I think it is interesting also in the timeless look and lifetime of the steel, lugged, diamond frame design
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
Likes For squirtdad:
Likes For BFisher:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 11,796
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 232 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3681 Post(s)
Liked 4,231 Times
in
2,530 Posts
I want to know when Rudi is gonna fix the saddle? 
Nice find, good job.

Nice find, good job.
Likes For merziac:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,264
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2120 Post(s)
Liked 1,271 Times
in
914 Posts
Nice reveal! I followed your other thread as well. Just, wow. This is about as C&V as they come.
Waitaminit - at first I cringed at "Barney", thinking "Barnard" would be more fitting for such a stately black ride. But you were thinking of its contemporaneous human namesake, right? I see what you did there....
Waitaminit - at first I cringed at "Barney", thinking "Barnard" would be more fitting for such a stately black ride. But you were thinking of its contemporaneous human namesake, right? I see what you did there....
Likes For madpogue:
#6
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 12,203
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 270 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3361 Post(s)
Liked 3,247 Times
in
1,587 Posts
Glorius! Elegant! Amazing! So unique to be timeless!
Pick tires for the ride. Assuming 700c? (edit: maybe not?)
What's the original wheel size?
Pick tires for the ride. Assuming 700c? (edit: maybe not?)
What's the original wheel size?
Last edited by Wildwood; 02-06-20 at 04:38 PM.
#7
Seńor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,369
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1240 Post(s)
Liked 622 Times
in
397 Posts
Lovely. Bonus to learn that it isn't a tacky shade of purple.

__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,282
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 652 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times
in
297 Posts
The tire size is our standard 28” that have carried through to modern use. I was excited to find one of my sewups stretched over. The wooden rims came with 1.5” knobbies and it now wears Challenge Limus Pro 33mm.
Likes For crank_addict:
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,282
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 652 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times
in
297 Posts
The ride is very smooth with the 33mm tubulars. Riding it is a whole ‘nuther deal. The chainring is a bit steep. It is a fast bike, very light and nimble but it is not quick like we are used to with multi gears. The coaster brake has a fresh film of grease on it so at the first ride it was needing a walk down that first hill. It’s a fun bike to ride but not a comfort bike.
Likes For OldsCOOL:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,315
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 753 Post(s)
Liked 1,855 Times
in
871 Posts
The ride is very smooth with the 33mm tubulars. Riding it is a whole ‘nuther deal. The chainring is a bit steep. It is a fast bike, very light and nimble but it is not quick like we are used to with multi gears. The coaster brake has a fresh film of grease on it so at the first ride it was needing a walk down that first hill. It’s a fun bike to ride but not a comfort bike.
Likes For BFisher:
Likes For jackbombay:
#17
PM me your cotters
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,888
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1121 Post(s)
Liked 550 Times
in
399 Posts
Hell of a transform!
What's up with the spokes on the front wheel? Specifically the ones towards 8 and 4 o'clock respectively, are they just old, or can you not tighten down spokes fully on wood rims?
Never built a pair of wood rims, so genuinely don't know.
What's up with the spokes on the front wheel? Specifically the ones towards 8 and 4 o'clock respectively, are they just old, or can you not tighten down spokes fully on wood rims?
Never built a pair of wood rims, so genuinely don't know.
__________________
███████████████
███████████████
Likes For francophile:
#18
Partially Sane.
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Sunny Sacramento.
Posts: 3,543
Bikes: Soma Saga, pre-disc
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 968 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 636 Times
in
462 Posts
Nice bike, & nice work, restoring it. 👌 I lost track of the other thread a bit, but that’s from having a run of bad luck, with flats, & cold weather. 🙄 I’m back up to speed again now. 🙂
Likes For stardognine:
Likes For BFisher:
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,282
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 652 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times
in
297 Posts
Seat: Has been glued in certain places as opposed to stitching. The 122yr old leather objected to that. It is installed and I’m in the process of adjusting. 
Wheels and spokes: I implemented a x2 using 14ga spokes from Wheel Builders supply, great people there. Nipples were a bugger. The wood rims need 19mm (3/4”) which are not easy to find. I settled on 16mm, measured accordingly and began the relace. Spokes took a slight angle to them as they were torqued. The angle of holes and the thickness of the wood was a challenge. The 16mm spokes are trued from the topside, tire off. It is what it is. This is a parade bike, very occasional rider.
Yes, the back valve stem is off center. I’m cool with that. Here is a pic of how I finished the schrader to presta fit:

Wheels and spokes: I implemented a x2 using 14ga spokes from Wheel Builders supply, great people there. Nipples were a bugger. The wood rims need 19mm (3/4”) which are not easy to find. I settled on 16mm, measured accordingly and began the relace. Spokes took a slight angle to them as they were torqued. The angle of holes and the thickness of the wood was a challenge. The 16mm spokes are trued from the topside, tire off. It is what it is. This is a parade bike, very occasional rider.
Yes, the back valve stem is off center. I’m cool with that. Here is a pic of how I finished the schrader to presta fit:

Likes For OldsCOOL:
#21
Senior Member
Man I can't get enough of those wooden rims, you did a great job of bringing the beauty of that wood back to life
#22
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,333
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales, Aero Lotus & a Lonely '83 Santana Tandem (* Ed.)
Mentioned: 120 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1104 Post(s)
Liked 1,158 Times
in
561 Posts
The fact that the original wooden rims are still serviceable and ridable--- is a miracle in and of itself. They are beautiful wheels!

__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 4,189
Bikes: '14 Insight 2, '95 Trek 720 Multi-Track, '94 Cannondale M600; '92 Raleigh Dash Max; '86 Panasonic DX 5000, '81 Fuji S12S, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '78 Motobecane Grand Touring, plus many more!
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 167 Post(s)
Liked 139 Times
in
90 Posts
It looks like it found the right home! Looks great! Have you thought about sending out some of the parts for nickel plating?
Likes For cycleheimer:
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,282
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 652 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times
in
297 Posts
Interesting question! I was compelled to something between preservation and restoration. I decided to keep it as is mostly, the wheels getting the full restore. It was just too nicely preserved by storage the past 100 years. If it had been a rusty mess then it would have had a full resto, chrome and paint.
Likes For OldsCOOL: