I have many winters worth of projects, but here's roughly the order in which they'll likely get done:

--1970s Viscount: finish cleaning, installing a few parts, and tuning
--1972 Fuji Finest: shine and polish, glue tubulars, install new stem, brake hoods, saddle
--1991 Bridgestone CB-1: install front v-brake to improve braking performance
--1951 Raleigh Clubman: rebuild rear wheel, replace crank cotters
--1977 Fuji America: clean and tune
--1970 Raleigh Sprite 5-speed: Make rideable!
--1937 Raleigh Sports: clean, polish, and tune
--1950 Raleigh Clubman: clean, polish, and tune (serious corrosion issues)

And there are lots of parts (and one frame) that I'll be putting on eBay in January.

Neal

Winter Projects...Ride more?

My projects run for years on end

• 1972 Raleigh Superbe-Complete overhaul and cleaning
• 1990 Giant Iquana- Finish Expedition Bike Build up/Convesion
• 1947+ Hercules- Complete rebuild
• 1984 Giant Excursion swap stem out for the new extra tall Nitto Technomic from Velo-Orange

I also have about 7-8 other project bikes sitting around waiting on parts and me to make the decision on how to build them up. I also have some bits and pieces coming for my Redline R530 that will need to be plopped on. As well as contemplating and designing a new bike work shop Project to keep me in business thru the winter of 2012 at least.

Aaron

Unless another donated flip quality bike falls in my lap I am on hold for the winter. Well, that and when my financial situation improves.

But come spring my next project is a 70's Viscount Aerospace Pro. It was picked up cheap and filthy, but in otherwise wonderful condition. Plus, it will be my first time playing around with sewups.

Where to begin?

1) Clean the bike work shop
2) Redeem the $100 worth of gift certs from Grand Performance-excellent LBS
3) Pick up recently acquired bits- a beautiful, very slightly used Brooks Swallow, Chorus ten speed front and read der., and a near new set of Record/Open Pros
4) Install new headset on my main project-a 1991 Merckx TSX Century-Team Kelme
5) Wait patiently for PBK order to show---my own Christmas goodies including three sets of Conti 4000s'
6) Scour ebay for bar cons for my XO1 wannabe (an '86 Miyata Trail Runner)- original was stolen last summer while we were on vacation- I'll find it eventually as there are not so many of these floating about the Midwest
7) Start looking for parts for the youngest son's Faggin single speed- found cool old frame last summer- paid more than I cared to for this mess, but he'll love it. It will be good company for his older brother's Benotto
8) start dismantling and rebuilding three Schwinns- 2 Racers and a Typhoon- spring market looms
9) ditto for 2 Fujis- a Special Road Racer and an America for a riding buddies' son
10) An extracycle built off an old Raleigh M-80 MTB found in dumpster with a bout 0 miles on it. Riding buddy wants one for groceries etc.

And to think we are talking about remodeling our basement. I'm not sure where the time will come from to draw up the plans, but I'm sure I'll get around to it. Maybe!

My dream Winter project..."to each his own"...is to build a commuter using parts I salvaged off a German department store bike. Salvaged (almost) all the good stuff...the frame, seat, and stem were total junk. Probably made a really, really big mistake in tossing the "north road" handlebars, though! I guess you have to put aside some parts for a few months before tossing them...gives you a chance to reevaluate them objectively! The wheels have 28" Rigida rims, and a Sachs 3-speed coaster brake hub. Part of this project is locating a 25" (58cm? I am used to "old school" sizing) road bike frame. I'll probably be providing updates if I am successful. Feel a little like Dr. Frankenstein with this project idea. Seems like an awesome idea to me right now, though!

I wanna see that when it's done.... maybe you can be a rolling rest stop at the next Turkey Roll?!

