Anyone working on any winter projects?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Bikes: 13 Raleigh Cadent FT1/ 16 Specialized Allez Comp
Anyone working on any winter projects?
Whether it be a small or large project, anyone working on anything? 
Ive decided now that I have a road bike, my Cadent can be more geared towards cruising and leisure. Installed a back rack (which isnt level, kind of driving me crazy) and will be taking the tires off my old Trek 7500 which are a bit wider.


Show me what youre doing~ Shake this winter cabin fever.

Ive decided now that I have a road bike, my Cadent can be more geared towards cruising and leisure. Installed a back rack (which isnt level, kind of driving me crazy) and will be taking the tires off my old Trek 7500 which are a bit wider.


Show me what youre doing~ Shake this winter cabin fever.
#3
The Infractionator
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,201
Likes: 3
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Classic road bikes: 1986 Cannondale, 1978 Trek
I've decided to try to make my 1978 Trek 710's drivetrain perfect. Sticking with 126mm dropout spacing, I am updating it to indexing, with a great 8-sp barcon set. I am using 7 gears, and I will soon be grinding .2mm off of the metal spacers on the cassette with a machinist's tool grinder, just to make the shifting absolutely perfect...
#4
Old Legs

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 33
From: Mass.
Bikes: '80 Strayvaigin, '84 Ciocc Aelle-Shimano 105, '90 Concorde Astore /Campy Triple ,85 Bridgestone 500/Suntour, 2005 Jamis Quest, 2017 Raleigh Merit 1, Raleigh Carbon Clubman
Complete restoration on my 80-81 Huffy Concours, Touring bike. Fresh paint on some of the dinged tubes, down tube shifters, new decals, all new Jagwire cables (red), QR's added to the center pull brakes, for upgrades.
Lots of scrubbing, polishing , greasing and lubing. The bike has been sitting in the shed since 2008.
And , the Concours has been renamed "Strayvaigin" A Scottish word meaning "to wander about"
Lots of scrubbing, polishing , greasing and lubing. The bike has been sitting in the shed since 2008.
And , the Concours has been renamed "Strayvaigin" A Scottish word meaning "to wander about"
#6
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
I picked up this really clean '85 Miyata 100 off CL. Only thing broken was the rear D cable. After I WD-40'd the chain and pumped up the tires I was riding around the neighborhood in the small/small gear combo.

Then I promptly striped it down for a fixed gear project.
Already found a new wheelset for cheap, and have other parts (some new and some from my stash) to fancy it up to my liking. The paint and decals on this triple butted chrome moly frame are near mint. Fun times! 

Then I promptly striped it down for a fixed gear project.
Already found a new wheelset for cheap, and have other parts (some new and some from my stash) to fancy it up to my liking. The paint and decals on this triple butted chrome moly frame are near mint. Fun times! 
#7
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
#8
ambulatory senior

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6,451
Likes: 4,514
From: Peoria Il
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Working on a cheap mountain bike made for 24" wheels. Building wheels and replacing inferior parts with stuff I have in the basement. Hofully it will be a nice bike for a granddaughter.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 8,206
Likes: 86
From: Metro Detroit/AA
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Trying to put the lower level of the condo in order, so I can finish up the "outdoor recreations" work room, so I have a place to install the packages of parts that are starting to arrive for my cheap touring build.
Really need to get on my city bike build one of these days, too.
Really need to get on my city bike build one of these days, too.
#12
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 478
Swapped the aging, beat up stem, bars and seatpost on my primary road bike for nicer new stuff. this made a huge difference for only a few hundred dollars, BTW.
Pulled the cranks and fork from my primary road bike and inspected the bearings. They were in good shape.
Mounted new tires on the fat bike.
Mounted new tires on the single speed cross bike.
Cleaned all of the bikes carefully.
Pulled the cranks and fork from my primary road bike and inspected the bearings. They were in good shape.
Mounted new tires on the fat bike.
Mounted new tires on the single speed cross bike.
Cleaned all of the bikes carefully.
#13
Banned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 1,066
From: Lincoln Ne
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Not yet. I live in the snow belt and do not ride when it is cold. But in Feb I completely go thru my two wheel recumbent and my trike. The whole drive chain is cleaned and relubed. The chain gets a complete cleaning and check for wear with both my Park tool and a steel rule. They will be replaced is wear is indicated. All nut bolts and screws are checked. Doing this, I seldom have any problems while riding in the summer except for an occasional flat.
#15

