Yeah -- Awesome Orange; I use that too. Gets stuff Simple Green won't.

Hmm...I'll try some of these things and see if I can get them clean. I love white brake hoods. :)

Posted in wrong thread... ignore!

I found a nice yardsale today...the guy is also having it next weekend with more stuff:)

1 Ritchey 26*1.1 cyclecross tire with tube - $.50
1 Kenda 26*1.95 slick brand new - $1.00
1 Blackburn seat bag wedge - $3.00

From a coworker, I received a Fuji Bedford 3 speed, probably from the late '70s. Rust on bars and chain is terrible, but the wheels aren't bad. It was covered with pine needles, so I know how it was stored. Also a red Columbia ATV 10 speed. Both came with rear racks, so double score.

I quite like the Fuji. The labels proclaim it to be made of 1020 HT, which I assume is nothing special, but it is the same neat charcoaly/graphitey color as my Fuji Palisade, has decent-looking equipment, and the rear hub is not the Shimano 333, but the later, more troublefree series.

The cracked whitewalls need replacing. Anyone have any luck finding 26x1 3/8" whitewalls, or are they discontinued, as my LBS insists is the case?

I see some white walls in that size show up on ebay under collectables now and then, I think that "bicycle haven" or whatchamacall him seller, 'round $25 a set if I remember.

Believe it or not, check out your local K-mart. I could swear I saw this size in my local store, but I might be wrong. I have a pair in the size you're looking for, but they have some age cracks and are gumwall, not whitewall. If you're really having trouble finding other tires, PM me and we can talk about them.

Wal-Mart and others used to stock a Bell tire of decent quality that had a white reflective sidewall - it was a thin stripe instead of the wide whitewalls you're probably looking for, but it's the closest thing you can get to white walls in that size. unfortunately that tire is no longer being made that way! The new ones only have about a quarter of the reflective sidewall, and don't look like white walls because of it. If you can find a wal-mart, or K-mart that still has the old style in stock, grab them.
K-mart does carry the same size, but only with black walls - and they're pretty crappy tires too (printed 50psi max pressure, poor molding).

Duro makes 26X1-3/8 (English EA-3) sized tires in blackwall, gumwall, and yes, true whitewalls. Each variant is available in multiple tread patterns. They are rather nice tires, for being semi-cheapies.

See below photos of my '73 Columbia and '51 Raleigh for reference.

Take care,

-Kurt

Univega Ultraleggera
 

Last spring, on Ebay, I saw a Univega Ultraleggera frame up for auction. I haven't really been a huge admirer of Univega but I know that they have made some bikes. I took a closer look at the frame and noticed that it was built from Tange Prestige Tubing (oversized .8/.5/.8) and featured somewhat rare Shimano dropouts. Noting the high quality of the frame I watched the auction. The bidding was over $100 but it never made the sellers reserve. I was almost tempted to bid on it but I didn't. A day after the auction was over I saw the frame with a buy it now of $50. I didn't even have to think I bought it without blinking an eye. The price was worth the included dura ace headset alone. I believe the frame is late 80's or early 90's. I have built it up with all dura ace components, some from the time period and some newer. It is 9 speed equipped with a set of Superbe Pro friction shifters. It is one serious racing machine that I put together for a song. The really cool thing about is its rarity. I have been watching on ebay and searching the internet and have not seen a Ultraleggera again.

Found a Bridgestone 400 today in great "been hanging in the garage for 25 years" condition. Original Bridgestone tires are near new. Going to put Raliegh 3 speed type handlebars, a plush seat, suntour thumbies, and a pair of centerpull brakes so my wife can ride to work in style.

1974 Raleigh Record -- $35 from the original owner. She apparently rode it just enough to loosen up the rear spokes and steering head and figured it was shot. The only original bit missing is the seat clamp bolt and 'R' nut. I know it's just a Record, but it's a nice Record... ;)

http://home.comcast.net/~mswantak/ws...7/site1452.jpg

mswantak, passed what looked to be a simular model Raleigh, maybe a few years newer though, at a garage sale. Wasn't in nearly as good of shape and they wanted the same price for it. I kept riding (was out for my Sunday ride) for someone else who actually might ride it to find.

I like yours a lot better, esp at that price!

Nice Record! Yellow bikes are better. I think I have a (somewhat beat-up) raleigh seatpost bolt and R-nut around here someplace; PM if you want them.

My Girlfriend's Dad bough a Raleigh Ltd. at the swapmeet on sunday for $25, looks to be in similar condition to the above record, needs a little tune up and should treat him well.

Thanks, but I don't think it's gonna last that long. I put it up on CL last night for $130 and I've gotten half a dozen calls on it already.

Capitalist pig-dog. :D

You say that like it's a bad thing. :D

Funny, I also just looked at a similar Raleigh Record. But this one was quite rough and the owner wanted...$90. He thought it was aluminum.

He probably thinks ferrous metal is what the carnival ride is made of, too. :D

The first guy who came to look at my Record handed over the $130 and left with a big smile on his face. I put some of the proceeds to good use yesterday. I went to look at a $15 ladies Motobecane, thinking at least I might get a pair of wheels for a '78 Centurion I'm working on. No such luck -- the guy rolls out a beautiful blue metallic '76 mixte. Somebody had tried to replace a broken RD trolley wheel and ended up creating a ziplock bag of Huret parts, hence the low asking price. Beyond that it was in really good shape. As I was leaving, the guy mentions he has another bike -- an old Schwinn -- and might I be interested? Out comes an '85 World Sport; anthracite with silver and pink decals -- very '80s. The tires looked like they had leprosy, and it needed a good bath, but otherwise pretty nice. Took that one home too for another $40. Pics forthcoming.

Still need wheels for the Centurion though...

Mike,
I called that guy 2 days on the Motobecane. Never called me back or anything. Glad someone I know got it. :D

Heh. In highschool one of my friend's mom had a late-70s or early 80s Miyata with tires that looked like that. I was actually scared to touch them. :D

Got a maroon Nishiki International this evening. $35, plus an out-of-true Weinmann concave (rear), and a Schwinn Continental wheelset for my '80 Varsity.

Take care,

-Kurt

I was in Seattle today & got a pair of 8 speed Record brifters for $30.00. The low price was because they wouldn't shift at all but they were just gummed up & dirty. After cleaning & relube, I clicked through & found they are 9 speed :) I also made a disappointing stop at Recycled Cycles. Hadn't been there for a few years & they didn't have much used stuff, mostly selling new bikes & gear. I did find a near new pair of Shimano A525 SPD pedals ($15)and a Specialized bottle cage ($2) that matches the single on my Expedition touring. Don

it never ceases to amaze me how prepared people are to throw out "broken" brifters which only require a spray lube. Particularly given the cost and time needed to replace them and re-tune everything...

- Joel