This past weekend was our town's annual bulk cleanup day in the lot behind the highway dept. I drove in pulling my utility trailer full of 'old metal' (taco'd rims, etc.) with the intent of 'trading' it in for some 'new old metal'. One of the old timers working the unloading station warned me that they were strictly enforcing the No Picking rule this year. But of course I spied some prey resting along side the metal pile that I couldn't just allow to be crushed, so I parked the car off to the side and walked back.

I asked the attendent to turn his back for a second, and quickly grabbed a GT Windstream (1999 with some very nice upgrades but minus it's 700c front wheel), and tossed it into the trailer and covered it with the tarp. He growled at me, but I ran back and grabbed a complete and ready to ride rust free Schwinn Le Tour (powder blue, 1981). I thanked him for promoting recycling even though his superiors were shortsighted, and headed home.

Stopped by my favourite LBS today and got talking to the senior mechanic about my partner (frame and hub builder) and he said he thought they had some first generation Arvon hubs gathering dust... they used to carry his hubs and really liked them but they are a little more than what most will spend and few people are looking for custom built wheels.

Came back with a pair of 36 spoke hubs with 126 rear spacing for e thread on and a 24 spoke front TT hub with 24 spoke drillings and can say these won't be gathering any dust now... got all three hand made hubs for a whopping $20.00.

The finish is first rate and they are the kind of hubs you just want to run your hands over and test... as always... they are as smooth as butter on glass.

Pics will follow...

picked up a Krapf frame (not known, swiss made, probably branded for krapf and not made by krapf) with columbus tubes (i'm not very sure) all chromed and partialy painted, some heart-shape lugs, all dura-ace 740x series (all till 7402, no 7403 components), 8 cogs Uniglide 7402, 7401 look pedals, headset, crankset, brakes, dowtube shifters, hubs, even the seatpost is dura-ace.. nice, and other components are 3ttt handlebar and stem, san marco concor saddle, mavic ma40 rims with dt swiss spokes, continental grand prix original tires (made in 1988). I have dated the bike to be from 1989 based on the dates of manufacture of many componens.

Got it for around 100$

Recent finds... and a few old finds I have had stashed away.

Got all the hubs for $20.00... the 4 arvon hubs are hand made cartridge bearing units and the high flange hub is a rather pristine looking Sunshine high flange. Pedals, skewer, and shifters are Zeus, 3 tooth cog and deraileur are a Cyclo 3 speed conversion kit for an SA 3 speed, stem is Cinelli, and the cute little deraileur is a Huret Svelto.

Did not include the Duopar Eco I found the other night and the tool is a Campagnolo dropout alignment tool I need to get repaired.

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/partsporn2.JPG

The Arvon TT hub is really beautiful and will get laced to a 451 and go on my folder...

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/...ornarvon24.JPG

The hub in the foreground is an early Arvon hub while the one in the rear is the modern version which has a thicker flange with countersunk spoke drillings and it will polish up as brightly... the finish on these is really first rate.

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/partspornarvon2.JPG

And this is a hen's tooth... also known as a Cyclo Benelux three speed conversion kit... the lever is kicking around my desk.

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/partsporn1cyclo.JPG

This needed better light...

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/...nellistem1.JPG

http://ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/...nellistem2.JPG

Holy cow Sixty Fiver, I'm going to need a towel to wipe up the drool on my keyboard... Great score!

It has been a good spring... :)

Am really looking forward to building up the hubs... the older Arvon set has a 126mm spacing which will fit my touring bike perfectly (will run a 6 speed with a half step up front) and think these will get laced to some CR18 rims. I run a set of these on my racing bike and just love the way they roll out.

The stem is too long for any bike I own and will probably put it on my to be traded /sold list and hope to find a mate for that Sunshine hub as high flange hubs put the p in porn.

I haven't polished any of these parts either although I cleaned up the Svelto... they are still as found.

It's done, now just time to sit back and go ahhhh. No more steel stem
or black seatpost. I also lopped off about 10-12 inches of extra brake
housing. Looking good, and rides nicer than any cannondale I've ridden
yet. Certainly better than the CAAD 3 R600.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0307.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0306.jpg

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One word on that green Cannondale: "KEEPER."

