Justin,

I think the admin should consider a "sticky" of "The Colonel's Greatest Help" threads. You're clearly having fun, but you have posted a LOT of very, very helpful hints, tactics, techniques and other great tips on lots of different build topics.

This is yet another!

Oh, and cleaning that silver Blackburn to a nice shine was surprisingly easy. Thanks for that, too!

Owen (LL)

Thanks for the kind words, but most of these hints and tricks were given to me by other forum members. Watching my dad and granddad as a youth taught me a lot. Those fellas can make anything work with seemingly nothing. They are both great welders and carpenters. I remember guys bringing things to my grandpa to braze after they'd given up (cast iron kettles, for example).

It doesn't take much to make those Blackburns shine, huh?

Here you go, Dan. I didn't have a bourbon cork top that wasn't being employed. I tried the Brooks plug but it looked too. . . . I dunno. I just didn't care for it. Here's a simple chrome bar end plug. Obviously the more aero choice. ;)

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12965791050001

Colonel,

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said before so, well done. Gorgeous bike, exquisite work and I wish you many, many pleasurable miles on that fantastic steed.
You mentioned your braided cable above and perhaps I didn't see it, but can you post more info (brand, comments, etc)?
Also, is there any chance you could post a "build sheet"? Through your photographs, I can almost piece together everything you used. Your final part selections may be valuable for future readers of this thread.

Thank you, (ballad of a?) Thin Man.

Here's the build list:

Frame: 25" Schwinn Voyageur (1988 model) Columbus Tenax tubing
Color: Molten Copper powderdoat (black, copper, clear)
Fenders: VO 48mm Fluted
Crankset: Shimano FT-60 (48/38/28 BioPace)(175mm)
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore (FD-MT60)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore (RD-MT60)
Shifters: Dia Compe Silver
Front Hub: Shimano 3N-80 (32h)(DT SS 14ga spokes)
Rear Hub: Shimano 105 (FH-5600)(36h)(DT SS 14ga spokes)
Wheels: VO Diagonale (700c)
Cassette: SRAM 11-28 (8sp)
Chain: SRAM PC-870
Tires: Panaracer Jack Brown (blue label)
Pedals: MKS Touring, Spin II Flip, VO large steel cages, VO Grand Cru laminated straps
Housing: VO Braided SS
Cables: VO
Front Rack: VO Pass Hunter (with integrated decaleur)
Rear Rack: TBD
Headlight: Schmidt E6 (no switch)(VO light mount)
Brakes: VO Grand Cru Cantilever (Kool Stop Thinline pads)
Brake Levers: Shimano BL-L331
Computer: Cateye Strada Wireless
Bottle Cages: VO Moderniste
Seatpost: SR alloy
Rear Cable Hanger: Surly
Front Cable Hanger: Dia Compe QR
Headset: VO Alloy JIS
Stem: Nitto Technomic 80mm
Handlebar: Nitto Noodle 440mm
Saddle: Brooks Champion Flyer Special (honey)
Bar Wrap: Brooks perforated leather (honey)

This is really swell. Nice job. I need to get me an 80's tourer. I passed up a Fuji America Touring Series V a while back because it wasn't quite the right price or the right size. But looking at your build makes me want to do a custom job from the frame up. Decisions, decisions...

I think a Schwinn sunburst badge would look sweet on that pretty bike

http://pmimages.worthpoint.com/thumb...eec228f1b1.jpg

That's definitely cool, but I don't feel there's anything particularly Schwinn about this bike any longer and I'd like to have something custom made. I've been trading emails with an artist for the last few days and she sent a couple sketches today. I expressed an interest in tying my nickname together with my home state and she ran with some themes.

The first shows a silhouette of the legendary Daniel Boone. I think the first silhouette looks best.

The seond photo is based on the little liquor store's neon sign down the street. It's an outline of the state with a "Colonel" and the convergence of the Ohio, Tennesse and Cumberland rivers (which is where I'm from). I like this image and I may have her rework it with just a simple "string tie" instead of the Colonel and more emphasis on the rivers.

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12967655540003

based on

http://www.odcmp.org/0809/images/Rif...ooneTrophy.jpg

And this

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12967655720001

based on

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/...c3b3e1d959.jpg

Thanks for typing this out. I thought you were planning on a Phil for the rear wheel?

I am, but for my chrome 11.8. I robbed the wheels from it for this copper Voyageur.

An update.

I'm finishing up my chrome Voyageur 11.8 and it has more similarities than differences with this bike and so I decided to change the copper Voyageur up so that it could serve a more functional purpose (I don't intend on doing much, if any, fully loaded touring).

I had the BB and head tube faced as I couldn't get the headset dialed in correctly. The mechanic who did the facing said that the caged bearings were specific to top and bottom and I had them backwards. He said he only knows of one other headset like this, a Campy Super Record (I think). I had no idea.

I set it up with some Albatross bars, Technomic Deluxe stem, Tektro levers and cork grips. I switched the housing to grey Jagwire and I think it looks better with the frame color. I also replaced the VO brakes with the originals and glued on the head badge. Also added were the Dajia Expedition rear rack and Spanninga Plateo taillight and Micro FF LED headlight (with a stand light!). The shifting is about as smooth as can be.

I'm still dialing in the saddle and bars for the best fit. I put in some miles this weekend in the 94 F, uber-humid weather and found out quickly that shellaced cork grips aren't grippy enough when you're hands are sweating like crazy. I'm going to install some inexpensive panniers and probably use a VO handlebar bag on the front as this bag is meant for my chrome bike. Here are a few cell pics.

