Antipodes

Taking some photos of my bikes is something I've been meaning to do for ages. Sorry they aren't the best - winter in Victoria in the middle of the day probably isn't the most suitable lighting for bicycle photography. Nevertheless, here they are:



1992ish Davidson Impulse
My main weekend roadie, and perhaps the only bike that actually "fits" me well.
65cm c-c seat tube, 61cm top tube, Tange Prestige tubing. Shimano Sante cranks, derailleurs, shifters, calipers and levers. Shimano 600 rear hub and 13-26 cassette, no name front hub, laced 3X and 1X to Mavic Open Sport rims w/ Conti Ultra Sport 23 tyres. Campy Triomphe seatpost and Athena headset, Shimano XT cartridge bottom bracket, Nitto Technomic stem, no name ergo bars, cork tape, Rolls saddle, SR pedals, MKS clips, "Gran Cyclismo" straps.



1986 Marinoni Special
My vintage (even though it isn't really all that old) Sunday roadie.
62cm c-c, Columbus SP tubing. Mainly Campy parts - Chorus cranks and bottom bracket, Athena r/derailleur, Triomphe f/derailleur, hubs, headset, calipers, levers, pedals, clips and straps. Simplex Retrofriction shifters, Maillard 7 speed freewheel, Sachs chain, Cinelli Giro bars and 1/A stem, vinyl tape, Ambrosio Montreal Durex rims, Vittoria tubulars, Iscaselle Tornado saddle and no name seatpost, Silca Marinoni-engraved pump.



1981 Miyata 1000
My touring/second commuter rig.
62cm c-c, Miyata double-butted chromoly tubing. Shimano Deore XT cranks and cartridge bottom bracket, r/derailleur and "stag head" f/derailleur. Deore DX 7 speed 36h rear hub w/11-34 Mega Range cassette, Deore XT 32h front hub, laced to Mavic A319 rims with Specialized All Condition Armadillo 700X28 tyres. Shimano 8 speed bar end shifters, Deore XT seatpost, Avocet touring saddle, Specialized touring pedals, MKS clips, Christophe straps, Nitto Technomic stem and 46cm Noodle bars, cork tape, Shimano 105 levers, wide-profile XT cantis, Planet Bike mudguards, original Miyata racks, Zefal HP pump.



1983 Nishiki International
Main all-weather commuter.
62cm c-c Tange Champion #2 double-butted main triangle, and I think hi-tensile stays. Sugino GT cranks with drillium rings, Suntour ARx f/derailleur, Shimano 600 rear derailleur. Shimano 600 r/hub, twist-teeth 6 speed 600 freewheel and Suntour f/hub, laced to Araya rims w/ Conti Gran Prix tyres. Shimano sidepulls (don't know the model), 600 levers, Suntour barend shifters, no name riser stem, no name steel moustache bars, vinyl tape, comfy & cushy Selle Royale saddle, KKT Top Run pedals, Christophe clips and straps, alloy fenders and homemade mudflap.


1981 Apollo Gran Sport
Fixed-gear hipster bike...
62cm c-c, Tange Champion 5 straight-gauge chromoly. Frame was media-blasted and powdercoated and fork has been taken down to full chrome. SR Campy-knockoff crank with 42t Sugino ring, Shimano UN-53 bottom bracket, Araya narrow rims laced to Suzue sealed hubs, 15t cog with "Loctited" lockring. Vittoria Rubino 23 tyres, Nitto stem, no name alloy moustache bars, Cateye cloth tape, no name seatpost, old Brooks Pro saddle, Dia Compe G caliper, Campy Triomphe lever, Suntour Sprint track pedals, old-logo Christophe clips, Gran Cyclismo straps.


1972ish Peugeot PX-10
Obviously not mine, but my girlfriend's "nice" ride, found at an out-of-the-way bike shop for $15. I had to mention it, because it was such a labour of love putting it together.
Double-butted Reynolds 531 frame and fork. Media-blasted and powdercoated frame, fork stripped down to full chrome. Lugs are copper-leaved and clearcoated. Stronglight 93 crank, drillium 45t ring and Competition headset. Campy Tipo hubs (front is rare version with Record-shaped holes) laced to Mavic Open Sport rims, Specialized All Condition Armadillo 23 tyres ($3 garage sale score!), Simplex flat skewers (complete with all springs and plastic acorn covers!), seatpost and cable clamps. Dicta 18t freewheel, KMC chain - both 3/32. Brooks B-17 Champion Special saddle, Dia Compe aero levers, Maillard 700 CXC pedals, Christophe clips, Lapize straps, Mafac Racer centrepulls, SR stem, Nitto Randonneur bars, cork tape, brass bell.


