Prelude rebuild underway.
 

It's polishing up quite nicely I think. It's not that bad considering that it's 20 years old. It looks like a lightly ridden garage housed bike. I am toying with giving it a silver head tube inside the lugs. I think it's just what it needs, but let me know your thoughts. In a day or two I should have some more pics as it gets reassembled. Not a bad deal for $50 I think. It's in better shape than I thought.,,,,BD

It needs gumwall 700c's, which cannot be found around here for some reason. Everything is folding bead and red or yellow stripes, with blackwalls......Yuck!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/prelude1.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/prelude2.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/prelude3.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/prelude4.jpg

Can't wait to see how it turns out. I love the way mine rides.

I'm leaning towards white bar wrap, and I'd like to find some aero levers to clean it up a little. 1987 seems kind of late for it to have non aero levers, but that's what it had when I found it. I'm going to sniff around a bit for a new headset, but I have a decent used one if one can't be found. Here's a before pic, same one I posted in the Catch Of The Day thread.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...er/Prelude.jpg

I like your idea for the silver head tube. I think it would look good with the color of your bike.

Ta da. No one objected, so the head tube turned silver. I think it really makes the bike pop. What do you guys think, black outline or no? I think it looks fine as is.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...Silverhead.jpg

Hey I've seen 700c road gumwalls online but they are almost $100 each.

The only gumwalls I've found in the 27 inch are cheapies...

No middle ground I guess.

I don't care much for them anyway, so...;o)

I like it. It looks like the silver matches the silver bar under the Prelude name on the top tube. Nice job on the paint.

Of course, I heartily approve of using a separate color for the head tube. :) The silver looks great with the blue.

Oh and silver looks nice no black...;o)

That bike is pretty clean.

Hooey. Amazon.com/Niagra Cycle Works has beautiful skinwall IRC Roadwinner Duro II 700X28c tires for $19/ea or so. Best riding skinwalls I've ever used, period. QBP carries these, and your LBS can order them, but they'll charge you near $27/ea in most cases, which is why I suggest the Amazon.com supplier.

Alternately, Vittoria's skinwall Roma 22s usually run the $10-20 dollar range - these are excellent tires as well. Complete with herringbone tread. Search the forums for this tire - a supplier was mentioned a few weeks ago for this tire.

Finally, if you don't mind cheap-o quality, Kenda makes skinwall 700X25c tires ($10-15, have your LBS get 'em through J&B Importers) that look essentially identical to the Vittorias, but they aren't as satisfactory when it comes to rolling resistance.

Best of luck, Miguel - that silver headtube certainly does set it off. Beautiful, beautiful frame. Don't line the lugs.

P.S.: Yes, aero levers are a must. Put a Campagnolo Victory RD and FD on it - it deserves it, and those Victory mechs are easy enough to come by.

Take care,

-Kurt

Do the "transparent" gumwalls from Continental qualify? I know they're more brown/orange than tan, but I think they're very "classic"-looking. Conti still sells the "Sport 1000" with them, in everything from 700x20 to 27x 1-1/4. They go for $16 each at the shop where I get them.

Miguel,

Looks Great!!

Leave the lugs plain! It does not need it!

Thanks for the suggestions. I do like the dark brown sidewalls, if some of those are still out there? Here are some more porn pics. I've never had a bike with Campy anything. They may be in the plan later. I was just taking my time. I almost started on the brake polishing, but my ability to keep up with tiny parts after being in the heat all day diminishes, lol.,,,,BD

Hmm,, there's after work, and Saturday. BTW, found this out lately. The cork wrap in the Summit box, is the same stuff Nashbar sells at a reasonable price. Has that odd grape scent and everything. Not going to spend $11.99 at the LBS anymore:D.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...udepartial.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...udecluster.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...eludeshift.jpg

The wrap is non adhesive, so if some aero levers come along, it shouldn't be too hard to swap them.,,,,BD

Do Sante brakes have the same reach as Dia Compe 400's? Probably not, since a 700 wheel wouldn't fit on my Le Tour. Is the reach shorter on the forks, I guess it what I'm asking.,,,,BD

Bikedued, what kind of shimano derailleurs and crankset were on this puppy when you scored it?
My 86 came with suntour cyclone and, while I have always lusted after a campy upgrade, I just cannot justify it because these things shift so smoothly and reliably. Mmmmm...campy.
Anyhow, Im pretty certain it originally did NOT have aero levers as it came with diacomps and I caught plenty of attention in 1988 when I switched to aero 105 SLR brakes (which did then, and still do now, ROCK!). My buddies really took a liking to my new bike in the summer of 86 and both bought the metallic pink versions in 1987 with shimano indexed drivetrain. The wheelset is not original and yes, those are Specialized Turbo/R's with the gumalls.
By the way, that bluish color on yours is simply beautiful. Nice score on that prelude.
In the off chance that you havent seen it posted, here it is (Daisy, the beagle, insisted on being in the pic):

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...86prelude8.jpg

Mine looks like the same cranks right down to the pedals. Sakae I believe, but can't remember the model right off. It's Shimano light Action indexed in the rear, and the front is friction with the clicking friction, not smooth. I have a set of Sante levers, with white hoods. If the brake reach works, then I will try the calipers as well. The white pearl finish would fit the color scheme very well. Hate to break up a set, but aero would look sweet on this bike.(No pun intended, lol),,,,BD

Awesome bike, BTW!!!

Oh well OK...my bad. I didn't realize "skinwalls...tan...brown"...were the same thing as "gumwalls"...

I was under the impression that gumwalls were constructed differently.

Live and learn...;o)

I've bought from Niagara before, Kurt. They had no minimum order like bikepartsusa, and had my order here in a couple of days. Awesome service!,,,,BD

I think of gumwalls and skinwalls differently also. Skinwalls have a visible fiber in them. Gumwalls are more of a colored rubber like a whitewall on balloon tires.

Gumwalls are a layer of latex, no?

I know on some of the older ones I've had the gumwall can get all dried , dark and crumbly..

[QUOTE=couleeman]Bikedued, what kind of shimano derailleurs and crankset were on this puppy when you scored it?
My 86 came with suntour cyclone and, while I have always lusted after a campy upgrade, I just cannot justify it because these things shift so smoothly and reliably. Mmmmm...campy.

I have a Super Sport of what I think is about the same vintage (a Japanese-made lugged SS, not the filet-brazed sort) that has Suntour Cyclone mechanics. Don't know if yours is Japanese-made, but to my way of thinking the Suntour is more fitting on a Japanese frame. Moreover, it shifts just as well as my Campy stuff.

I've just acquired a Schwinn Tempo frame from my friend at the LBS.

He thought the frame was the same as the Prelude.

It certainly looks like these Preludes.
Same lugging, Columbus Tenax tubing, similardrops. Anybody know?

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j7...t/DSCF0003.jpg

I

You'll have to look at a catalogue to be sure, but I believe the Tempo has a "competition" geometry, while the Prelude is a slightly more relaxed fast "recreational" geometry.

Mine also doesn't have the hole in the lower chain stay crossover tube. (proper term anyone?) The BB lug looks the same pretty much. How steep are your rear stays? More or less, how far was the rear tire from the frame.,,,,BD