Just finished this build. Started in October with the frame and fork and did a bit at a time as parts appeared at deep discounts. Was my first build and I really, really enjoyed it. I hope to have the excuse to do more of them in the next few years.
#16
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
I find working on bikes to be as fun as riding 'em. The planning and anticipation is great too! I always seem to have one bike project or another going on, and a few behind them. I recently reorganized my parts stash too, making it much easier to see and use what I have.
#17
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 121
Likes: 17
From: Arlington, VA
I would love to pick up an old bike (like 70s, 80s, 90s, not a 2006 Allez) to restore this winter, but I just moved from the US to Europe, and I am having a hard time figuring out where to pick one up. I'm thinking it will be no problem when flea markets pick up in the spring, but the classified and ebay/CL have thus far been a bit lacking.
#18
Me duelen las nalgas

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,519
Likes: 2,832
From: Texas
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Both bikes need some TLC. Problem is we don't get enough bad weather to stop riding. I need to finish one bike, then concentrate on the other.
The comfort hybrid's original 8 year old front hub feels a little gritty when I spin the axle with the wheel detached. Probably needs new cones and bearings. The rear wheel is fairly new, should be good for a few more months. That's pretty much all it needs now, so I should do that next.
The 1992 mountain bike hubs need new cones and bearings, but I just repacked and adjusted the cones recently. And I probably should check the bottom bracket and headset. There's a slight ticking around the bottom bracket but I'm pretty sure that's just a chain ring shifting slightly -- one of the locknuts on the back can't be reached without disassembling the whole thing, so I just tighten it as best I can every week or so until I have time to do it properly. But I really like riding this bike so I keep putting off finishing everything.
The comfort hybrid's original 8 year old front hub feels a little gritty when I spin the axle with the wheel detached. Probably needs new cones and bearings. The rear wheel is fairly new, should be good for a few more months. That's pretty much all it needs now, so I should do that next.
The 1992 mountain bike hubs need new cones and bearings, but I just repacked and adjusted the cones recently. And I probably should check the bottom bracket and headset. There's a slight ticking around the bottom bracket but I'm pretty sure that's just a chain ring shifting slightly -- one of the locknuts on the back can't be reached without disassembling the whole thing, so I just tighten it as best I can every week or so until I have time to do it properly. But I really like riding this bike so I keep putting off finishing everything.
#19
Old Legs

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 33
From: Mass.
Bikes: '80 Strayvaigin, '84 Ciocc Aelle-Shimano 105, '90 Concorde Astore /Campy Triple ,85 Bridgestone 500/Suntour, 2005 Jamis Quest, 2017 Raleigh Merit 1, Raleigh Carbon Clubman
Huffy Project
After several weeks of work, my Huffy Concours (Strayvaigin) is in the final stages of assembly. Can be seen @ https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...s-unite-2.html, post 45. Thanks for looking.
#20
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I have taken up harboring a Virus.. this week..
Bought 2 big bottles of R'off cleaning oil and all season lube oil . keep those little bearings inside the hub happy..
Upgrade from eDelux 1 to the new 2nd edition.
Ordering a custom steering mast for the pocket Llama.. replace the Folding one.
I have my tail Light wired to be right behind the back of the low on the seat tube water bottle cage .
might get a King cage Modified to tidy up that and use the tiny Schmidt Rack-mount taillight on
welded onto the cage mounting tabs ..
Bought 2 big bottles of R'off cleaning oil and all season lube oil . keep those little bearings inside the hub happy..
Upgrade from eDelux 1 to the new 2nd edition.
Ordering a custom steering mast for the pocket Llama.. replace the Folding one.
I have my tail Light wired to be right behind the back of the low on the seat tube water bottle cage .
might get a King cage Modified to tidy up that and use the tiny Schmidt Rack-mount taillight on
welded onto the cage mounting tabs ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 01-13-17 at 12:19 PM.
#21
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,139
Likes: 6,196
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Whether it be a small or large project, anyone working on anything? 
Ive decided now that I have a road bike, my Cadent can be more geared towards cruising and leisure. Installed a back rack (which isnt level, kind of driving me crazy) and will be taking the tires off my old Trek 7500 which are a bit wider.
Show me what youre doing~ Shake this winter cabin fever.

