malcala622

Im guessing you meant Sign-a-Rama? I search your spelling and it led me to a university concert.

RiddleOfSteel

The buyer for the SR800 (mentioned above) test rode it, struggled mightily with understanding STIs and gears (even with my instruction), and the next day told me he would keep searching. He was getting the hang of it though. So close! At any rate, that's for sale locally now.

I worked on getting my '90 ST400 ready for sale as well. I had to "un-squeal" the alcohol-wiped rims and brake pads so that the buyer wouldn't have to do that (or go deaf)--no way to sell a bike! Those Tektro CR720 canti brakes remain a staunch favorite--Dura-Ace dual pivot performance (at least) with light brake lever action. Test riding it again I was reminded how good of a bike this and other built ST's are. No room or express touring purpose at present, if for a while, so it goes to someone else!

Re-built-up my Land Shark, this time with a Control Tech threadless stem and a bevy of Dura-Ace pieces. That should help it drop nearly a pound and a half. I used the 6400 parts on it for the SR800, retaining only the wheelset and seatpost + saddle. The magic is in the wheels and the frame, and I'm keeping them the same!

New used brake pads for my CAAD10 Black Inc. Disc plus breaking them in. Finally good to go there! Ticking happens when out of the saddle. It's not the BB, it's cables and housings shifting and making noise. Gotta quiet that before selling it.

25mm tires to my Trek 710. The Soma Supple Vitesse EX's are plush, but I feel like I'm in sand a bit, even if pumped up more. With nice 25's, I'll see if that helps and go from there. I'm not 100% sold on the proportion of everything at present. Something is/has been off, and I need to get to the bottom of it or else that frame/bike will go to a new home (we are in slash and burn mode, with love, but still...build great bike, sell great bike, get good money for it, have more space, take another spare frame to build, rinse, repeat).

Busy last three or so days, but I got my long bike list nearly done!

audiomagnate

I can't post pics yet but today I added a vintage Pletscher rear rack to my Bianchi MTB conversion to urban assault vehicle and replaced the chain I twisted a few days ago on my 1990 Cannondale 3.0 Criterium Series.

Prowler 

I've been chasing a creak in my Raleigh Pro. I removed the cranks for service back in late winter and on a recent ride I kept noticing a creaking sound as I pedaled. Bugs me, I cannot ignore that sort of thing. I've removed the cranks to clean the spindle and the crank arm sockets to ensure sparkling cleanliness. Wee bit of grease and back together. No change. Retorqued the bolts. No change. Clocked both cranks 90deg and torqued. No change. Checked the pedals. No issues there. Today I removed the chain rings to ensure sparkling cleanliness and lubed all the joints and bolts. No change. UGH!!!!!

It was the saddle clamps. Mom used to say "stupid, stupid, stupid".

audiomagnate

At least you know your bottom bracket is in tip top condition.

AlmostGreenGuy

The 1983 Trek 520 for my wife is coming along nicely. The only problem is the rear wheel, which is pretty trashed. I have a Mavic to replace it, but my wife really wants a silver rim to match the front wheel. New Brooks B17 saddle, stem shifters for my easily frightened wife, Kool Stop salmon brake pads, suicide levers, white bar tape and all new white cables.



So I've done what any sane vintage bike lover does. N+1 at its best. I've purchased this beautiful 1983 Fuji Del Rey. It cost less than $100.00 from the original owner. Sat in his garage for the last 20 years. So I can justify the purchase to get the excellent condition silver real wheel for the Trek. The Mavic will get tossed onto the Fuji. A little cleanup and some tires I already have, and the Fuji should be up and running for no extra cost. The frame size should fit my daughter perfectly. I just need to get her to ride it enough to get used to the downtube shifters. I'm getting really tired of installing stem shifters on all my family's vintage bikes.

seedsbelize 

Yesterday I stripped my new to me 1980 Trek 414 down to frame and fork mode, and the 88 Ironman frameset to same, and wrapped them up for air travel. Today the wheels get broken down. All will be packed in the same box, for the flight to Cancun next week.

DQRider 

That's a very nice decal; any chance we can see a shot of the entire bike?

I have to say, however, that I think your experience with Velocals is atypical. I've always had great success dealing with them, and they always answer my emails.

Just recently, I needed a rush-job on a custom set for a bike I was building for a family member's birthday. Even though this is the busiest time of year for them, the Andersons made sure I had that set in my hands in time to deliver the goods.

