Narhay

Boy, who would have thought we would have 2 COVID editions. Due to popular demand (or at least one PM about it) I hereby present the Clunker Challenge 100

Past iterations

2014: C&V Clunker 100 Challenge
2016: C&V Clunker Challenge 100
2017: C&V Clunker Challenge 100 #3
2018: C&V Clunker Challenge 100 #4
2019: Clunker Challenge #5
2020: Clunker 100 Challenge COVID edition #6

You have 100 days starting today, April 29, 2021, ending August 7, 2021 at 11:59pm to complete the following:

- In the spirit of public health all clunking must be done with physical distancing and safety measures in accordance with wherever you live. We want to see your piece of crap next year too.

- $100USD (or local equivalent) firm budget to purchase a C&V bicycle and get it back on the road. This $100 includes initial bicycle purchase and all consumables/parts to make it go again. You may have to cut corners but this is all part of the fun. That wal-mart saddle just might have to be your hatchet if you spent all your money on new tires. Your time, tools, cleaning supplies, gas/transit to go get it and grease are free. Count them if you'd like. If you are buying new or used, record that price. If you are using something you already have and know what you paid, use that price. If you can't remember, use the fair market value of the item. If in doubt, ask. Shipping is a cost to be factored in. While anyone who wishes to participate is encouraged to follow the spirit of the game and go out and get a new bicycle, an untouched project waiting in the shed is ok, too.

- Swapping one part out for another does not cancel out the value added to the bicycle. As found = purchase price. adding items costs money.

- If you sell a part you remove from the bike, you may add the sale price to your budget. You actually have to find a real buyer for your ****e to gain a few sheckles.

- Keep a detailed list and updated before, during and after pictures in this thread on your purchases and progress. We fiend for this sort of thing.

- A minimum of 100km or 100mi for the real troopers ridden on your new bike. Take photos of the rebuild and of the bicycle in the places you go and post them here. Perhaps you'll have a newfound admiration for stem shifters and solid axles. Or maybe you'll hate everyone after five minutes on the bike and keep using Photobucket to share photos.

- Arbitrary style and value points. You'll get style points for both the nicest finds/builds AND the bikes that make us say "That thing actually survived 100km?". Going as cheap and crummy as possible is a badge of honour. Bonus points for using a real POS in as-found condition (flipped bars, rusted cables, saddle at a 45 degree angle, etc.) and preserving the integrity of the previous owner's ingenuity and mechanical skills.

Judging: Bribery and flattery is acceptable and encouraged. If anyone actually has too much free time and bribes me I will post contents of bike related packages for others to covet and oggle.

https://www.strava.com/clubs/candv
Join the C&V strava club and track your rides. Post here too for those that don't use strava.

non-fixie 

Excellent!

machinist42

Thank you for poking us with this again; it may be another jab we need?

With every post I make to the "Are You Looking For..." thread I think of the Clunker Challenge.

I've bought two this year, both within the last month or so, and each well under $100.

Do we have to acquire our Contenders after today?

bikemig 

I picked up a bike a year or so ago I meant to use for the challenge but never got around to it. Now is the time to get that bike fixed up and rideable.

Narhay

Nope. See rule 7, article 4, subsection 3.94A

Any bikes are fair game.

Narhay

Yes you owe me 3 whole minutes for all the effort of copying and pasting .

Every year someone pokes me to restart it. That's all I need to hit the submit thread button. Glad you guys enjoy it.

jdawginsc 

Is it a century in one go, or a total of 100 miles/100km on the clunker...?

nlerner

Hmm, so I’m compelled to go to my local CL, see what bikes are for sale, and sort by price. Then, it’s a matter of something close to my size at the right price.

