What's the longest a build has ever taken you?
#26
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,664
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2611 Post(s)
Liked 1,731 Times
in
946 Posts
I'm not "done" with any of my bikes.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#27
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1225 Post(s)
Liked 657 Times
in
235 Posts
Pics of the tandem?
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Schwenksville, Pa
Posts: 2,778
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 278 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
184 Posts
This picture is when I started it.
This is my son and I when he was 8. Ironically I sold this Trek because I thought the Burley was a better tandem.
__________________
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
#29
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,809
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 575 Times
in
340 Posts
#30
is just a real cool dude
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Thumb, MI
Posts: 3,165
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
14 Posts
I think if a build took over say six months I'd lose interest...part it out and start over with something different. I just don't have the patience to wait that long on bikes. Same goes for a custom frame from some builders and their crazy backlog for builds.
#31
Senior Member
I bought a new Trek 520 in 1992. I LOVED the bike, but after riding it for a year, I decided the frame was one size to big. I was in the shop one day in 1993, and they had a NEW 520 frame, approx 1991 vintage, for $200. I bought it, intending to swap the parts from the larger 520 to the smaller 520.
I never quite got around to it. I eventually sold the original 520 in 2011, pretty much exactly as I had bought it - still had the original handlebar tape on it. I hung on to the smaller 520 frame - because I LOVE that bike!
So, I've been thinking about this build for about 22 years now. My son in 8, so I doubt I'll get around to it before he graduates from high school, which will be 10 years from now. Or maybe college, 14 years from now.
The nice thing is that my new 520 frame will be a 35 year old classic/vintage touring bike when I finally build it - and I'll get to be the first one to ride it!!
I never quite got around to it. I eventually sold the original 520 in 2011, pretty much exactly as I had bought it - still had the original handlebar tape on it. I hung on to the smaller 520 frame - because I LOVE that bike!
So, I've been thinking about this build for about 22 years now. My son in 8, so I doubt I'll get around to it before he graduates from high school, which will be 10 years from now. Or maybe college, 14 years from now.
The nice thing is that my new 520 frame will be a 35 year old classic/vintage touring bike when I finally build it - and I'll get to be the first one to ride it!!
#32
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
Fixed the frame of my 1974 Ron Cooper in 1976 after a crash, repainted in 77, but never rebuilt. Repainted it again this fall, with original color (as close as I could remember). Have not finished re-assembling. Built up a few others in the mean time... I still can't decide on details... Color of handlebar tape, cable housing, my drillium RD from BITD or a 1st gen SR, which I couldn't afford back then, etc. Monumentous decisions, I know. Luckily I have a few others to ride meanwhile. I had a few issues, I guess.
#33
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1225 Post(s)
Liked 657 Times
in
235 Posts
#34
Senior Member
I've been 'modifying' my latest acquisition '84 Univega for almost two years now, and I still don't have it the way I want it!!!!
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,711
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 212 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1389 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,792 Times
in
961 Posts
I guess my 1977 Motobecane Grand Jubilee is the one that spans the most time. That said, it has surfaced in several guises...
Today, although I have no pictures to prove my claim - yet - , the Motobe features black anodized Shimano high flange Dura Ace hubs, laced to 27" alloy rims, black anodized first Generation Shimano Dura Ace black anodized brake calipers, Suntour Cyclone black anodized transmission, Norfolk handlebars and other improvements, all designed to present a really comfortable eye catcher that is, pretty close, to being the perfect bike for me.
I am pretty sure that there is no need to upgrade the bike anymore than it already is. However..?
Today, although I have no pictures to prove my claim - yet - , the Motobe features black anodized Shimano high flange Dura Ace hubs, laced to 27" alloy rims, black anodized first Generation Shimano Dura Ace black anodized brake calipers, Suntour Cyclone black anodized transmission, Norfolk handlebars and other improvements, all designed to present a really comfortable eye catcher that is, pretty close, to being the perfect bike for me.
I am pretty sure that there is no need to upgrade the bike anymore than it already is. However..?
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#36
Retro Grouch
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 2,210
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have two gruppos waiting for frames (and a third I don't know what l'm going to do with) that I started collecting about 20 years ago. (My next build will probably be a celese bianchi if I can find a frame b/t $200 and $300).
