The "Before And After" Thread
#2101
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 28
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through
[split into two posts because of picture limits]
A few months later, I decided to revert to the bike's original stem, and flipped the bars back over:

And, most recently, I got tired of those bars, and searched for a way to put drop bars on, shorten the reach enough for it to be comfortable for me (the top tube is a bit long, and seat tube angle a bit shallow, for me)...meanwhile, also searching for a way to keep the shifter right at my fingertips. With a bit of Sheldon-esque mad scientist experimentation (and finding a really good deal on a left-hand brifter), I now have the bike set up like this, and it's about as comfortable as my other bikes (finally!):




Meanwhile, after the collision that destroyed the Fuji (built as a singlespeed), and building up the 3-speed, I decided that I really enjoyed riding a singlespeed and wanted to have one of those also, so the Fuji's place became taken by two bikes. Here's the second:
A few months later, I decided to revert to the bike's original stem, and flipped the bars back over:

And, most recently, I got tired of those bars, and searched for a way to put drop bars on, shorten the reach enough for it to be comfortable for me (the top tube is a bit long, and seat tube angle a bit shallow, for me)...meanwhile, also searching for a way to keep the shifter right at my fingertips. With a bit of Sheldon-esque mad scientist experimentation (and finding a really good deal on a left-hand brifter), I now have the bike set up like this, and it's about as comfortable as my other bikes (finally!):




Meanwhile, after the collision that destroyed the Fuji (built as a singlespeed), and building up the 3-speed, I decided that I really enjoyed riding a singlespeed and wanted to have one of those also, so the Fuji's place became taken by two bikes. Here's the second:
#2102
tantum vehi


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,619
Likes: 1,313
From: Flathead Valley, MT
Bikes: More than I care to admit
Wow, you have had some bad luck with bikes recently. They're all great builds. Regarding the 3 speed with brifters, how did it work? I've though that a S/A 3 speed would be the way to go instead of a SS build. Just a little lower for the hills, just a little higher for the descents. I love the clean look of a fixie or SS.
Glad the bikes are the only things being harmed in your accidents!
Glad the bikes are the only things being harmed in your accidents!
#2103
tantum vehi


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,619
Likes: 1,313
From: Flathead Valley, MT
Bikes: More than I care to admit
#2104
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 28
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through
Wow, you have had some bad luck with bikes recently. They're all great builds. Regarding the 3 speed with brifters, how did it work? I've though that a S/A 3 speed would be the way to go instead of a SS build. Just a little lower for the hills, just a little higher for the descents. I love the clean look of a fixie or SS.
Glad the bikes are the only things being harmed in your accidents!
Glad the bikes are the only things being harmed in your accidents!
I have it geared with a 43t chainring and 16t cog on 700Cx35 tires and 170mm crank arms, for ~73 gear inches in the middle gear, which is where I like a singlespeed. The low gear is almost identical to what I use as my "starting" gear on my Bianchi, and the high gear sees relatively infrequent use, unless I'm feeling particularly energetic or going downhill.
#2105
tantum vehi


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,619
Likes: 1,313
From: Flathead Valley, MT
Bikes: More than I care to admit
One quirk, though: the Shimano left-hand brifters have trimming positions between the main ones, and while it's between 2 and 3 on my derailleur-equipped Bianchi Volpe, this one has it between 1 and 2 instead, which means it lines up with the neutral position between 2 and 3 on the older SA hubs. It works, but you have to be aware of this when shifting, and make sure to shift all the way before putting weight into the pedals.
#2106
Not only do I have parts accumulated on my own, I purchased a huge parts bin lot off of CL for $200 because I wanted that brooks and that was in it. I have a lot of parts. I sold off enough of the parts from that lot to well more than pay for the lot. A true score.
__________________
My bikes: 1970`s Roberts - 1981 Miyata 912 - 1980`s Ocshner (Chrome) - 1987 Schwinn Circuit - 1987 Schwinn Prologue - 1992 Schwinn Crosspoint - 1999 Schwinn Circuit - 2014 Cannondale Super Six EVO
My bikes: 1970`s Roberts - 1981 Miyata 912 - 1980`s Ocshner (Chrome) - 1987 Schwinn Circuit - 1987 Schwinn Prologue - 1992 Schwinn Crosspoint - 1999 Schwinn Circuit - 2014 Cannondale Super Six EVO
#2108
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,434
Likes: 1,603
From: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Bikes: Not as many as there were awhile ago.
#2109
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 578
From: California
Bikes: '96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA, ‘94 Merlin
This is my Serrota Speciale from Performance. Yes, I posted it in that thread too - but I like this thread. Anyway, I had the frame resprayed by Alan Wanta, and it came out beautiful IMO. I switched out the original Athena group to a bit of a mixed bag of parts, a SRAM-pagnolo if you will. Super Record FD & RD. SRAM Rival cranks and BB + SRAM Red brakes. King headset, Cinelli stem and Deda bars with Campy aero levers. New Brooks C15 saddle and Syncros Ti post.
I did the shake down today and it was great. It's a nice view from the cockpit.
Here's a few pics:
Before

