The "Before And After" Thread
#751
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Yep... this thread needs to be sticky.
What a difference a day and a bunch of new parts makes...
What a difference a day and a bunch of new parts makes...
#753
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philadelphia's western 'burbs
Posts: 238
Bikes: '89 Bridgestone MB-3, '91 Bridgestone CB-0, '92 Bridgestone RB-2, '94 Bridgestone MB-2, '96 Trek 8000, '05 Jamis Dakar XC Expert
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I took a chance on this Bridgestone MB-5, as the previous owner, for some reason, wrapped most of the frame with black electrical tape. The frame felt undamaged, but I assumed I would find something he felt the need to conceal. Peeling off the tape reminded me of pulling up the carpet from our hardwood floors after we bought our house--a sense of the unknown that made each bit of newly revealed frame somehow more exciting than it should have been. After all was said and done, I thought touch-up paint looked a lot better than black tape . Since it already had a nice set of slicks, and I had a Blackburn rack lying around from another project, I decided to commuterize this one...
#754
Senior Member
I have that exact same MB-5! Longest top tube I have ever run across on a MTB. They definitely look cool though. Nice job!
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
#755
Senior Member
This '79 Sekai 4000 Professional was a COTD find a couple of months back. Really would have liked to have kept it but the size wasn't right for me. High quality Japanese built frame with Tange Champion tubing, setup for all day sport touring.
Last edited by raverson; 05-03-10 at 10:27 AM. Reason: High High
#756
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,492
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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It's gorgeous (again). What'd'ja do with the fenders?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#757
Senior Member
Thanks Tom.
The fenders are still sitting here. It seemed like too much trouble trying to fit them back on to sell. I thought about including them off the bike when I sold it, but the bike sold fast, so it wasn't necessary.
For a minute I had an idea of putting them on my Opaque Blue Sports Tourer, but the shades didn't match.
The fenders are still sitting here. It seemed like too much trouble trying to fit them back on to sell. I thought about including them off the bike when I sold it, but the bike sold fast, so it wasn't necessary.
For a minute I had an idea of putting them on my Opaque Blue Sports Tourer, but the shades didn't match.
#758
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Got a blizzard happening here and I'm in my shop building a road bike... I figure that all I need is the bar tape and to find the rear brake pads and this old Italian girl will be ready for a shakedown ride.
Swapped the stem and bars to normalize the reach which leaves me with a 120mm Cinelli stem I will never use (but a good catch in itself) and replaced the Campy / Ambrosio tubulars with nice clinchers (Ambrosio 19 and Alesa wheels) but other than that she is original and has all her shiny Campy bits.
Thinking those Campy hubs will be sweet when they get built into some nice clinchers... no-one seems to want tubular wheels in these parts.
Was borrowing the brakes but decided to use these old center pulls I had kicking around and am wondering if these Zeus 2000 things are any good... they sure are light.
For anyone who is wondering... she already has a new home and understand she will get used for summer commuting and some brevets which is a fine purpose for such a nice old Italian girl who's racing days are 25 years behind her.
Swapped the stem and bars to normalize the reach which leaves me with a 120mm Cinelli stem I will never use (but a good catch in itself) and replaced the Campy / Ambrosio tubulars with nice clinchers (Ambrosio 19 and Alesa wheels) but other than that she is original and has all her shiny Campy bits.
Thinking those Campy hubs will be sweet when they get built into some nice clinchers... no-one seems to want tubular wheels in these parts.
Was borrowing the brakes but decided to use these old center pulls I had kicking around and am wondering if these Zeus 2000 things are any good... they sure are light.
For anyone who is wondering... she already has a new home and understand she will get used for summer commuting and some brevets which is a fine purpose for such a nice old Italian girl who's racing days are 25 years behind her.
Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 04-17-13 at 01:55 AM.
#759
Spin Forest! Spin!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Arrid Zone-a
Posts: 5,956
Bikes: I used to have many. And I Will again.
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That Sekai turned out great!
And the Bianchi is once again a classic beauty. I will always have a soft spot for a celeste Bianchi, my first Italian love.
+1, this thread deserves a sticky!