Once I hopped on for the test ride, I thought the same thing:D.,,,,BD

That is one smooth looking ride there BikeDued !!

Love that Green.

I'm thinking my Rolls saddle might be a more fitting model for it? The Anatomica is comfy though. Thanks:),,,,BD

it kinda shrieks for a brooks, though

Yes is does, a Honey Professional would be the ideal solution. THe only honey I have right now
is a B.17, and with that saddle to bar drop that would be a serious "Nuh Uh" in my book. Maybe
I can find one in the near future.,,,,BD

Tis the season for Town Wide Garage Sales in this area, I've been to about 8 town wide sales over the last 4 weeks..................This morning I picked up this Miyata 610 and this old cruiser. I started to walk away from the cruiser but was drawn to the stars in the chainring.

.

Started as a dead yard sale day then I hit to late sales and came away with 5 bikes for less that $300.

Specialized Expediton, Two Trek 3900's, Giant Sedona, and Polaris Sawtooth

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a.../IMAGE_222.jpg
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I have a old Raleigh Competition GS that I ride every once in a while. Nothing serious. Now, the wife wants to ride. Low and behold, we were in a thrift shop looking at some glassware, when I saw this Schwinn. I don't know JACK about bikes, but I knew that this Schwinn looked like a carbon copy of my Raleigh Competion GS. The price on it was a killer $25. I looked to see if the frame was crack or something. It looked good. I forked out the $25. The next day I took it to a bike shop and told them to tune it, and any parts it needs add them.

The shop charged me $50, and I paid $12 for some toe straps. The bike didn't even need tires. I rode it and it rides as good as my Raleigh. I hope the bike bug doesn't bite me, I see you peeps put down some serious money on your bikes, and the hardware..Yikes..I feel like I stole this..

And if somebody can give me the action price and year of this Schwinn Traveler it will be much appreciated.

http://www.cehoward.net/wschinn2.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/DSCN5436.jpg

somebody was throwing it away, so i asked if i could keep it. Not too bad for free. Everything works fine, i just have to reshine those chrome stuff..

1975 Schwinn Continental btw.

I love those old electroforged schwinns. the crazy slack angles remind me of mountain bikes, they just scream "tank!" to me. In a very good way.

i love the handlebars on those early/mid '70s continentals

I was putting a couple of freeze plugs in the Ramcharger early this afternoon, when a buddy calls me on the phone. It seems he had gone to pick
up some bikes on a CL ad I had seen. I said to myself when I saw the ad, that if I wasn't moving I'd go grab it. Well, it turns out my friend bought both of
the bikes on the ad. Two nearly identical chrome Ross Mt Hoods, just oozing vintage mtb coolness. They have the carry strap brazeons, dual water bottle
mounts on the DT, forged drops, Weinnmann rims with sealed bearing hubs. Very minimal rust, which will clean up with little or no effort. Overall nice shape.
It has the weirdest bars too, Like a schwinn cruiser bar, but has a 7/8's center, and a crossbar on it. So needless to say, there was room for one more bike
in the garage, so I snagged it for $50. Pics tomorrow, as we went out to eat after he brought the bike over.,,,,BD

Looks kind of like this one, but red graphics, and the components aren't as nice. I will be making it look as close to possible
to this gem of a bike. Just completely gorgeous!! I already put a better seatpost, and an old B.15 saddle on it. It will probably get bullmoose bars
tomorrow, if I can find a spare moment.

http://www.buggytexas.com/images/21mw1b.jpg

I picked up a 88 Schwinn premis from a local guy. Looks all original except the saddle. I was thinking maybe I can put a set of tubular wheels on it. How does it look?

Looks great. That is a clean machine sokito - and there is no more definitive 80's style fade than an '88 Purple-red-blue Schwinn Premis!
I recommend a white saddle for it though.

Thanks Auchen!! Yes I figured that a white saddle will look better too. I am actually looking to get one :D

My second Peugeot find within the last month:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/...9404c55f_o.jpg