#37
Senior Member
The longest build for me has been my newest bike, a Jeff Lyon custom randonneusse. Here's the frame shortly after I took delivery of it in June, 2014:
Eight months later, the build is about 90% complete:
The reason it's taken so long is because this bike will have an unprecedented (for me) level of integration, and I've made some changes to the build spec as I've gone along. For example, the VO stem is just a place holder. I'm waiting for a custom fillet brazed steel stem that will be paint-matched and will have an integrated housing stop. I'm also in the process of developing a stem-cap switch for the dynamo lighting system.
Besides, what's the hurry when there's this much snow outside? It's not going away anytime soon!
Eight months later, the build is about 90% complete:
The reason it's taken so long is because this bike will have an unprecedented (for me) level of integration, and I've made some changes to the build spec as I've gone along. For example, the VO stem is just a place holder. I'm waiting for a custom fillet brazed steel stem that will be paint-matched and will have an integrated housing stop. I'm also in the process of developing a stem-cap switch for the dynamo lighting system.
Besides, what's the hurry when there's this much snow outside? It's not going away anytime soon!
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pleasanton Tx
Posts: 1,213
Bikes: old,older.and very old
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Never really kept count. Took over two years of searching to find a photo of the Fothergill decals---took a couple of years to find a 1930s first type trivelox. Years to I.D. the Columbia military model frame and lots more to find the badge. Some go a lot smoother like the 1952 Claud Butler(less than a year). and some I seem to never get around to like the teens era Mead or the 36 CCM RoadRacer.
#39
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
Fixed the frame of my 1974 Ron Cooper in 1976 after a crash, repainted in 77, but never rebuilt. Repainted it again this fall, with original color (as close as I could remember). Have not finished re-assembling. Built up a few others in the mean time... I still can't decide on details... Color of handlebar tape, cable housing, my drillium RD from BITD or a 1st gen SR, which I couldn't afford back then, etc. Monumentous decisions, I know. Luckily I have a few others to ride meanwhile. I had a few issues, I guess.
I wanted to reopen this thread. 39 years, and all I need to do is
Pump the tires, put toe straps on, adjust the brakes, tape the bars (Ahh, the heck with the brakes and tape). Arrrrgh, time to go to work.
#41
Get off my lawn!
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Garden State
Posts: 6,031
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 99 Times
in
49 Posts
3 year or 4 years and counting
Making progress, I fitted a shifter cable in June!
Making progress, I fitted a shifter cable in June!
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 13,954
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 111 Times
in
80 Posts
3 or so years to build my Colnago Mexico. It took just as many years to find the special aero water bottle for the 100th anniversary Peugeot. At the rate I'm going the Ritchey will take a year or more.
#43
Senior Member
I can stretch 10 or 20 hours of restoration effort out over about 6 months at a time. I can't count all the times I've looked up at the clock & it's 2:00 AM and, I'm still wrenching away.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 1,398
Bikes: Trek 720, Trek 620, Trek 520, Steel Schwinns, AD Puch, Kona, Nishiki Pro, All City Disc Spacehorse, Waterford
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 101 Times
in
52 Posts
Trek 720 makes me sad. I am going to ride my Trek 720 today and tomorrow. It is mint, with only a couple hundred miles on it. I think it will end up being a bit too tall and need to move on. The sad part, I know I wll never find another like it.
#46
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,664
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2611 Post(s)
Liked 1,731 Times
in
946 Posts
I know EXACTLY what you mean. It's still "usable." But it's just a *smidge* off your size so you're not quite happy on it.
I bought a new Trek 520 in 1992. I LOVED the bike, but after riding it for a year, I decided the frame was one size to big. I was in the shop one day in 1993, and they had a NEW 520 frame, approx 1991 vintage, for $200. I bought it, intending to swap the parts from the larger 520 to the smaller 520.
I never quite got around to it. I eventually sold the original 520 in 2011, pretty much exactly as I had bought it - still had the original handlebar tape on it. I hung on to the smaller 520 frame - because I LOVE that bike!
So, I've been thinking about this build for about 22 years now. My son in 8, so I doubt I'll get around to it before he graduates from high school, which will be 10 years from now. Or maybe college, 14 years from now.
The nice thing is that my new 520 frame will be a 35 year old classic/vintage touring bike when I finally build it - and I'll get to be the first one to ride it!!
I never quite got around to it. I eventually sold the original 520 in 2011, pretty much exactly as I had bought it - still had the original handlebar tape on it. I hung on to the smaller 520 frame - because I LOVE that bike!
So, I've been thinking about this build for about 22 years now. My son in 8, so I doubt I'll get around to it before he graduates from high school, which will be 10 years from now. Or maybe college, 14 years from now.