1) Sorting out my mid ´90s Gitane Mach 310 TT/triathlon bike - basically done now, just got to fit the wheel cover.
2) The 1995 Peugeot Competition 500 I got on eBay after advice on here - again done, I just need to put training tyres on it.
3) 19XX Motobecane trash find - a wee bit of work required still. Fit drop bars and brake levers, fron mech, and she´ll be good to go.

The €20 Trek touring bike is serviced and in daily use as my commuter.

Thanks all for the advice and encouragement on this forum so far. I´ve had a ball fixing up these old bikes, thanks in no small part to you guys.

Pictures of all to follow when I have a functioning digi camera again.

Happy Christmas!!

This will be my next if the snow melts down to the point it is lower than the tires. 1965 Moulton series two. Very rough but looks worse than it is. Anyone have a SA 4 speed shifter or at least the spring that controls it? It is ridable at this point. Roger

Powder-coated and decal'd my Ciocc, I just need to throw everything back on. It will be a mix of Shimano 600 and some new 105 brifters. The big plan is for a nice 8-speed Campy setup but I am in no rush.

1983 Trek 613 (frame). The frame was shedding its original paint in large sections. It seem that the bond between the top coat and the primer had been compromised. So off the frame builder's for paint, cantilever brake mounts, down tube cable stops, extra water bottle mounts etc. While it is not yet done, I am trying to decide whether to build it as a 3 speed w/ mustache bars or as a triple w/ 7 speed freewheel.

EDIT: Picked up the frame and decided it is going to be 7 speed w/ triple. I am letting the paint on this on cure for a while before I get strated.

[IMG][/IMG]

Hey, fender1, I know that bike!

My main winter project is the 1986 Centurion Accordo: The frame and fork that I did the thread on about a month and a half ago.

My Raleigh Gran Sport fixie was finally torn down and the frameset retired to attic storage - the frame was just too far bent out of shape to be a comfortable handling rider. I figured I'd run the Centurion with the fixie's components for awhile while I figured out it's final form. Well, the wheels, pedals, bars, stem and ugly bar tape made it. In the interim, the brakes were replaced with Shimano 105 single pivot's with aero levers, new saddle and seat post, the crank was replaced with a Shimano 600. Playing with it I found I finally have a FGSS that I really like and can do serious 30 mile afternoons on. Of course, this is the first frame I've had in a while with brazed on derailleur hanger, shift lever bosses and cable guides, so of course it works wonderfully as a fixie.

No kittens will be harmed in this project.

This morning, tired of not being able to do my morning workouts due to cold and (especially) wet roads, I installed the Blumel Popular mudguards that used to be on my Magneet. They work well enough that they're permanent. Shortly after the first of the year, the frame's going to the powder coater - I'll probably go for some version of red and black to match the hideous bar tape.

Otherwise, I'm finishing up a second set of Helicomatic wheels for the Trek 460, this set will be clincher. Have installed the Bontrager clincher wheels on my Fuji Finest. I came to the conclusion that I really don't want to have to mess with rim cement on the side of the road in below 40F temperatures. Once spring return, so will the sew-ups.

I was just given a complete mid 70's Raleigh Sports women's frame, including frame pump. Of course, it sat out in the weather a bit longer than desirable, but I think (hope) the chrome is still salvageable. That's one's headed for fix and flip.

Beyond that? That depends on what I find at the Westminster swap meet in February.

Oh yeah, I know there's two $100.00 gift cards to Performance Bike with my name on them under the tree. Tools and tyres.

You're about to discover cycling as God meant it to be. Suffer the learning curve (feel free to ask for advice at any time) and you'll discover that clinchers are badly overrated.

Chances are you won't recognize it when it takes its final form!

In progress: 1964 Schwinn Varsity (may be actually done). Bought a $15 front yard bike in horrid shape (late August) to strip down, clean, re-paint, re-decal and set up on rollers for my wife to spin on. Finished reassembly yesterday and took it outside this morning (brilliant sunshine but -1 degree temperature) to photograph, but the setting was bad and my hands got numb and so another day will have to come along for pictures. Everything is done except for cleaning of a front wheel. The renovation came out great.

