Green Giant: 1979 Michael Johnson
04-06-21, 01:36 PM
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Agree with above about seeing some BG in this, took these pics planning to post before the reveal for consideration although the top of the seat stays and lug are no match.
Anyway, the binders are very similar and many did it this way, and this one is green too.
Anyway, the binders are very similar and many did it this way, and this one is green too.
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04-07-21, 07:28 PM
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That is a beautiful bike, merziac.
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04-07-21, 08:08 PM
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Super-nice bike. Many congrats. Whatever you paid for it, it's worth it. I'd be interested in the measurements when you have it in hand and use an actual tape measure and angle gauge on it.
SP tubing is a smart call for a frame that size. So is that longish chain stay length. I'm very glad it's in the hands of someone who will let it see the outdoors and - gasp - actually be ridden.
BTW, it looks to me like the front brake. at least, has plenty of reach adjustment if you ever want to swith to 700c wheels. The rear brake looks to be a closer run thing, but you only need them pads to be 4mm lower, so you might be able to juuust do it. Not suggesting you should make that change, just that it looks like it might be an easy option.
SP tubing is a smart call for a frame that size. So is that longish chain stay length. I'm very glad it's in the hands of someone who will let it see the outdoors and - gasp - actually be ridden.
BTW, it looks to me like the front brake. at least, has plenty of reach adjustment if you ever want to swith to 700c wheels. The rear brake looks to be a closer run thing, but you only need them pads to be 4mm lower, so you might be able to juuust do it. Not suggesting you should make that change, just that it looks like it might be an easy option.
Thanks bikingshearer. I'll be home tomorrow with it to take some actual measurements. I ride a similar size frame as you. Recently I picked up a 68cm Specialized Expedition, and it actually fits me(with just a fistful of post showing).
I am pretty hopeful that the brakes have enough adjustment left to reach 700c wheels.
The seller had this up on Craigslist for over a couple months. He dropped the price a few times. It sounds like he didn't gather much interest, probably because of the size. I was interested, but he wasn't keen on shipping it( at first). When he finally decided shipping was an option, the cost of having a shop pack and ship was a no go for me. I traveled a bit for this one, but..
It's been a real fun trip so far...
Last edited by Roger M; 04-07-21 at 08:23 PM.
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04-07-21, 08:31 PM
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04-09-21, 06:21 PM
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So I'm home with the bike now, after a pretty fun road trip. I tore it down last night and got to cleaning some parts. Most everything shows no real wear, but had forty something years of dirt and grease. It all cleaned up well.
I took some measurements with a tape measure, and downloaded an angle finder/level app to get the angles..
Seat tube: 67cm c-c
Top tube: 60.5
Headtube: 24.76cm
ST angle: 71.5
HT angle: 73.5
For being not ridden, there's several chips and scratches. Mostly from being moved around in the garage all those years. The worst being under the shifters. It looks like the clamp wasn't tight enough, and ended up sliding down the downtube. I'll probably take the fork down to the local autobody supply, and try to get some touch up paint.
Anyhow, here's a couple pictures of parts...
I took some measurements with a tape measure, and downloaded an angle finder/level app to get the angles..
Seat tube: 67cm c-c
Top tube: 60.5
Headtube: 24.76cm
ST angle: 71.5
HT angle: 73.5
For being not ridden, there's several chips and scratches. Mostly from being moved around in the garage all those years. The worst being under the shifters. It looks like the clamp wasn't tight enough, and ended up sliding down the downtube. I'll probably take the fork down to the local autobody supply, and try to get some touch up paint.
Anyhow, here's a couple pictures of parts...
04-10-21, 12:17 PM
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The headset and bottom bracket were serviced and reinstalled this morning. With any luck I might be able take out for a spin. The color is really something, especially in the sunlight.
One oddity. The rear spacing is only 120mm.
One oddity. The rear spacing is only 120mm.
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04-10-21, 07:22 PM
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It's on the road again. I will be making some changes, but the Michael Johnson is rideable.