The nice thing is that my new 520 frame will be a 35 year old classic/vintage touring bike when I finally build it - and I'll get to be the first one to ride it!!
My first bike as an adult was my 1987 High Sierra. I recently found the cancelled check I used to pay for it- it was 2 days before I got out of the Army in 1991. My idea was that bike was going to be my transportation to, from and around college. As it turned out, I ended up going to school and living at my folks' house- and the ride was much more than I was willing to do.
For a long time that bike just sat at my parents' and when I got into riding I've dinked with it now and then. Aside from any sort of sentimental attachment (to something I've owned for so long), I realize it's a really cool bike. Whether that bike shaped my ideals, or it just happens to fit in with whatever I think a cool bike is... I don't know. I just know that it's a really cool bike. My main complaint about the bike is about hand positions. I love having the shifters right THERE. I love that it's a cool and unique bike. But if I ride it over... say... 7 miles- my hands are killing me. (this was even before I got my hand crushed in a service elevator) I've changed the bike to drop bars- and it's *decent*. Lately, I've got the hankering to get the bike set up with trekking bars- the butterfly touring bars. They look pretty odd to me, but I think that'll allow the bike to have the hand positions I want/need, and have the shifting and braking right where it's good for me.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,998
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 305 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26481 Post(s)
Liked 10,448 Times
in
7,248 Posts
.
...like time spent fishing, time spent working on my own bikes is not deducted from my lifespan. #timeless
...like time spent fishing, time spent working on my own bikes is not deducted from my lifespan. #timeless
#48
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,464
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3133 Post(s)
Liked 2,116 Times
in
1,379 Posts
My wife has agreed to a tandem and our family is only planned to grow so it will get a lot of use. I see a lot of these late-80's to mid-90's Burleys and Santanas with Suntour parts, and I keep passing on them because I promised her I'd get something ready to go, no projects that take a year or cost as much in bits and pieces as it did for the whole bike.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#49
Senior Member
I know EXACTLY what you mean. It's still "usable." But it's just a *smidge* off your size so you're not quite happy on it.
My first bike as an adult was my 1987 High Sierra. I recently found the cancelled check I used to pay for it- it was 2 days before I got out of the Army in 1991. My idea was that bike was going to be my transportation to, from and around college. As it turned out, I ended up going to school and living at my folks' house- and the ride was much more than I was willing to do.
For a long time that bike just sat at my parents' and when I got into riding I've dinked with it now and then. Aside from any sort of sentimental attachment (to something I've owned for so long), I realize it's a really cool bike. Whether that bike shaped my ideals, or it just happens to fit in with whatever I think a cool bike is... I don't know. I just know that it's a really cool bike. My main complaint about the bike is about hand positions. I love having the shifters right THERE. I love that it's a cool and unique bike. But if I ride it over... say... 7 miles- my hands are killing me. (this was even before I got my hand crushed in a service elevator) I've changed the bike to drop bars- and it's *decent*. Lately, I've got the hankering to get the bike set up with trekking bars- the butterfly touring bars. They look pretty odd to me, but I think that'll allow the bike to have the hand positions I want/need, and have the shifting and braking right where it's good for me.
My first bike as an adult was my 1987 High Sierra. I recently found the cancelled check I used to pay for it- it was 2 days before I got out of the Army in 1991. My idea was that bike was going to be my transportation to, from and around college. As it turned out, I ended up going to school and living at my folks' house- and the ride was much more than I was willing to do.
For a long time that bike just sat at my parents' and when I got into riding I've dinked with it now and then. Aside from any sort of sentimental attachment (to something I've owned for so long), I realize it's a really cool bike. Whether that bike shaped my ideals, or it just happens to fit in with whatever I think a cool bike is... I don't know. I just know that it's a really cool bike. My main complaint about the bike is about hand positions. I love having the shifters right THERE. I love that it's a cool and unique bike. But if I ride it over... say... 7 miles- my hands are killing me. (this was even before I got my hand crushed in a service elevator) I've changed the bike to drop bars- and it's *decent*. Lately, I've got the hankering to get the bike set up with trekking bars- the butterfly touring bars. They look pretty odd to me, but I think that'll allow the bike to have the hand positions I want/need, and have the shifting and braking right where it's good for me.
#50
Get off my lawn!
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Garden State
Posts: 6,031
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 99 Times
in
49 Posts
It's not for sale...just tossing out a little food for for thought.