After

I did the shake down today and it was great. It's a nice view from the cockpit.
Here's a few pics:
Before

After

#2110
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 204
From: London
Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!
#2111
This is my Serrota Speciale from Performance. Yes, I posted it in that thread too - but I like this thread. Anyway, I had the frame resprayed by Alan Wanta, and it came out beautiful IMO. I switched out the original Athena group to a bit of a mixed bag of parts, a SRAM-pagnolo if you will. Super Record FD & RD. SRAM Rival cranks and BB + SRAM Red brakes. King headset, Cinelli stem and Deda bars with Campy aero levers. New Brooks C15 saddle and Syncros Ti post.
I did the shake down today and it was great. It's a nice view from the cockpit.
Here's a few pics:
I did the shake down today and it was great. It's a nice view from the cockpit.
Here's a few pics:
FWIW, I have an Alan Wanta respray as well. Good stuff.
#2112
Full Member

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 28
From: Charleston, SC
'72 Motobecane Le Champion. Still isn't 'done' (e.g., new decals, seatpost are currently en route), but given that it'll likely never be this clean again, I thought I'd get in some photos.
As bought:

With some fairly substantive surgery:

Getting closer:

As it sits at the moment:

As bought:

With some fairly substantive surgery:

Getting closer:

As it sits at the moment:

#2114
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 578
From: California
Bikes: '96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA, ‘94 Merlin
Thanks. I know a lot of guys would have left it as-is, but I felt the frame deserved better. There was a lot of paint missing on the top tube and the drive-side chainstay had received it's fair share of chain slap. I think the current paint matches the level of build quality the frame had all along.
#2116
Cyclotouriste


Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,784
Likes: 6,995
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
I like this thread. Let's do some more.
Austro-Daimler Inter 10:
As bought:

Today:

Unidentified as yet:
Before:

After:

Locomotief Tour de France:
Before:

After:

Another unidentified frame:
Before:

After:
Austro-Daimler Inter 10:
As bought:

Today:

Unidentified as yet:
Before:

After:

Locomotief Tour de France:
Before:

After:

Another unidentified frame:
Before:

After:
#2117
more outstanding work! 
thanks for sharing these finished projects non-fixie.
i'll wager you wished your train-puller was fitted with a rear mech which could wrap more than 28t so you could have built with lower gears for your recent chiantishire sojourn.
"le mystere d'orange" turned out very fine indeed. luv the colours.
do tricouleur bands indicate a cockerel land heredity?
thanks again for sharing these machines.
thanks for sharing these finished projects non-fixie.
i'll wager you wished your train-puller was fitted with a rear mech which could wrap more than 28t so you could have built with lower gears for your recent chiantishire sojourn.

"le mystere d'orange" turned out very fine indeed. luv the colours.
do tricouleur bands indicate a cockerel land heredity?
thanks again for sharing these machines.
#2118
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,136
Likes: 6,360
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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
I like what you've done with the Locomotief, [MENTION=173992]non-fixie[/MENTION], and I love that it's dirtier in the after picture than in the before picture.
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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.
#2119
#2120
I can't help myself. I've posted this in two other threads but I 'm so happy with the way it turned out I'm posting it again;
Before:
'86 Gazelle Champion Mondial 753 frame w/ Shimano Sante 7 spd SIS and Campagnolo wheels

after;
new paint and decals Shimano 5700 105 groupset with Mavic wheels
Before:
'86 Gazelle Champion Mondial 753 frame w/ Shimano Sante 7 spd SIS and Campagnolo wheels

after;
new paint and decals Shimano 5700 105 groupset with Mavic wheels
#2122
Senior Member



Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 434
From: Niagara Region, Canada
Bikes: 1970s Alex Singer, 1960s Peugeot PX 10, 1960s Bertin C37, 1973 Carre Bertin C 37, 1972 Carlton Kermesse, 1981 Peugeot PX 14 Super Competition
non-fixie-
I think your chromed bike is a 1968ish Carlton Franco-Italia with an early 70s Peugeot touring fork. Look about halfway down the page at the link here. Love that 'after" photo of the Locomotief!
I think your chromed bike is a 1968ish Carlton Franco-Italia with an early 70s Peugeot touring fork. Look about halfway down the page at the link here. Love that 'after" photo of the Locomotief!
#2123
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 578
From: California
Bikes: '96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA, ‘94 Merlin
I can't help myself. I've posted this in two other threads but I 'm so happy with the way it turned out I'm posting it again;
Before:
'86 Gazelle Champion Mondial 753 frame w/ Shimano Sante 7 spd SIS and Campagnolo wheels

after;
new paint and decals Shimano 5700 105 groupset with Mavic wheels

Before:
'86 Gazelle Champion Mondial 753 frame w/ Shimano Sante 7 spd SIS and Campagnolo wheels

after;
new paint and decals Shimano 5700 105 groupset with Mavic wheels

#2124
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Oakdale, CT
Bikes: 1998 Specialized FSR 26", 1998 Trek Wade Boots Team Issue 2 XXL 20", 2001 Cortina DH Extreme 8 26", 1999 Sinister DNA (work in progress) 26", 2001 LeMond Zurich (work in progress) 700c





