Haven't been around here much in the past 4-5 months or so. Thanks to the last couple of years of chasing my softball playing daughter (yes, she committed to play in college), increased work responsibilities and recent prostate cancer surgery I haven't been very motivated on the cycling side of things and mileage/fitness has suffered. I did spend the past few months in the gym with my youngest lifting weights which was nice. That should change in April when I can get back on a bike and the last two kids are down to the remaining couple months of high school.

This has even been on the stand for the past 10 months and I can't seem to get off top dead center to finish. It's close but I just keep walking by it. So, to help with my motivation let's see some current almost finished projects.

Almost finished this
just need to spray some wd40 on the chain, hose clamp the bar, and put a few more coats of epoxy on the fork leg

Comparing your unfinished projects to mine would be like comparing the Mona Lisa to an Elvis on Velvet. Mine being the Mexico import piece. I watch some my favorite YouTube cyclists whenever I need an inspiration push. Sorry to hear of your recent surgery. Hope all gets back to normal soon. I think the last couple years have been incredibly stressful for lots of people, so if nothing else you aren't alone in the funk. Keep on dreaming up good days ahead my friend.

This last project is definitely a step up over much of my fleet. Here's to rising above the funk.

I finished a project yesterday in the midst of getting two feet of snow. It’s going to be a while until I can take it outside for pics (those indoor pics in front of someone’s couch really bug me!).

I have too many bike projects to be of help but if you really have no motivation, obviously this project isn’t for you. I can help, let me know when and how I can take this off your hands so that you can be freed of anxiety and perhaps find a more suitable N+1 bike to work on. I’ll even send you pictures of it finished (eventually, might be another decade or two, God willing). 😜 BTW, nice clean garage space, puts mine to shame.

I do have a question though, your downtube decal appears to have different fonts & spacing in it so it looks like it reads “COLN A GO” to me. Anything to that?

You have had a lot on your plate. Perhaps you just need to eat this elephant one piece at a time. Take inventory of everything left to do and do it a little bit here and there without the thought of finishing the project, just finishing each step. I don't know what parts you have already, but order your bar tape. When the bars are wrapped, order tubes and tires. When there is rubber on the rims, order your chain. Enjoy the trip getting to a completed bike.

54cm. Sell it?


(How's THAT for motivation?)


(cue "Unforgiven" by Metallica)

I wish I had more pics of the build process . Bike was a 84' Bianchi Alloro .
custom decal
IMG_0336 by mark westi, on Flickr
wheel build
IMG_0277 by mark westi, on Flickr
All done
IMG_0674 by mark westi, on Flickr

Before we can help you...

What's in the tarp, WHAT'S IN THE TARP?

Just finished this one 1980 Motobecane Grand Sprint


Currently working on this one, I just got a Brooks Team Pro saddle and have installed theRD since this photo. I had to make the binder bolt for the seat post . The wheels that are on it now won’t work but I want to use the hubs even though not correct for a 1978 Raleigh Pro. When I get it painted in a year I will put the NR cranks on it. I want to ride it for a while before getting the paint done.

1975 Colnago Super that I rode for a year after buying from a fellow BF member. I tore it apart last year and sent it to Franklin Frame for restoration. I stopped working on the Motobecane to put it back together
For a while , I had three bikes at various stages of build. That was overwhelming and now I’m just down to the Raleigh Pro and can’t wait to get it on the road. For a long time I just rode my bikes and stopped building. I just did the maintenance which wasn’t very demanding. Then I wanted to get back to building and at first it was hard to focus but once I started I got carried away. I like taking bikes apart that need bringing back to life and then cleaning, polishing , and building them back . Almost every bike I own I have done this, not to modify but to make sure everything is in good shape.
All this is happening while my shop is very busy with repeat business as well as new projects. I had made the mistake of telling my customers I wanted to slow down a bit!

HURRY UP!!

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: When you finish this build, you will be a weapon, you will be a minister of death, praying for war. But until that day you are puke! Not even a human being! You are nothing but an unorganized grabasstic piece of amphibian dung! Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will work. I am hard, but I am fair! I've got your name! I've got your ass! You will not laugh! You will not cry! Now get to work!

​​​​​​​[Let me know if you need any more. I've a whole movie script worth. ]

I think that might be the RD I sold you and if so gosh dang it you better finish that build. I lugged that thing all the way over Snoqualmie pass, my domestiques suffering mightily along the way to carry me through to Ellensburg to make this build happen.



The strain of rear derailleur delivery begins to show in the team.

Yeah, I've been doing the little things. Actually have all the parts - it's just time to quit walking past it every day. I'm really down to cleaning the nasty glue off both rims and mounting the Continental tubulars, putting on the chain and cassette and then dialing it in. Granted I did finish two other project bikes in the time this has been on the stand.

Looking great. This was my Bianchi project last spring.

Motobecane is one French brand I don't have. I have also spent much of the past few years just riding and maintaining. The three projects last year probably put me in the same position you are in from a focus perspective. This Colnago is the last of those. Frankly, I dream more of retirement in a few years and just riding.

LOL - that was a different derailleur for one I imploded on a Rodriquez.

Well, holy crud! I hadn't even noticed that. That 'A' on the drive side was definitely replaced at some point.

Drive side:



Non-drive side is all consistent




Non-drive side chain stay

Whew!

Save some weight- use a couple of turns of duck tape- Flex is good, tear is bad.

For the most part its DONE!!!

Just get your CLEARANCE from your surgeon, do your Pre-Flight Check and yur OFF...

Tubulars !

This is very simple.
Time for another Palouse Tour!
Put one together for the end of July and commit to riding the Colnago.
Problem solved.
You’re welcome.