Fuji Absolute
 

I just got my first road bike!!! A quick search didn't bring anything up, so I'd like to ask what i should do with this bike. It's a 10 speed, and from what i understand it was sort of the base model when it came out. I plan on using this bike as my daily commuter (up to 14 miles per day on suburban roads.) It would be nice if i could shed some weight off of the bike, but i'm on a budget. I was thinking lighter wheels, alu seat post, maybe cranks. The 10 speed works well enough, the parts look new and are by suntour. Bikes are a foreign language to me.

What part are available for this bike. I'm assuming a 1 inch seat post will fit any bike with a one inch seat tube.

I have not yet found a wheel that says. compatible with 5 speed. I have seen ones that are listed as compatible with 8,9,10 speed, or its not listed. How does this work, what should i be looking for?


I have a lever shifting as my shifter, and i'm happy with that. I would consider stepping up to a 7 or 8 speed cassette, but i do not know if i can use my same shifter, i know i would need a new rear derailleur. By doing this i could then easily find the parts i'm looking for. But witha cassette, reraileur and wheels
I'm looking at 201 before shipping which 5 times what i paid for the bike.

Will any set of cranks work
I'm considering these http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...0Road%20Cranks



I know 10 speed bikes haven't been around since the mid-late 80's, but at one point most road bikes where, and I'm sure someone produces parts for older bikes.

The most recent absolute I saw was cro-mo main tubing.

It also had alloy Araya rims with Sansin hubs. Are your rims steel?

the rims are aluminuim (not magnetic so i guess aluminium) and the frame is made from VALite

I have one of these Fuji Absolutes. Came with standard Japanese parts, nothing special. Bottom bracket spindle has the "scew on" nut configuration, rather than the "screw in" bolt type such as Campy uses. Tange Levin headset. As for the seatpost size, not sure on that but be aware there are a number of different seat post sizes, they are definitely not all "1 inch". Valite #1 tubing, which I assume means straight guage (not butted). For wheels, you probably need a standard 27" dished to accept a 5 or 6 speed rear freewheel, using the existing 120 or 126mm spacing between the rear drop outs. They are commonly sold on ebay, may have to be patient and wait for some to come up. If you want to go with the slightly smaller 700c rims, there is a lot more choice, but you will then need to make sure that that brakes you have (or get) will reach down far enough to engage the pads with the braking surface of the rim (ie, you probably would need "long reach" brake calipers). Lots of things to think about when outfitting an older frame! Good luck.

There's some good advice on this thread, especially Sheldon Brown's list of priorities, even though it refers to upgrading a hybrid. Pasted below:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270208&highlight=weight
(Sheldon):


Replacing the derailers would accomplish nothing, just throwing money away.

Here's what I would do, in order of priority:

1. New tires. Something light and smooth, maybe Avocet Slicks or something similar, probably narrower than the stock 40 mm tires, unless your local roads are very poorly maintained.

2. Clipless pedals and matching shoes. I like the Shimano SPD system a lot.

3. New saddle. Something narrower, firmer. Maybe ditch the suspension seatpost too.

4. Handlebars/stem. Something perhaps giving a slightly more "aggressive" position would be appropriate for someone who rides as much as you do.

The adjustable stem is heavy and clunky, and once you figure out where the bars want to be, you really don't need the adjustability any more. Might want to lose the riser bars.

Bar ends for additional hand positions would also be worthwhile.

Sheldon "Upgrades" Brown

I have a nitto olympiad for handle bars
wheels are bontrager select k in 27 x 1 1/4 in
rims are ukai (made in japan) 27x1 1/8

Maybe i should takes pics so you guys can better *examine* what i'm working with.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...e/PDR_0006.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...e/PDR_0005.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...e/PDR_0004.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...e/PDR_0003.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...e/PDR_0001.jpg

You will find that we can be pretty big asses here. With or without pics.

edit: rats, now my joke makes no sense since your edit.

bad word choice on my part.

So assuming that the bike has a 126mm spacer (because it is a 5 speed) i can use most any 27 inch wheel?

Looking at the picture, I would say that there is not any cost-feasible way to lower the weight much. (Although, if you went fixy with it...). Are you sure it does not already have an aluminum seatpost? That would only save a bit anyway. Light wheels can be bought, but at a pretty steep price. You might be able to drop the spinning weight in half. That would make a noticeable ride difference. But that upgrade would cost hundreds of dollars. And, since no one makes nice modern light wheels for this thing, you would have to respace and redish them to make them work. Plus, probably have to buy a cassette to mount on it.

That bike is probably light enough that you will enjoy riding it at its current weight (assuming it is set up and lubed/greased well) for anything less than serious paced riding.

Now, back to that fixed gear idea. Pull off all that fancy machinery off that beast and you will be shocked how sprightly it is. I have a Fuji Espree with similar tubing I think that I have done that to, and it is respectably light now. Course, with one gear, it really needs to have negative weight to help me haul my girth up a hill.

jim

All the Valite is at least butted. Some is quad butted.

The seatpost should be 26.8. If the current post is steel you can shave a little weight there.

But I'm with jgedwa, that bike shouldn't be too heavy to enjoy. In fact, I bet that is a very nice riding bike.

i rides really nicly actually. I was just looking for some options. I might just put an ultra 6 on there an call it a day.

Here is what I did with my absolute:

I brazed on a pair of downtube shifter bosses and went with Suntour Cyclone shifters and DR. Since the picture I added a Campy Centaur crank & BB and a 700c Campy Lambda wheelset with Athena hubs.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j7...DSCF0001-2.jpg

Iam just puting the finishing touches on my schwinn super sport. I just painted it today and assembled it tonight pictures hopefully tomorrow.P.S. what aboutthose bars.

Those are my Urban Assault Bars®

I also have them on one of my Letours with barcons.

I've made a good dozen with my trusty hacksaw.

my seat post is 26.4mm, i bought a 26.8 and it didnt fit, guess i should have double checked.

This was not a base model. It was in the middle of the model line-up, in that range where you have to spend serious money to get a noticeable performance increase. As someone else said, make sure the bearings are freshly lubed. The U6 freewheel (and a new chain) is not a bad idea.

If you are going to commute on it, you need to add weight (and function) -- fenders, rack, lights.

enjoi,

I apologize about posting the wrong seat post size.

I went and pulled mine after reading that the 26.8 didn't fit your bike. The post in mine is 26.6, and it goes in quite easily.

what do people think about putting a cheap cabon fork in there? I read that it is lighter, but on the other hand, its not worth the price. There are some cheap forks on ebay every now and again.

I've ordered a set of nashbar alu. handlebars that were on sale (for 9 dollars) i couldnt pass it up. I've also chaged out the seat aswell as the seatpost. Ultra 6 and cranks might be on next months list.

enjoi, I know you have not mentioned it, but how about a nice set of aero brakes to go with that new bar. That would certainly clean up the appearance of the bike while improving the stopping power. I picked up an Absolute recently that's a little to large for me, but I bought it because someone installed a set of 105 Aero levers and brakes. Gave it a nice look. Good luck, I really like those old Fujis.