Keep in mind that they have had some difficulties with copyright issues, and maybe your Bianchi Alloro item fit into that category. Either that, or maybe it's a California -vs- Texas thing?

markwesti

Thanks for the nod @DQRider .

noglider 

I was a bike shop mechanic when those SunTour derailleurs were in production and on the road in large volumes. I've seen a higher failure rate with the Superbe and Cyclone derailleurs than I have with the V-GT and the VX-GT. Sorry, those don't look as nice, but they're very tough and overall are better bets if you want them to work reliably for a long time. The higher end stuff was lighter and looked nicer.

Kent T

Will be doing some wrenching on my 1982-1983 Bridgestone Spica. A $20 score at the Oak Ridge Habitat Restore. Fits me perfectly. Except for rear tire, all original. Plan on a new front tire soon. Front brake needs some adjustment (original Dia-Compes). Overall, a very nice survivor.

RiddleOfSteel

^^^^ I looked at a Spice before finding a 400 a few years ago. Very well-proportioned bikes, and the Spica enjoyed an integrated RD hanger (no claw need apply!). I enjoy the early and mid-'80s Bridgestones.

******

On my end I put a chain and shifter cables on the Land Shark, futzing around with the front derailleur (a Dura-Ace 7410 unit) before giving up on its woeful shifting ability and replacing it with a spare 7800 FD. The 7410 has worked in the past, and it's the only Dura-Ace FD in my collection that possesses a 28.6mm band. All the others are braze-on. At any rate, the 7800 was installed and the whole setup finally tuned. Works as it should on the stand. Will ride it tomorrow or the next to work and around.

BFisher

Let's see...
New wire from bottle to hinge contact - greased headset and rear hub bearings - cleaned rims - fresh rubber - cleaned stem and bars.
My Klapprad:

JaccoW

Kdogbikes

Picked up this bike on the cheap last weekend. Figured I could use a few bits. Got to cleaning it up it’s turning out to be a pretty nice bike.

3speedslow

Damn fine looking folder there! What’s the backstory on It? I had my hands on one of those Torpedo hubs last week. Do you have to use their shifter?

Edit: Referring to the Klapprad folder shown above.

BFisher

Hey, thanks! My wife bought this bike for me years ago. The hub dates to 1968. It is a 36-hole, two-speed kickback (no shifter required). She also sewed the cover on that saddle, as the original Wittkop was shot. It has a Gloria lock with key:

The hub is a gem. It works great. The bottom bracket on this bike is low, and pedal strike is easy to do. I don't ride it much, but have done so for short trips close by. My kids like to ride it here sometimes. Believe it or not, the original Continental Compact whitewalls and Woods-valve tubes still hold air. I finally took them off for good today.

BIGDCYCLES

Started out as a 90's Fuji Sandblaster SX. This is in progress after fresh paint by me. Rolling on 650b wheels now. New FSA Duron X sealed headset, Shimano Deore XT BB. More new parts on the way including bars and saddle.

3speedslow

^^^Striking colour choice. Looks to be a great paint job. Your presenter is a darling!

BIGDCYCLES

Thank you! The color is burnt copper metallic.

Sir_Name 

Missed this... I didn’t measure, but wound up dropping the pads around 5 mm in the slots as a result. This could certainly be an alternative to filing slots longer if in search of add’l reach. When getting to this point every situation is different, of course...

JaccoW

Getting this chainguard fitted. It came with all the bits and pieces but the bike I mounted it on is a 531 mixte frame with oversized downtube. Clamp wasn't big enough. Build something myself using metal band and some drilling and filing.

bwilli88 

alanalanbobalan

I just finished upgrading a 1986 Trek 500...but can’t post any pics until I get to 10

ryansu

I found this 1987 Schwinn LeTour for $50 last spring, it was missing a rear brake, was too small for me and needed TLC but I figured it would be a decent project. I sourced a Dia Compe 400 rear brake from the local co-op (Bike Works) and was setting up the brakes Friday but my Dia Compe solution was sub optimal..



Not gonna work

So back to Bikeworks I went on Saturday and was lucky to find a Shimano BR-R450 47-57 Long reach rear brake



Much better

The brake set is mismatched but I don't care as its functional and I want to get this bike finished an sold on so I can free up some room.