FrenchFit 

More of a day tripper than dedicated touring bike. 85ish Univega frame, with many components coming from a donor bike, 90 Voyageur - including the 40h rear wheel. The Schwinn was a nice touring frame but a little small for me. Lots of personal preference parts on this build like the external bb, Salsa Woodchipper bars married to a Nitto stem: has a really wide chest spread in the drops, and cyclocross in-line brakes on the top.

Been out in the wild just three local trips.

likebike23

Hey, I didn't know I was famous on the web LOL. Nice job on the rack/bag and nice bike too.

thumpism

Waterford Paramount touring from '84, built up when new with stuff from the prior bike, a Trek 710 frame that had most of these components on it and which was then sold off.


I recently bought this Bridgestone RB-T that I found on the local CL. Always wanted one and got this for myself as a retirement present. I was planning to ride it on the Transamerica Trail this summer but am now having trouble deciding between this and the Paramount. The P has been in the stable so long I feel like it should get the nod. Guess I'll prepare each for extended touring and ride them alternately until time to go and will decide at the last minute. Tough choice.

Sir_Name 

Nice work @FrenchFit.

OLB

Nice job. I really like your stem/bar/bag setup.

FrenchFit 

Thank you very much. I like those Eleven81 triangle bags, I have them on most of my bikes in the tank position. Fairly big, but narrow & easy to get at stuff while you'll riding: Eleven81 Frame Top Triangle Bag Black Bikewagon If you leave the velcro long they work as a frame pump straps as well.

Off to ride Monterey today:

Joe_Steel

Thanks for the kudo's guys -- and yeah likebike -- I had to give credit where it was due ;-)

The Golden Boy 

Yes, great post! Both the bike and the bag, and the bag support.

Expeditions are so cool.

The Golden Boy 

Those are both really sweet bikes! I love that style of Paramount logo, if just for the rarity of it. Speaking of rarity- a PDG touring Paramount... cool, way way cool.

thumpism

Thanks. I call that the "monumental" decal and seems a little grand. The subsequent years had the much cleaner design with the smaller letters spaced out. I prefer the later look but this one has grown on me. I think they only used it that one year. Cantis were an option at the time and I have alternately kicked and congratulated myself for not getting them. This week it's kick.

The Golden Boy 

The canti brakes I've had on all of my bikes all stopped and were more controllable than ANY sidepull or centerpull caliper brake. Until I got a set of dual pivot brakes. I still like cantis for the function, even if just for the style and the aesthetic of the "business" oriented bikes. However, if I'm going to be honest with myself, the dual pivot brakes I have stop at least as well as my best canti equipped bikes.

JAG410

1983 Nishiki Cresta, out on its first test ride after being rebuilt. A mix of old and new, with some parts bin magic thrown in as well. Big thanks to Frogbutter for the frameset and Rockhound for the suntour bits. The bars, stem and fenders are from my old Romic. The brake levers are from my old Cross Check. The saddle, pedals, and cages are from my old Mr. Pink. The tires are from my Sekine.

Frameset: 83 Nishiki Cresta, modified for internal dynamo wiring
Wheelset: H+Son TB14, SP Dynamo front hub, Tiagra rear, Sapim DB spokes, 700x32 TServ tires
Drivetrain: Suntour barcons, VGTLuxe rear D, Suntour AR front D, Sakae Half step crank
Cockpit: Nitto Noodles with Technomic Stem, Tektro levers, Sugino post, Selle AnAtomica saddle
Lighting: B&M Cyo headlight with B&M Secula tailight (modifed for hidden wiring)
Misc: VO Fenders, VO rack, VO cables, VO bar tape (sucks for wide bars)
Coming Soon: JAG410 handlebar bag and tool roll.

gomango

That turned out great!

jjames1452 

Three:
1983 Trek 520
1985 Schwinn Voyageur - and I will adjust the saddle before riding
1985 Trek 720

The Golden Boy 

I'm pretty sure your Voyageur would be an 86 model year. Tenax frame and Deore and DiaCompe components for the win!

jjames1452 

I think you are correct. I checked the serial number. 6C03897. Pretty sure that would be an '86.
Are the derailleurs which are marked Shimano Light Action Deore?
This bike gets themost use each year.

The Golden Boy 

That bike came with the MT-60 Deore stuff. Good stuff, one level below XT. I'm sure someone knows the difference- the design is the same, probably steel in place of some alloy part, maybe sealed bearing pulleys... No nonsense componentry. I guess I'd put it at "600/Utegra" level.

Gerryattrick

I picked this 94 Raleigh Record up a couple of years ago - couldn't resist it. It needed a good clean-up, new tyres, bars & bar tape. It came with cut down bars but luckily I had spare bars hanging around in the shed. It's frustrating that I'm not able to ride it for another month or two, but it will be great for the summer.

Cougrrcj

My '75 Fuji S-10S is being relegated to my 'road-touring' bike since it has the longer chainstay/longer wheelbase of a 'touring' bike. Already a triple front/six-spd rear. Now getting fenders and a better rack / rear pannier setup. Very relaxed frame geometry compared to my '84 Univega Viva Sport...

eschlwc

the trek 412/414 was made of ishiwata tubing three years ('80-'82) and long stays.

cycleheimer

Nice choice! This is my '81 S-12-S with Nashbar DayTrekker panniers (covering up the vintage Pletscher rack), Nashbar handlebar bag, SKS fenders and Paselas TGs. I usually describe it as being the Toyota Camry of bikes...exceptionally dependable, affordable and a decent ride...nothing wrong with that.

willydstyle

I still need to get a rack, but I finally got to take her for a proper ride today, about 20 miles.

Cougrrcj

I only wish mine was an America... Well, it is outfitted like one now!

S-10S/S-12S/S-12S Ltd are great touring bikes, even if they are under-rated.

My '75 S-10S is now outfitted with period-correct Cannondale rear panniers and 'Toot' seat bag.

BTW, in the above pic of my S-10S, it is wearing the same Pletscher rear rack it has worn sine 1977! It now wears SKS silver plastic fenders and 27x1-1/8 Pasela TGs as well.

willydstyle

Yeah, all of FUJI's bikes of the era were great quality rides, but I am super super happy with this America, I just got her three weeks ago. I would honestly love to have a rack just like that. I'm trying to keep her equipped with era-appropriate gear.

Cougrrcj

Pletscher racks can still be found NOS from a number of sources. The bigger issue is finding the forward brake-bridge mounting plate that prevents up/dn movement on the seat stay. It is just a simple sheet metal support, but it does wonders!

Hmmmm... I never realized that the America only had one set of accessory eyelets on the rear dropouts.

Also note that my S-10S has a suspension seatpost. Most likely sourced from Bike Warehouse / Nashbar. The red elastomer 'puck' has about had it, and I doubt I can find replacements 25 years later... Oh well, on to 'Plan B' (or C, D, E or whatever modification level I'm up to these days...)