ollo_ollo

Finished the Super Course today, after a few hitches. I went back to the original Sun Tour "Compe V" front derailleur off the parts bike since it had a built in cable stop vs not having one for the nice ARX I found at the co-op. The parts bike front brake had just enough reach, but the rear was far short and the one I got from our co-op had just enough to work.


I strung up the new rear brake cable, adjusted brakes, and derailleurs, trimmed the ends, then checked everything for tightness. Looking good, so I went for a ride. Only did about 4 miles, as in my haste, I overlooked a saddle set too low and loose reflectors that kept falling off the pedals


I adjusted the saddle and then saw the reflectors had broken plastic retainers, so I zip tied them on. Time for some pics:


This bike is a nice ride. Going to be a pleasure to do 100 km on it. The saddle is old, and a bit small, but very comfortable. Made by Specialized, as I can just read their name, stylized "S" and "V series" labeling. Anybody recognize it? Don

ollo_ollo

Time to count the cost of all this fun:


I started with the 2 Craigs List bikes, a $10 Motobecane Mixte, and a $10 Super Course, then bought 1978 Motobecane Super Mirage parts bike for $25 from our co-op. I allocated the parts bike tires and tubes to the Mixte and gave them a $5 value, leaving $20 to assign for all the parts moved to the Super Course.


1971 Motobecane Mixte bike-minus wheels, seat post, saddle $10. 2 used tires/tubes from parts bike $5. Used steel seat post from my junk drawer $1.50. Free: Used saddle, 2 reflectors, 2 broken fenders. Used (50 yr old) front wheel from last years clunker $5. Bargain new rear wheel from CL $10. 2 ft of reflective tape @ .36/ft for .72 cents. Used freewheel from co-op $5. Total cost = $37.22


Coffee Brown, 1973 Raleigh Super Course bike-minus wheels, derailleurs, brake calipers, shift levers cables and sheaths, $10. From parts bike: 2 wheels, 2 derailleurs, crank set & pedals, blinky light, 1 brake caliper, cables and sheaths $20. From co-op: SunTour down tube mounted, ratcheting power shifters $2, 1 Weinmann 750 center pull caliper $5, 1 new brake cable $4, a free used chain, 2 used tires with tubes $10, derailleur claw $ .50 cents. From my basement shop: bottom bracket $8, 2 black plastic bar plugs $ .25 cents. Total cost $59.75


Total spent for both bikes comes to $96.97, good thing there is no charge for cleaning, polishing and grease! edited to add parts I forgot. Don

nlerner

Here's my update (posted to the 3-speed thread earlier today, but this is my clunker challenge bike): First, a before pic reminder:



And now after lots of polishing, oxalic acid, ultrasonic baths, lubrication, and a few bits replaced:





Original outlay = $40. I was able to re-use just about everything, including the gear cable that was included but not connected and the original chain after a round in the ultrasonic and lubrication to free up stuck rivets. From the parts bin I had to use one brake pad, the S-A trigger shifter, a white plastic fulcrum stop, new BB and headset bearings, one cotter (original got bent upon removal), a sprung saddle marked "Schwinn," a nut and bolt for the seat cluster (I had to cut the original out as it was too rusted to unscrew), and a set of used matching tires (the front is in good shape, but the rear was shot, and I wanted to install a matching pair). I also replaced the black chain guard with one that was originally bronze green, but it just looks kind of brown now. Might go back to the black one. Conservative estimate of those parts is $30 total, so I'm in for $70. I've just ridden it around the block so far, but should be able to put some kilometers on it next week (I had hernia surgery 10 days ago, so no extended biking until I get doc's clearance on Monday).

ollo_ollo

Nice Sports. I commuted to & from grad school and work on one back in the 80's. They just roll along without complaint once you get them fixed up.


Also, after hernia surgery, my doc said I could cycle "soon as you think you can stand the pain", so I began on day 7, but only rode a step thru for about 2 months. Swinging a leg over your bike makes me think ouch! It will reveal the "soreness" for sure. But it will definitely speed the healing. Don

nlerner

Thanks, Don. I did actually ride yesterday for the first time, but just a brief excursion to get from here to there. I'll do the same thing today for a couple of meetings at work. It felt very good to be on a bike!

rustystrings61 

ollo_ollo, your Super Course is lovely and you have the classical correct 610/750 calipers they came stock with. I have been offered a lovely old green SC for free if we can ever work out the logistics of getting it here, and when that day comes I look forward to experiencing the Super Course magic fans of this cult bike speak of.

nlerner, there is no feeling quite like getting back on a bike after surgery, especially major surgery. I still remember stealing a jaunt down and back up my driveway a couple of months before I was officially cleared to be back on a bike. It was a joy unlike any other.