In progress: Complete overhaul of Schwinn Sports Tourer to bring it back to original. Some upgrade parts have been put onto the Varsity and missing parts have been acquired. The frame is at Waterford getting the Cadillac treatment.

Waiting in the wings: An 80's/90's Fuji Absolute with decent hardware that needs a good cleaning (maybe the bottom bracket for re-lubing, etc.) Another ride for my wife.

My regular ride: A Mondia is ready to go for next year when better weather arrives.

UPDATE:

My sister has requested an "upright" bicycle, so the list just got shoved around and the 1974 Raleigh Sports in the step through frame, that wasn't even on the list has just gotten moved to the front of the list. IIRC her other bike which apparently is no longer comfortable for her to ride is either a Moby or Peugot Mixte from the late 70's early 80's. That one will get a going over and probably hit Craig's List in time for the spring rush.

Aaron

The project I'm pursuing most actively: completing the 1984 Motobécane Team Champion (dark metallic blue fully chromed behind the seat tube, and chrome fork, 60 cm). Frame is repaired (had cracked rear dropout) but needs to have protective paint band-aid applied where the chrome was removed -- other than that it's in fine shape, except that the decals are peeling (stick-ons over the paint), which doesn't bother me at all. I have almost everything I need for it, but the wheels need to be built. All French, except for the (correct) Modolo Prof'l brakeset, Selle Italia Turbo saddle and Cinelli bar + stem.

For my wife, I've gotten a Specialized Expedition frame (57 cm, relaxed angles) from fender1 that (unaccountably) was painted yellow. My idea for this one is to have it chromed, and then repaint it, leaving seat stay caps, cantilever bosses, dropouts with socks, and fork crown exposed as chrome. Already have new wheels for this, built on old Deore XT hubs. Got new Suntour XC brakes and levers (sort of champagne anodized color), and would like to find matching cranks, though I don't know if they ever existed that way. This one will get the flat Jitensha bars and a Nitto stem; some kind of Brooks saddle.

While that's underway, I really need to finish a 3-speed commuter for sloppy weather. Have virtually everything I need, and will use a 60s Falcon frame; just need the time and focus to put it together. The frame really needs to be repainted, but I don't want to do that until next summer; so I'll just hand paint some, and get it all working, then strip down and powder coat later.

The other things I have are longer-term projects: I know I don't work at anything very fast.

Guerciotti SLX frame, 60 cm, that's in good shape, and is probably the most beautifully-constructed frame I own -- and all of them are loveable, in their way. I hate the (primary yellow) color, and am not fond of the mid-80s Guerc. graphics either, which are under thick clear coat. So this won't be a "restoration" like the Moto, but a reinterpretation. I'm thinking an ivory color repaint, with minimal graphics by me. And I'm collecting components, not the obligatory Campagnolo SR group (I have a bike with that kit, if I cared to equip it that way), but Suntour Superbe, for a change.

70s Jeunet Franche-Comte frame, 63 cm, fairly bare of braze-ons; really needs blasting and paint (powder coat). I had thought to make a single-speed, and might still, but I don't have the knees for slogging up hills in flatland gear -- so it might end up as a three-speed project too. In the end I may have to choose between the Falcon and this one (lighter) as a "keeper".

'85 Nishiki Prestige frame, 58 cm, that's a bit too small for me, and a bit too tall for my wife. If I can talk my son into being interested in a road bike, it might be his, or I might sell it; but I like the looks of it, and it's my first C&V purchase, so I have a sentimental attachment to it.

Now the hard part; stop writing/thinking about them, and actually work on them!

1. Finish my '74 Paramount track bike
2. Begin restorations on both of my '72 PX10's (I need a crank extractor)
3. Repalce dash and rear wiring harnesses on my '70 Corvette and fit the convertible top.

