If you're converting from stem to down tube shifters as I did - and I highly recommend it - Nishiki (and probably other bike makers) made it easy for you. There is a heart-shaped protrusion on the underside of the down tube. It's a stop for the down tube shifter clamp. Place the new shifter clamp so that it rests just above this heart-shaped stop. Works great.

On the advice of others here, I chose and purchased a NOS Suntour Power Shifter assembly off Ebay. It also works great, much better than the Shimano assemblies of the day. Good luck, have fun.

Very nice! I unfortunately chucked my old cable guides when I did my bike into a fixed conversion. I know, dumb. I'm reconverting her into a normal road bike after moving down to Maryland (holy crap, hills!), so I was wondering if there was any new stock of that particular item?

And yes, I am definitely converting to downtube shifters, as I plan to use her for some club rides.

The heart-shaped clamp stop is part of the frame. If you took it off you would have had to GRIND it off. Here's photo (taken during paint stripping efforts) of the underside of the down tube.




The dual cable guide for the shifters is clamped to the down tube, just above the bottom bracket. Your LBS should be able to order it for you, even install it for a small labor cost.

I kept the original Suntour rear derailleur. It still works great. The front derailleur, however, was trash . . . exhibited deep grooves from someone riding it wrong for years. This part - the FD - is apparently a common component replaced when restoring these old bikes. Mine cost, I don't know - something like $40. But it works great; I can almost THINK the chain onto the large ring. :-)

1961 Dunelt 3 speed to a single speed with flip flip rear hub...

1970s?? Bertin. Any information would be appreciated. Can't find out much about this bike.

Nice. Did you repaint it? Same fork?

Regarding the 61 Dunelt. Powder coat. Really close to the original color (which you could see when you pulled the fork out of the headtube). Good eye - new fork. About the only thing left original on this one was the frame and the headbadge.

Nice job on the Dunelt. I have a 63 Hercules frame and the paint has faded to the primer. Thinking about doing something similar.

1962 Schwinn Continental. Before and after... Did not have to do much. Replaced the totally destroyed Lyocet saddle with a vintage Brooks, two new tires and tubes, and front derailleur cable. Found/installed an original front derailleur to replace a later "upgrade". Lots of careful cleaning and polishing to get years of dirt and dust removed, especially around/on the downtube decal.

Not C&V really but this is what I started with...


And this is what I ended with after a bit of work

I had to re-curve the fork, I removed the cheap claw derailleur and the freewheel which I replaced with a single freewheel, I removed the FD, the trashed triple chain ring and the bottom bracket and replaced it with an old single front chainring and new bottom bracket, I replaced the cheap V brakes with some Deore LX Canti's with some new Tektro levers. Prior to the repaint, I had the gear housing stops removed for use on another bike. I also had a newer set of grips and handlebars with a recovered seat. The wheel set I respoked to center the rim on the hub after I removed an old freewheel 7 speed and also did the front wheel to match, the original front wheel was a trashed SS rim and the rear was a lightly tacoed 7 speed that really needed help. The seat post is original

A 1937 Anker Sichelrad (spring fork bicycle):

What are those tyres? What size? Nice rebuild, very nice.

Outstanding!!

They are Panaracer Tourguard Plus in 700x42c, they are nice and smooth riding and roll very nicely.

1970's? Azuki rebuild.


Before:


During:


After:

I finished this Rossin a couple of months ago. I like the looks, but the paint I used is a little soft. I'll probably have to redo it sometime.

Before (Craigslist photo):



After:


More photos

starsNbars - Here is my 1938 Monark built Hawthorn Twin Bar/5 bar frame before




starsnNbars - Here it is after I customized it as part of the Annual Rat Rod Bikes Build Off.




There are some incredible builds this year. You can see a finished gallery of them here - Official RRB Build Off 9 Finished Bike List | Rat Rod Bikes
If you want to show your love for starsNbars or any of the other builds you can vote here - VOTE HERE!!! | Rat Rod Bikes

My Trek 1400 came to me with no wheels and Tiagra only used as brake levers and 7 speed 105 down tube shifters. I was not even sure the Tiagra shifters would work.
Before with my 7 speed wheels.


After with upgraded Bontrager wheels and working Tiagra brake shifters.

I picked up an '85 Specialized Allez SE for my wife to ride in the 2014 Cino and here are some results:

Head tube:


Shift Levers:


Bottom bracket:


Full description on my blog-as-a-webpage

Very nice!

Finally I can contribute! 1967 Carlton Team.

I've never really been a fan of rat rods (the cars) or older bikes. But for reasons I don't understand, I really love this one (except for the tassels). Beautiful work.

^^ Really nice photography too.