My theft deterrent system :P

Wow, interesting chain ring arrangement! I've found several bikes that looked like they were assembled by the same mechanic.

One weird crankset,maybe a single speed project. Was working on the chainline?? chris

What the???

Someone was very confused after hearing the term flip flop???

Today, a neighbor gave me a ladies Raleigh Sports 3-speed. The frame appears to be about 22" or 23". Pretty good condition, other than dirt and grime. New tires! And it has a Wald basket on the handlebars.

I strapped it to my trailer and pedaled home with it.

On the way home, I passed two boys playing basketball. One of them shouted out, "Hey how come you got two bikes? Can I have one?"

I made a U turn and stopped to talk. I said this one isn't ready but I have bikes. He asked how much? I said, I'll make it so you can afford it. He said like $30. His cousin said, like $30 or $50. I gave him my card and we exchanged names. He's in 7th grade. I said I could teach him to fix bikes, too. He seemed to like that. He goes to the public middle school where I taught cycling in some gym classes a few weeks ago. If I get a chance to teach the rest of the classes, I'll be teaching him.

Today, a neighbor gave me a ladies Raleigh Sports 3-speed. The frame appears to be about 22" or 23". Pretty good condition, other than dirt and grime. New tires! And it has a Wald basket on the handlebars.

I strapped it to my trailer and pedaled home with it.

On the way home, I passed two boys playing basketball. One of them shouted out, "Hey how come you got two bikes? Can I have one?"

I made a U turn and stopped to talk. I said this one isn't ready but I have bikes. He asked how much? I said, I'll make it so you can afford it. He said like $30. His cousin said, like $30 or $50. I gave him my card and we exchanged names. He's in 7th grade. I said I could teach him to fix bikes, too. He seemed to like that. He goes to the public middle school where I taught cycling in some gym classes a few weeks ago. If I get a chance to teach the rest of the classes, I'll be teaching him.

ya it definitely looked like a single speed setup. what i'm curious about though is how well a biopace chainring would work on single speed/fixed. would there be a problem with chain tension? maybe thats why it got abandoned. Anyone know where I can find a 7 speed cassette?

Cassette or free hub? 7speed are common on mountain bikes. You can usually get a decent "Hyperglide" cassette for less then $30 and a free hub for less then that at Niagara cycle.

Now where the problem may be is what hub you have on that bike. With it having a Biopace it is in the time frame of when the Uniglide's were out and finding cassettes for them is starting to be a problem. Here is how to tell what you have: http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

Ohh BTW when you go to put that crank back the way it belongs, that tab on the rings lines up with the crank arm. One side of the rings has the tooth count stamped into it, that faces out.

First is a Sears Free Spirit 12-speed I got out the curbside trash two summers ago and finally got running just well enough to mess around:
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/c... trash/003.jpg

Next is a Huffy Strider ten-speed missing the front wheel. I bought it for $1 under good-natured pressure from some church people at their outdoor rummage sale in September. I'm a pushover; the paint still looks good:

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/c... trash/001.jpg

Finally, here is a Centurion LeMans that was given to me by a woman who was also at that rummage sale, who heard me say that I worked on vintage bikes, and took my name and phone number, saying she had some bikes to get out of her house:

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/c... trash/002.jpg

Thanks for the info and the links, Grim!

Fellow stopped by today with a big donation of parts for the co-op but had a gift for me... some near mint 27 inch wheels built with Nici Moncalieri clincher rims laced (with double butted spokes) to a Normandy Competition in the back (with a Regina GS Corse 5 speed block) and more unusual... a MCB (Monark-Crescentbolagen) low flange front hub.

That... and a 3-4 speed SA trigger in pretty wonderful shape complete with housing and a seat post pulley.

Hi Sixty -
Well. I never thought I'd see live to see the day when Bicycle Repairman would turn into a common Crescentbolagen-Nici-Moncalieri name-dropper. ;)

Wow! Great score Chuck! Those cryptic CL ads sure can pay off!

Min farfar var en Svensk pojke.

Just got this 1980 trek 412 for less than the cost of a 2-4. Its too small for me but it requires no work and shifts properly. Though the brakes do need some adjustments, its to be expected for a 30 year old bike!! I even rode it home though it hurt my back like hell -just look how short that stem is!

The frame tubing is 022 Ishiwata with suntour vx derailers + shifters, brake levers and calipers are diacompe, 27" rims. I believe its a 52-53 cm?

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8599/img0199ng.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/1083/img02030.jpg

So anyone in toronto looking for a small 6 speed 80's trek??? If so im looking for trades!!

Hell of a find on that Trek there, the Cannondale too.

may not be completely vintage but i picked up a ross gran tour 2, a univega custom maxima, and a schwin coligate all for free. the coligate needs some work but the other two are perfect and fun to ride also. ill post pics if you want but thats my latest deals.

You sure it doesn't need any work? did the PO provide you records of the last tune up?
Bikes that sit have the grease dry out and when you start riding them they destroy the bearing cups from lack of lubrication. I landed both a 84 Fuji Del Ray and a 87 Terry that I doubt had 50 miles on them and the grease was done in both. ;)

Classic Craigs List lesson: A lot of sellers just want the bike(s) gone. They do not want to send you more pictures, they are often clueless on how to measure a bike. As a buyer looking for a deal, I just get into the car and look at it.

Sometimes this means you have to take a pile of bikes to get the one special one. Whatever, at the right price I do it. Sellers who get a lot of responses will often jump to the one ready to make a deal.

Looks like the PO wanted to run the big ring in a single speed set up, but was too cheap to spring for single ring stack bolts. SS chainline on a double BB spindle works best when the ring is mounted on the inner position.

i believe you're right. But wouldnt the biopace chainring cause chain tension issues?

hi

the long version of my story would conclude with me saying that i actually bought it from my uncle, who actually fixed it up prior to selling it to me. It was a goodwill find that he fixed. Anyway im divulging too many details now but its a funny story because i recognized the background of the pic instantly!

/end rambling

Got a good steel Trek at my favorite thrift store tonight. 1980 Trek 412, with an XL 25 1/2 inch frame size. Pretty good shape overall for a thrift store bike. Typical Hooterville thrift store price. Interesting timing given our recent debate over the value of a Trek 400 in the appraisal section.

I was hanging out at the front of the store, debating whether to pick up a couple of Austrian Free Spirit 3 speeds to part out, when this one rolled out.

UPDATE: Well, I went back and picked up the two 3 speeds. Price was just too attractive, so I will probably part one out, and fix up the other one. Now that I have two 3 speed folders, figured I couldn't pass up cheap spares.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/...de5768f8_b.jpg

Found this bike at the recycling depot on the weekend. Needs some work but the frame/paint is in great shape.
It's a 1979? Raleigh Transit. It's got a sturmley archer 3 speed IGH.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=180418

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=180417

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=180416

Hi Bill - I've decided that I was egregiously wrong about the value of old steel Treks - only worth $15, but I'll give you $50. ;)

PS Did you date that thing yet? Does it have the Gyromaster sealed hubs? Really looks nice too. Great score!