Not pictured, but one day:

1971 Peugeot UE-8 (recently posted), his and her's 1975 Raleigh Superbes (yet to fix up), Bianchi Sika polo beater (believe me, it isn't worthy of photos), girlfriend's 1986 Miyata 1000 (picture-worthy, but haven't got around to it yet).

Hope you enjoyed them all,

-Leigh, A.K.A. Antipodes.

P.S. - Once Cyclotoine and I move in together at the end of the month, we will photograph our collective fleet (around 20-something bikes) on our new rear patio. He doesn't know this yet, but he will be up for it I'm sure.

ricohman

Very nice.
I am loving the Miyata. I have been thinking about "diging" one up for my own touring fleet.
How big a tire could you fit? I am assuming it was originally 27 inch.
Would a 700C 32 fit?

Antipodes

Yes, it originally had 27" wheels. Luckily, the cantis that I used (which are not the original Dia Compes, but rather the old wide-profile Shimano XTs) had enough adjustability (not perfect, but acceptable) to make the swap to 700c.
Even though the Specialized tyres that are on there now are sold as 28s, they seem to be wider than your average 28mm tyre. I haven't measured them, but they are definitely closer to 32 than 28. So yes, I think 32s would work okay.

Grand Bois

Are the lugs on the Peugeot leafed? Have you posted it here before?

Antipodes

Yes, and yes. I knew some people had seen it before, but I thought I'd post it again for the newbies...and because I like it a lot......I will edit the descriptions accordingly...

Grand Bois

I thought that was the one I remembered. I was thinking about doing the same thing to my Raleighh Competition with Capella lugs. I've never worked with leaf before. Got any tips?

Antipodes

It requires a lot of time and patience. I don't think sanding to rough the area up first is advisable, as it is much easier to rub the leafing totally flat if the surface is smooth to begin with - the smoother the surface underneath, the smoother you'll be able to make the leaves. I don't know whether you've actually looked at or used leafing before, but the "size" as it is called (gluey substance) that you put on first for the copper flakes to stick to, is very messy. Therefore, masking around the edges of the lugs first is a good idea, though I guess if you were careful with the brush then it wouldn't really be a necessity. The copper flakes will only stick to the areas that have the size applied, so don't worry about the flakes being messily applied - just try to ensure the size stays only on the lugs. The leaves are easy to shape with a small exacto knife at the end. Also, clearcoating with a good enamel is absolutely essential, as without it, the finish is even more brittle than spray-paint.

unworthy1

I have a good friend who is a gilder by trade, and have watched him do many a job with both oil and water gilding (mostly with gold but occasionally silver or copper leaf). We have often talked about the idea of applying leaf to a bike frame, but I've never had one I thought was appropriate, yet. One thing I have observed: he spends a tremendous amount of time preparing the surface: it must be strictly smooth if you want a smooth finish, so no "roughening" is called for. Once the (gold) leaf is applied it can be left as-is for a matte effect or burnished with agate-tipped tools to become really shiny. He has left some copper leafed objects un-varnished so they would develop a natural patina over time, but generally all non-gold leafing must be protected with a clear coat to protect against corrosion...gold will not corrode, but if it's on a wear-area protection would be advisable.
And as for tips (obscure pun) the thin brush a gilder uses to apply the leaf is called a gilder's "tip", and like a lot of things, using the proper tools will do a lot to make the job easier and the results more professional...but there is that investment thing.
Hey, BTW, GREAT bunch of bikes!

USAZorro

I know who to notify when I find a huge frame.

Antipodes

Yes, especially if it's a lugged track frame.

terrors

Oh my oh MY!! you sure have a lot of rides and they ALL look super!!

cyclotoine

Not as many as you though!

I am itching to see the Marinoni with C-record RD, doppler shifters and cobalto brakes... and a return to campagnolo aero seatpost.

Antipodes

1) C-Record will not shift any better than the Athena
2) Doppler shifters will not shift as well as Simplex RFs, nor do they look as cool...hang on, what are Doppler shifters anyway?...
3) Campy aero seatpost will not hold me up as high the one currently on the bike.

cyclotoine

You know what I mean... if I become steward/new owner.

Antipodes

Yes.