And the Bianchi is once again a classic beauty. I will always have a soft spot for a celeste Bianchi, my first Italian love.
+1, this thread deserves a sticky!
#760
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Will take some pictures when the sun comes back and I can get out for that shake down ride... the light in the shop is not all it could be for pictures and I have been polishing parts until they glow.
#762
Senior Member
This Traveller was given to me by someone who purchased another bike from me. Not quite where I want it yet, but better.
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Be where your feet are.......Lisa Bluder
Be where your feet are.......Lisa Bluder
#764
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 378
Bikes: Trek 600 Series, Miyata 610, Palo Alto Touring, Schwinn Paramountain
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Probably need to add shellac and fenders, but couldn't wait. So adding my new ride!
#766
Senior Member
The humble '76 Gran Prix I found on CL for a net $20. A couple hundred bucks and a mild obsession turned it into my favorite daily ride!
#767
Fuji Fan
#769
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Roumania
Posts: 108
Bikes: 1988 PSV Peugeot Savoie
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#770
"Shake n Bake!"
Join Date: May 2009
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#773
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
The "after" never ends around here... sometimes I wake up thinking hey... the Pug needs gears... and they have to be French... and not the crappy ones it came with.
And then... voila.
[IMG][/IMG]
Am also restoring an Ideal Professional saddle as that English saddle just won't do on a French bike and there will be some before and after for that too... thinking I took a pic of this saddle when I got it.
And then... voila.
[IMG][/IMG]
Am also restoring an Ideal Professional saddle as that English saddle just won't do on a French bike and there will be some before and after for that too... thinking I took a pic of this saddle when I got it.
#774
Spin Forest! Spin!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Arrid Zone-a
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This one is not as collectable or note worthy as the nice bikes posted here, but it's one I'm happy over...
This came from a late bike advocate/recycler in the East Valley. His yard was full of bikes and old stuff. He'd fix the bikes for kids in the neighborhood. I picked up a handful of parts and some frames. My wife wanted a bike and selected this old school 26x1 3.8" wheeled "Galaxy II 10-speed" for $15. It had sat in the AZ sun for years. She loved all the chrome! So, with some parts from the yard, plus my parts bin, I overhauled it and replaced everything I felt needed an upgrade. I converted it to a towny bike.
The crank didn't spin smoothly, and turned out the bearing cages were in backwards. I replaced the Falcon drivetrain with Suntour. But couldn't remove the Falcon freewheel to complete the job with a Perfect freewheel. All the chrome got polished, new pedals, cables, "Schwinn Approved" alloy calipers, MTB brake levers, an SR aluminum stem, plus a upright bar. I have a springer seat too, but it requires refurbing and de-rusting. Only extra expense was $3 for the BMX style red grips from Niagara.
She's estatic over it, which is why I'm happy, and wanted to post this little milestone in C&V.
I may strip it down and repaint the frame later on since the finish is quite faded.
This came from a late bike advocate/recycler in the East Valley. His yard was full of bikes and old stuff. He'd fix the bikes for kids in the neighborhood. I picked up a handful of parts and some frames. My wife wanted a bike and selected this old school 26x1 3.8" wheeled "Galaxy II 10-speed" for $15. It had sat in the AZ sun for years. She loved all the chrome! So, with some parts from the yard, plus my parts bin, I overhauled it and replaced everything I felt needed an upgrade. I converted it to a towny bike.
The crank didn't spin smoothly, and turned out the bearing cages were in backwards. I replaced the Falcon drivetrain with Suntour. But couldn't remove the Falcon freewheel to complete the job with a Perfect freewheel. All the chrome got polished, new pedals, cables, "Schwinn Approved" alloy calipers, MTB brake levers, an SR aluminum stem, plus a upright bar. I have a springer seat too, but it requires refurbing and de-rusting. Only extra expense was $3 for the BMX style red grips from Niagara.
She's estatic over it, which is why I'm happy, and wanted to post this little milestone in C&V.
I may strip it down and repaint the frame later on since the finish is quite faded.
#775
Senior Member
Schwinn Super LeTour
As purchased -
Repainted and detailed
As purchased -
Repainted and detailed
Last edited by big chainring; 05-13-10 at 11:40 AM.