Okay, here goes:

'87 Panasonic DX-3000 frame I bought powdercoated baby blue, I'm working on an all-Shimano group using Shimano high-flanged hubs, Ukai double walled 700c rims, Shimano SLR brakeset, Ultegra headset and crankset/BB, and Shimano Light Action derailleurs/shifters.

'84 Raleigh Sportif SS/FG, nearly finished save for lacing up the Quando hubs to 27" Sun alloy rims. Probably sell this one.

Early '70s Gitane TdF, I've got the essential parts on their way to me (headset, stem and bars) to make it my keeper SS. I've got a set of Weinmann alloy 700c rims laced to Campy Nuovo Tipo hubs with Sapim spokes that will work just great, and will be semi-correct. The only piece missing is the Stronglight crank.

Other projects pending are the bikes I bought with the intention of flipping this spring. They just need cleaning, cable replacement and tune-ups.

That ought to keep me busy this winter.

geek

I have a sweet Jack Taylor tandem I'm building up for some friends.

1. Modern bike, I won't speak of the heresy here

2. Continuation on The Grail. Still looking for the frame.

Got two flip bikes to finish. A Bridgestone MB6 & an Iron Horse 650R, both in decent shape. One might be my wife's bike if she shows an inclination to ride.

My fun project is my Schwinn Mirada. It's a rigid old-school MTB with 650b rims. I intend to sink too much money into it making it an around town bike. It's heavy & ponderous, but it fits me perfectly. The expensive part will be getting the rims laced. No bargains on 650b stuff.

Next project is to get some spokes and rebuild the wheels for the Western Flyer. I may only do the rear, as the front spokes aren't in too bad a condition comparatively.

1985 Trek 460. Overhauled all bearings, put on wider range 13-34 freewheel, new chain, new long reach derailer, nearly mint saddle from flipped Trek 400 of same vintage, silver shifters bar end shifters, technomic 120mm stem, 48 cm Nitto Noodle bar, Tektro aero brake levers, new wireless computer, new front and rear blinky lights, new Continental Ultra 28mm tires. Just need to wrap with cotton tape and apply shellac and it will be ready to roll.

1984 Schwinn Voyageur. Replaced worn headset, overhauled other bearings, replaced freewheel and chain, installed SKS fenders with homebrew front mudflap, long seat tube and good quality San Marco saddle from flipper bikes, currently working on a kick***** homebrew light system with dual 20W MR 16 optronics and rear xenon strobe light. Removed and prepped shimano bar end shifters off 70s Viscount project bike sitting in garage. Still need to pick up technomic stem and 45cm Rando bars, attach cables and apply bar tape, but we are 80% finished.

1990 Stumpjumper -- setting up as utility bike. Attached 60mm fenders, wald paper delivery rear basket, and ESGE double kickstand, avocet saddle from flipped bike. Ordered and received Hugh Jass Big Apple tires. Still need to redo the cables and cable housing, brake pads, check the bearings for servicing and install optronics front light, tires, new chain and perhaps new freewheel. About 35% finished, but has been stalled for a few months.

1984 Raleigh Portage -- added 120 mm technomic stem and 45 cm Rando bars, Brooks Flyer, new kool stop brake pads, Panaracer Nifty Swifty tires and new computer. Still need to service the bottom bracket and headset and maybe update the freewheel and chain, add aero brake levers, and Honjo fenders. This is the bike I'm riding on the rollers in my basement when the windchill is minus 25 degrees or we are getting 6 or more inches of snow (which basically includes our daily weather for last month), so I am reluctant to pull it apart to proceed.

80's era Nishiki Sport mixte. Replaced the trashed rear wheel with a spare from the parts bin, cleaned and greased the headset and both wheels. Swap alloy north roads for the drops. Still to do:
- service the bottom bracket
- install the Suntour power ratchet thumbs shifters
- new cables and housing all around
- install grips
- install Panaracer Pasela TG tires
- drive to Pittsburgh and deliver to friend

Then there is the other 40 bikes.....