The brakes have enough adjustment to work with 700c wheels. I will go that rout in the future.
This crankset will likely get shelved for a couple of reasons. Its only a 170mm, and I would prefer a 175 or 180. Also, I would like a 39 tooth(or less) small ring.
The bars are too narrow for my needs. I will find something wider in the next few months.
Last edited by Roger M; 04-10-21 at 08:19 PM.
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04-10-21, 07:40 PM
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I know the bike is much too large for me, but she is definitely a thing of beauty! 
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04-10-21, 08:59 PM
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Um... wow. What a thing of beauty! When I first saw the thread title, I expected something made in Taiwan. Glad I clicked on it anyway! 
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04-10-21, 09:56 PM
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04-19-21, 05:01 PM
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A little bit of an update. I knew the bars were too narrow when I picked up the bike. However, I didn't have anything wider in a 25.4. I taped up the narrow bars just so I could ride it.
I found some Nitto 115s in a 45cm width, and they arrived last week. Had to get more tape, and decided on some fancier plugs.
I found some Nitto 115s in a 45cm width, and they arrived last week. Had to get more tape, and decided on some fancier plugs.
Last edited by Roger M; 04-19-21 at 10:05 PM.
04-19-21, 11:10 PM
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...FWIW, at least some of Michael Johnson's frames here got sold through the Bicycle Business, which is still there on Freeport Blvd.
They don't show up that often, so I don't really have a good idea of how many frames he built and sold here in Sacramento.
I bought this one from a guy who had moved up to Tahoe, and rarely rode it there.
...FWIW, at least some of Michael Johnson's frames here got sold through the Bicycle Business, which is still there on Freeport Blvd.
They don't show up that often, so I don't really have a good idea of how many frames he built and sold here in Sacramento.
I bought this one from a guy who had moved up to Tahoe, and rarely rode it there.
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04-20-21, 08:07 AM
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...FWIW, at least some of Michael Johnson's frames here got sold through the Bicycle Business, which is still there on Freeport Blvd.
They don't show up that often, so I don't really have a good idea of how many frames he built and sold here in Sacramento.
I bought this one from a guy who had moved up to Tahoe, and rarely rode it there.
...FWIW, at least some of Michael Johnson's frames here got sold through the Bicycle Business, which is still there on Freeport Blvd.
They don't show up that often, so I don't really have a good idea of how many frames he built and sold here in Sacramento.
I bought this one from a guy who had moved up to Tahoe, and rarely rode it there.
I do notice that three of them are equipped with Suntour parts. Was Suntour popular in Northern California back in the day?
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12-31-21, 02:04 PM
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That's a beautiful frame, and the only one I've seen larger than 26"/66cm. Interesting parts choices, too.
Here's my green giant:
Fredo in the sun.
Here's my green giant:
Fredo in the sun.
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12-31-21, 07:54 PM
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I've been finding big bikes lately. Bigger than I usually ride(I've always had a good amount of seatpost showing on my 62 and 63cm bikes). Fortunately, on a lot of bigger bicycles, the top tube doesn't grow with the seat tube.
I happened across this one on someone else's Craigslist search. I ended up having to travel a bit for this one, but I am pretty excited to have it. I bought it from the original owner, who had it built in about 1979. He only put about 100 miles on it, before demoting it to wall hanger. According to him, it was to nice to ride.
I'm just going to post a few pictures first. Maybe some of you can figure out who built the frame...
EDIT: Added builder to the title.
I happened across this one on someone else's Craigslist search. I ended up having to travel a bit for this one, but I am pretty excited to have it. I bought it from the original owner, who had it built in about 1979. He only put about 100 miles on it, before demoting it to wall hanger. According to him, it was to nice to ride.
I'm just going to post a few pictures first. Maybe some of you can figure out who built the frame...
EDIT: Added builder to the title.
, considering it was done in 1979(I know the bike has been indoors ever since).
12-31-21, 08:48 PM
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It isn't without flaws. I believe that whoever assembled it, didn't get the shifters clamped tight enough. There's some scraped up paint under the downtube, as we as some other chips(probably from being moved around in the garage/basement).