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068597720001

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068601100001


http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068609190001

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068610810001

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068613870001

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...13068618840001

Beautiful!!

Did you use VO's little crown eye bolt for the front fenders? And if so, did you find their washer adequate, or did you need to augment it?

^
Thanks! I used the included daruma bolt. On my most recent fender installs I've taken to using two of the rubber washer. Actually, I use one and a half. I cut one on the bias and use it against the fender. This helps compensate for the fact that the VO fenders do not have the "dent" under the crown as some Honjo fenders do. I may have trimmed the daruma bolt, I can't recall.

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12961058510001

Got it. I ordered one for my Tanakas, instead of the little L-brackets. From the VO pictures, it looked too thin. I figured some tweaking would be necessary.

A masterful transformation! But then again, those are the only kind expected from you.

How do you like it as more of an upright bike? It's striking how similar your conversion is to the Shogun touring bike that I transformed in a similar vein:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/...41835506_b.jpg

How are you liking the Spanninga lights? I have come to really like them.

Aw, shucks. Thanks!

We have very similar tastes, Anton. I love that Shogun! I'm really, really liking the upright position. The Albatross bars are really as comfortable as I've read. I recently ordered some of the Dia Compe knob grips as I've been using the forward bend to stretch out a bit. It's a comfortable position and the grips should work swell. I am also switching the stem to the VO quill. The Technomic Deluxe isn't quite tall enough and I think the small amount of rise in the VO stem will look good with this setup.

The saddle is working fine (I have tilted it back since posting those photos above), but may switch it for a B67. The rear rack and Axiom Seymour LX panniers are so useful. It's really great to have a bike in the stable that can haul some stuff.

I've been running the Jack Browns at 65-70psi. I know I'd fall in love with 42mm 650B tires if I tried them.

I've yet to ride in the dark, so I can't really comment on the beam. I don't expect to like it as much as my E6. I'm very happy, though, to have a standlight. The rear light is huge. It doesn't flash, but that's ok with me. I think Spanninga has some great, very reasonably priced products.

Colonel, I just happened upon this project today and I am thoroughly impressed! That is a beautiful build and truly stunning!

I've also got the VO fluted fenders on my Davidson. They are such a great looking fender for a classic bike like that. Quick question: How do you like the Dajia Expedition rack so far? It has a pretty nice profile, IMO. For my Davidson Tandem, I put a Nitto Big Back Rack which managed to fit as nearly as possible my image of the bike.

Thank you very much.

I like the Dajia rack a lot. It's well built and seems quite sturdy. I would've preferred the finish of a Nitto rack, but this was a good deal cheaper and it'll pretty much be covered up by panniers. The satin-like finish actually works well with the frame color, but doesn't match the front polished SS rack.

It's worth noting that the Dajia barely fit my bike (which was originally built for 27" wheels). I had to cut the struts very short, but they work. The rack is just slightly unlevel. In order to be level, it'd be right where my rear brake cable needs to be. So, I'll have to live with that.

this is a bit late, but a forum member mentioned an idea to me... (about head badges). Apparently You can buy curved badges at National Parks that buyers can fit or fashion on walking sticks... and they make great improv bike head badges.

The Nitto cost a lot more than I would have liked to pay but it is a beautifully crafted rack which, should I ever rid myself of the Davidson, will be something that would not go with it. Oh, and Riv had it right when they gave it the Big Back Rack moniker - it has got to be the biggest rack I've seen. For the first time in my life I can truly say I have a big rack and I'm a guy! ;)

WRT the Dajia, if it had been available at the time I bought the Nitto, I probably would have gotten that since it is about half the price. About it being unlevel, I'd certainly not be too concerned with it since it is probably only a couple of degrees and the effect on handling, if any, should be minimal.

I would be tempted to take the rack and spend as stupid amount of time polishing it on my buffing wheel :innocent:

I've been following this thread for months now and it is very satisfying to see how beautifully your bike turned out.

BRAVO! and congratulations! :thumb:

Bob

So a little more than two years on and this bike has seen many transformations. I don't tour so it's relegated to errand duty. It's a heavy bike; quite heavy, actually. I think I really need a zero offset seatpost as the B-17 is all the way forward and it's still not enough (this bike has a more relaxed ST angle than my other bikes). I'm also not crazy about the 48/38/28 triple for how I use the bike, nor the 175mm arms, nor the BioPace rings. But, the fact that I don't put many miles on it on any one ride has kept me from making those changes.

What I have changed is the bars and shifters many times; I like experimenting. It currently sports a Wald basket, Nitto Cro-Mo stem and flat bar and some low-level Shimano 3x8 trigger shifter/brake lever combos. I could stand for the bar to be a couple inches wider, but it's fine as is. As I mentioned, the bike is heavy, and carrying a lot of weight in panniers wasn't fun. The basket is working out OK and I'm getting a child trailer for my daughter that I can use to haul groceries or heavy loads.

My sister-in-law loaned me her fancy Nikon so I thought I would take some new pics of the bike. I'm not quite adept at using this camera yet.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8...39f07250_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8...20ed111b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8...57456bf4_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8...5dbbf7d7_b.jpg

Here it was this summer with some Soma Oxford bars. I was too upright to comfortably carry heavy front loads.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8...ac3fc6bc_b.jpg

I've had it set up with drop bars and Ergos. I liked that a lot and may revert back to that someday. In the words of Steve Earle, I ain't ever satisfied.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7...e13b8c2b_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7...897cc732_b.jpg

Do you need any decals? I have some NOS Voyageur SP decals laying around that need a frame to live on...

PM if interested