Ive decided now that I have a road bike, my Cadent can be more geared towards cruising and leisure. Installed a back rack (which isnt level, kind of driving me crazy) and will be taking the tires off my old Trek 7500 which are a bit wider.
Show me what youre doing~ Shake this winter cabin fever.
What takes so long on a bicycle project that it takes all winter to do?I decided that I want to change the color of one of my bikes last week. I found a frame on Fleabay on Monday, purchased it and, thanks to the wonders of local pickup, had it on Friday. On Saturday while volunteering at my local co-op (they have workstands inside which is much warmer than my garage), I stripped all the parts off one bike, swapped them over to the other bike and had it road worthy and rideable in less than 6 hours...which included helping 4 people work on their bikes at the same time. It went from this

To this


My co-op even had rubber donuts in the colors to match the decals

It's even been ridden twice to work this week.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#22
rebmeM roineS

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Tandem projects: New rear wheel rebuilt by Velocity around original hub with new rim. Also, replaced the holey mesh seatback covers for both captain and stoker seats with new/improved covers. Got it out for a 2 mile trial ride on Jan. 1. (Highly unusual for us.) The Screamer is basically ready for Spring, if it ever gets here.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#23
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Bikes: 13 Raleigh Cadent FT1/ 16 Specialized Allez Comp
I find "winter projects" to be as amusing as "bicycling seasons"
What takes so long on a bicycle project that it takes all winter to do?
I decided that I want to change the color of one of my bikes last week. I found a frame on Fleabay on Monday, purchased it and, thanks to the wonders of local pickup, had it on Friday. On Saturday while volunteering at my local co-op (they have workstands inside which is much warmer than my garage), I stripped all the parts off one bike, swapped them over to the other bike and had it road worthy and rideable in less than 6 hours...which included helping 4 people work on their bikes at the same time. It went from this

To this


My co-op even had rubber donuts in the colors to match the decals

It's even been ridden twice to work this week.
What takes so long on a bicycle project that it takes all winter to do?I decided that I want to change the color of one of my bikes last week. I found a frame on Fleabay on Monday, purchased it and, thanks to the wonders of local pickup, had it on Friday. On Saturday while volunteering at my local co-op (they have workstands inside which is much warmer than my garage), I stripped all the parts off one bike, swapped them over to the other bike and had it road worthy and rideable in less than 6 hours...which included helping 4 people work on their bikes at the same time. It went from this

To this


My co-op even had rubber donuts in the colors to match the decals

It's even been ridden twice to work this week.
#24
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,547
Likes: 797
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
First up was a new wheel for my Baron, special-order from Velocity. It's a Fusion 650c rim and a standard 135mm mountain bike hub. Then I made fabric spoke covers for it.

Next up, I think, will be my avatar bike, my NoCom. I fixed a cracked fork last winter, but the fork still needs more work. I've got the vacuum-bagging stuff I'll need, just waiting for the project to start. I can't just buy a fork, because it's so special: 80mm dropout width, with the missing 20mm all on the drive side, no rake, disc brake, and very short crown or else it won't fit in the cutout. So if I can't get it fixed sufficiently, I'll have to build one from scratch. After that, I'll replace the plastic spoke covers with another fabric set.

Next up, I think, will be my avatar bike, my NoCom. I fixed a cracked fork last winter, but the fork still needs more work. I've got the vacuum-bagging stuff I'll need, just waiting for the project to start. I can't just buy a fork, because it's so special: 80mm dropout width, with the missing 20mm all on the drive side, no rake, disc brake, and very short crown or else it won't fit in the cutout. So if I can't get it fixed sufficiently, I'll have to build one from scratch. After that, I'll replace the plastic spoke covers with another fabric set.




