Conversion in Process - Opinions please
 

I KNOW I can rely on you lot for opinions. This is being done on a budget, so there is no option to spring for anything expensive. I've been buying bikes to part out for ebay, and here and there liberating some bits for this project. I've got a nice Nigel Dean road frame from the 80's in a sweet bronze colour, chrome forks. Got a TTT track stem, and an unusual set of bars that came from an 80's Raleigh, which look pretty sweet. Titanium Flite saddle, (for which I need a slightly longer post), and a set of flip flop wheels with steel rims from an old Claud Butler. I know they'll be heavy, but it's all I have access to right now. Ignore the wheels which are on their now - they're just holding the bike off the ground, since the others where at the shop, having the freewheel block removed. Take a look:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC00176.jpg

Here are some closer pics of the bars:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC00177.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC00178.jpg

Here is the rear hub:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC00175.jpg

And here, for the sake of interest, is my bike shop of a back room, including stuff I'm stripping for selling, and a couple of other projects.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC00179.jpg

So, any thoughts, or opinions? What do you like about this? I have a gold chain (well, bronzy, anyway), and I'm just waiting for the right crankset to turn up (on a bike that I can resell without it), or to decide to convert one of the many double chainring sets I've got around.

My opinion is that you should ride it as soon as possible.

I completely agree. That said, you will have gathered from the state of my backroom that this project not being finished is not keeping me from having a bike to ride. Indeed, there are 20 more bikes in the garage. Looking at the pic, I think maybe I should rotate the bars til the lower section is parallel to the ground.

hookah!

+aliens

Hookah yes. Aliens where? Unless you're referring to Sideshow Bob over in the corner. The furniture back there is moving soon, so there's more space for stripped bikes, but only on the understanding that all complete bikes stay in the garage. As you can see, that is not currently the case.

my opinion? spend less time sucking the pipe and more time riding yr bike ;)

mickster

Almost never smoke the thing, and never weed. About twice a year, with strawberry tobacco. It sure does look purty though.

good! cause we hates that sweet sticky bud around here...

Heheheheh. I don't mind the occasional toke, but I've never smoked it in the hookah. We've talked about it, but never got round to it. I smoke very seldom though, because I need both my lungs and my mental accuity, and I can only think at half speed the morning after a night on the herb.

It needs a bottom bracket, cranks and pedals. Maybe a brake? I dunno. Those bars are tight (as in, "awesome"). I don't really see the need for a track stem, but that's the strokes for the different folks. I hope it fits.

No need, just cool points. I have other bikes for being ideal to ride, I wanted to build something that made me wet my pants. I think it'll look sweet, and if it's fun to ride as well, all the better......