ollo_ollo

I rode 12 miles in and around Stayton on the Super today, then headed home as I hadn't brought any water. I'll fix that next time. What I like best about the S.C. is how stable it is at speed. Had a 69? and a 78 previously and they both were equally well behaved on descents. Also happy with the wheels off the parts bike. They are true and with fresh lube, I really roll on. Don

Murray Missile 

Accessories? Specifically bottle cages, rear rack, handlebar or trunk bag and lights. Do they go against the $100? I didn't see them mentioned in the rules.

ollo_ollo

For accessories, see if you can find one of these plastic, add on, bottle holders. Pictured here on my last years entry, now updated with all kinds of discarded newer parts I had laying around. So many vintage bikes had no provision for bottle holders, there were lots of add on holders sold. Try a local co-op for parts. If not fastened down, I didn't count cost in the total. Don

ollo_ollo

Hadn't thought much about this ?. Maybe we need a ruling on whether to count portable add-ons like bags, lights etc.? Don

nlerner

I got out for about 14 miles of city riding on the Sports today. It felt pretty good. I didn't do anything to the rear hub, but the gears seem to work pretty reliably (I need to give it a few squirts of WD-40), the brakes do what they're supposed to, and I didn't even notice the out-of-true rear wheel. A few pics:

Poised to go in the backyard:



With the Tobin Bridge between Charlestown and Chelsea, MA, across the Mystic River in the background:



Checking out the USS Constitution, in dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard for a couple of years. It's actually being launched tomorrow night (not bad for a ship originally launched in 1797):

Murray Missile 

I have a Plan B but if the rules allow I'd much rather go with Plan A.

I'm a real PITA aren't I?

Murray Missile 

Went with Plan "C", NASHBAR had Camelbaks on sale, been wanting one anyway. I figure if it's not mounted to the bike it doesn't count.

zammykoo

I was wondering about something similar to the above about add-ons. I normally ride with my Garmin GPS setup (which is well over $100). Does that mean I can't use it?

johnbobey

...too see the results of these projects!

jetboy 

got back to the trek clunker today:

to start: mark it!



cut it



cut it!



swap forks for one slightly less bent... its a bit tall. got to cut it down but my saw blade is sort of dull...so got to wait.



fork is actually left over from a pile of parts i bought for last years clunker challenge..so I am calling it 0$ due to its pedigree

fleslider 

Well mine is nothing like the work Jetboy has going on up there.. watching in interest on that build.

took the Nashbar Toure out for a test ride of a coupe miles so sort out any issues. got them taken care of and it is rolling nicely. the Suntour Sealed bearing hubs and Bottom Bracket are still smooth after all these years. everything got cleaned up and reinstalled. all thats left to do will be tape the bars, then comes the fun part... the ride!




Hopefully this 2nd Gen Mountech Derailleur doesn't give me problems!

jetboy 

I love that crankset

zammykoo

Are those handebars the Modolo X Tenos with the anatomic bends? I had some of those a while back and just couldn't love them. Couldn't get used to its angular nature. They sat in my parts bin for a couple of years before I decided to give them away. Curious to know what you think about them.

fleslider 

Nope they are a generic NL bar that were on the bike. from this short ride i did they were ok, but how it will be on a longer ride..i dont know. but will find out!

jetboy 

some progress!


Yes... i think those other forks are bent as well... but they are good enough.

I am thinking single speed- so this is really just put together to see if its anywhere close to straight its not terrible.

some process shots:

inserts in the top tube to add strength (epoxy to hold)


shims on the down tube to fit the larger pipe fittings...



then drill and tap for bolts underneath for safety and rigidity..



more epoxy so it stays in!




DONE! I did it pretty much like the dude did in the blog write up referenced before. the only difference is I used a smaller connector on top- and I put mine at 45 degree angles and not 90- figuring i could get a bit more rigidity that way.

now the rest of the build is just building a normal single speed bike.

nlerner

^ that's very steampunk, @jetboy! Well done!

zammykoo

Bravo @jetboy! How does she ride?

jetboy 

hah. well just sitting and pushing shes alright. I wish I could have used the smaller fitting on the down tube... it would look much better- the downtube fitting is just too oversized. This is all just practice. when I am done Ill probably take the fittings off and do something similar to a frame in better shape after learning what not to do.

with the cost of the bolts and shims, I am scraping 100$ already. luckily the tap and drill bit don't count!... so the rest of the build is going to be me scrounging things from the bikes I trash picked. luckily one of the trash pics had bullhorn bars and another trash pick from before had a single speed cassette. so i think I am good to make a single speed with a front brake only so it can be taken apart easily.

I am just going to leave the paint in its trashed state. the 100km ride will really be to see if the fittings hold up---

if I do it again, ill do inserts in the downtube to make a smaller diameter so that the smaller fitting will work on both tubes- be much more elegant.

ollo_ollo

Well done, I love it. Similar to WWII Russian weapons, crude but effective! Don