It shows well though.
12-31-21, 09:17 PM
#43
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I'm amazed that the BB boot inside the BB shell hasn't yellowed with age, or even appears to have turned brittle. Beautiful!
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07-14-22, 01:59 PM
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A little bit of an update:
I rode the green bike on Cino this year. In preparation, I installed a longer axle from another Superbe hub(that is cracked and no longer functional). I did this because the spacing on the rear hub is only 120mm. I wanted to run a six speed 13-32 freewheel, but it wouldn't jive with 120 spacing. The hub is now at 123mm and clearance is good for chain and FW.
I bought an Acorn bag from the last sale, and hacked together some saddle bag loops for the Ideale saddle.
Cino was great and tough at the same time, but MJ had zero issues. Over about 110 miles, no flats or mechanicals. The forty three year old brake shoes even performed pretty well. Got a couple of new rock chips in the paint, but that is par for course.
Now I need to get to cleaning..
I rode the green bike on Cino this year. In preparation, I installed a longer axle from another Superbe hub(that is cracked and no longer functional). I did this because the spacing on the rear hub is only 120mm. I wanted to run a six speed 13-32 freewheel, but it wouldn't jive with 120 spacing. The hub is now at 123mm and clearance is good for chain and FW.
I bought an Acorn bag from the last sale, and hacked together some saddle bag loops for the Ideale saddle.
Cino was great and tough at the same time, but MJ had zero issues. Over about 110 miles, no flats or mechanicals. The forty three year old brake shoes even performed pretty well. Got a couple of new rock chips in the paint, but that is par for course.
Now I need to get to cleaning..
07-14-22, 02:26 PM
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Great windup and report, I really like to hear the details, gory and otherwise, fantastic that you took this on a serious quest with no issues. 
Also just realized that this and my Gorden are even more similar in the build, crank and deraileurs being very close. I built mine up from a frame and hand picked everything for an upcoming Velo Cult show at the time, had some NOS 600 calipers and sourced the I believe TRP levers for the hood color and vibe, ended up getting some flak for them though, "cheap, stamped, gaudy", rubbish IMO, they look and feel great to me so
.
I may swap out the calipers for some Superbe that I have in stock and get it back out on the road.
Once again, great minds and all that.
Also just realized that this and my Gorden are even more similar in the build, crank and deraileurs being very close. I built mine up from a frame and hand picked everything for an upcoming Velo Cult show at the time, had some NOS 600 calipers and sourced the I believe TRP levers for the hood color and vibe, ended up getting some flak for them though, "cheap, stamped, gaudy", rubbish IMO, they look and feel great to me so
.I may swap out the calipers for some Superbe that I have in stock and get it back out on the road.
Once again, great minds and all that.
07-14-22, 02:49 PM
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I didn’t know you had a Gordon Merziac. Nice!
Beautiful bikes, all of these in the thread...
Beautiful bikes, all of these in the thread...
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07-14-22, 03:24 PM
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We used the BG, 60ish and the big silver 66 Merz for the fitting as the Strawberry was built with taking me to the end in mind so it came out a bit smaller for the time being so I can ride it later.
At first I thought it was odd that he wanted to use these two bikes, being so different in size.
It was a genius move on Dave Levy's part as it turned out perfect for me. We spent about an hour and a half switching back and forth between the 2 bikes on the trainer with him scratching his head until the he figured it out, light bulb went on, double checked a couple of final things and said " I know exactly what to do now" and "you'll have to compensate a little bit as you do now since it will be a little small for later but will still ride great between now and then.
It took him awhile to wrap his head around it as I had the two bikes set up with exactly the same settled in riding position despite being 6cm different in size, he said he'd never seen anyone get that without one of the bikes being a pain to ride and therefore not really being rideable. I had taken the BG on many longer rides and commuted on it as well.
This one was built when he was in Eugene for 10 years and had hung out/ridden with Merz and DiNucci during that time, so.....