This one is promising but a bit of a schlep to get there:
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/bi...310974717.html

This one looks really crappy, but the price is right (with U lock but no key, I imagine):
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...312629625.html

Maybe a bit on the tall side, but the crapiness is a selling point:
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bi...312058297.html

Minimalist appeal, but a bit overpriced:
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bi...312061535.html

jdawginsc 

Since this is my maiden attempt, I am trying to figure out if I should for clunk, or go for low cost svelte...I was lucky enough to pick up a Nishiki Tri-a with Shimano 600 wares for $40 sometime in January...From the same person I got a Trek Fast Track that I am building up as a fixie for a shorter student with straight bars.

my other clunker options abound...I would get points for style but would likely need much Advil.

Edit: corrected cost...the Trek was $35...

Andy_K 

I still haven't gotten around to getting the bike I built for the last one out of my garage yet. I recently replaced a few parts (now that it isn't constrained by the contest budget), but I haven't given it the final test ride before donating to a local bike charity.

Did you ever announce results for the previous challenge?

droppedandlost 

We're all winners

Andy_K 

See, now, I would have said this:


But I think is at least some of the past editions @Narhay has bestowed various honors and glory on worthy entries. The categories for such distinction are always fun, such as 2016's 'pile of turds covered in reflectors' award.

bikemig 

I picked up this late 70s Peugeot UO 10 earlier this year for $40 thinking it would be a good bike for the Clunker 100 challenge. My first good bike was a Peugeot UO 10 and I've kept my eye out for one for a while now. UO 8s are a dime a dozen where I live but UO 10s are hard to find so I was happy to find this one.

I'm curious what it costs to do a complete tear down and rebuild. So I plan on using old parts but all new consumables with a complete overhaul. I should be able to keep this under budget with a $40 initial cost. That saddle has to go though. Now way I'm riding it a 100 miles.

Murray Missile 

Not even going to think about trying this year, I have so much going on this year I'd just be wasting my time getting a bike ready, if I even got it ready. I had the perfect bike the last time I entered and I STILL haven't put 100 Km on it!!! But I'll enjoy checking out everybody else's entries.

bikemig 

Whew, I'm glad you're not in. I thought for sure you'd be a winner with that $20 1960s Carlton you picked up.

Narhay

That sounds a lot like you're going to have 2 or 3 entries by August.

Dylansbob 

I hadn't planned to participate this year, having bought too many already. But, there's an auction house near me that I've discovered does online as well. So in order to familiarize myself with their processes, I threw a $25 bid on this Raleigh Elkhorn. After buyer's premium and tax, I'm at $31.86.

Sorry, I took a lot of before pics.


crunchy, but complete and appears original.

Cracked Strong seatpost

Neat, a chainstay mounted rollercam. Should be fun in the mud.

obligatory 80s Cateye

Nice fork and front canti

Sharkfin AND spare spoke holder

bikemig 

2 questions
(1) Has anyone ever bribed you? Hopefully any bribe was in keeping with the value of the prizes given in this contest . . .
(2) Does the work have to be done when the contest "officially" starts. I may be out if this is the case. I picked up the bike earlier this year with an eye towards entering this contest but have already finished much of the work.

Narhay

A campy tool kit in the wood box and ...
No, no bribes. Some flattery.

Post it up. I'll turn a blind eye.

bikemig 

I'll see what I can do on the flattery front . . .

Thanks!

dweenk 

I have always liked this thread, but I think that there should be categories:
Sort of like this:
1. Road bikes
2. Mountain bikes
3. Three speeds
4. Cruisers

Just saying...

machinist42

5. BSOs.

non-fixie 

I just bid €25 ($30) successfully on this small France Sport randonneuse, So, this year mrs non-fixie is going to have to enter this challenge.



After finalizing the deal I discovered the soon-to-be PO has used it as garden art. It may be a little more work than I anticipated to get it back on the road.



I will pick it up tomorrow. In the meantime I need to figure out how to break the news to mrs non-fixie.

Unca_Sam

My suggestion is to suggest she'll enjoy the bonding time, painting your extra time together as something positive. If that doesn't work, there's always valium .

jdawginsc 

I got the sense she does not like drop bars and a top tube...?