zjrog

Almost ready to ride.

Having some issues with the FD adjustments, but the RD went pretty easy. Now deciding handlebar wrap, after I like the hoods location. And settle on pedals. And a seat.

carbomb

NICE! nice nice nice nice nice... I approve of this fetching, purpose built amalgam of enjoyment =)

zjrog

If decals were readily available, I would consider a quality repaint to original colors. I hate seeing it chipped, but it will be nice just ride this old friend again.

carbomb

Before you go that far you may want to try and find nail polish to fill in the chips. Nail polish comes in so many colors that more or less color matching it should be possible. Sure, it won't be perfect, but from 5-10 feet it will be a huge improvement and it costs very little.

This is the type of bike my girl and I would stop and look at. We'd then try to invent a back story about the bike and owner based off the build. =)

zjrog

I had some matching nail polish for the green. But it turned gray once it hit the sunlight.

zjrog

Repacked the bearings in my older MKS SY-1 pedals. Had a good friend show me where my head messed up with the FD adjustments. Then, double checked to make sure everything was tight and adjusted right. And stole a few minutes to ride the old friend around the neighborhood.

It felt good, and I need to make a couple adjustments. I need a little more time riding to see if I like the brake position or not, before wrapping. I have some neat looking urban camo wrap. Old wrap had been cowprint... And I am thinking about recovering the old Vetta seat with reclaimed leather from a thriftshop purse. There was a thread about that not long ago. Going to run some Shimano SPD pedal on my Cannondale indoors and get used to clipless over the winter. There are still other things to consider of course, but I'm happy to swing a leg back over the old friend for the first time since 99 or 2000...

Sure makes me look fat... I am. 6'3" and over 300 Clyde. Looking to get some weight off this winter, battling gout issues, and heel spur problems. I had a left knee replaced 5 years ago. And the right knee has had it's first injections. Hoping to keep it a couple years more , but not afraid of changing it...

zjrog

September of 89 or 90...

If only I were at that weight again!!!

zjrog

Ok, a little sleuthing, I have found my KHS Fiero is a 1986 model, July of 86. I had no idea of year other than mid to late 80s since I bought the bare frame in late 1989. Not terribly important, but good to finally nail down the time frame.

zjrog

I wound up in some bad health issues, so the bike went to the basement with another bike. Got through some of the health issues, Achilles tendon repair, and most recently Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery. I am down over 90 pounds from my heaviest, and over 70 since surgery in Oct. of 2018.

The bike I had on my trainer had shifting issues, and decided to bring the KHS out of hibernation...

And is now on my Performance trainer. Nice and very solid. I had found the old seatpost was cracked and the head was loose. 26.4mm seat posts are not as readily available as when I got the bike. I found one at the bicycle collective. I also stopped at Performance and snagged WTB seat. Just matches my sit bones and feels good with bike shorts...

I picked up a wheel set for a good price. 32h 5600 series 105 hubs built with Rigida rims. For a few bucks more, he included a WH-R561 wheel set. But they are low spoke count, 16 front, 20 rear, that I won't ride, except on my trainer. Last wheel issue I had, I broke my back...

zjrog

Well. Got the rear in place. No real difference on the trainer, but it looks cool on my old friend...

zjrog

Decided my Old Friend needed to be outside. 5600 105 hubs with Rigida rims rides nice. A meanderingly slow ride about town for 9.5 miles. Not bad for it's first outing in a LOOONNNGGGG time. I'm glad I chose to swap out the 12-27 cassette in favor of 12-32.

I swallowed a ton of fear at one point letting it roll downhill. At 24mph, I needed to brake. My mind over rode my inner acceptance of going downhill fast... So, I took a swing at my fears, and they flinched for a second. PROGRESS!

I did have to push the bike about half a block on a climb. Just ran out of gear and momentum. Spiked my heart rate at 168 and said enough... So I found my "Rubicon" of sorts.

So the bike rode great. The rider needs more work. But it felt stable at the speeds my mind didn't like. That is a positive. Brakes need a little adjustment, but stop well. The shifting is on point, and I need to make a couple tiny fit adjustments. Not ready to ride the spd clipless yet. But beginning to think I may try soon.

Asked a local group about easy group rides. Another fear to take a swing at. But have been riding with my daughter and her hubby, and I might be ok in small groups....

I think my Old Friend is happy...

Wildwood 

.....much happier outside than in.

Thanks for keeping a thread alive & current.

zjrog

Very true... And, I am alive and current, so that is always a positive. After my crash 8 years ago, alive is always good.

ryansu

Fake news! Only a few (all) of the major tire manufactures make 27 inch ties. I agreed that unless I want to go < 25c or > 35c I have to have a real compelling reason to switch.

OP if the KHS is going to do trainer duty why the need to switch to 700c?

zjrog

As I noted elsewhere, the old front wheel had rusting eyelets at the nipples and when we tried to true the rear, it stripped several nipples. I did look first at my local collective but was unable to find a matching pair of 27" wheels. When they had a pair of take off 700s with tires and tubes, I jumped. And the project went towards a complete upgrade if the bike.

Now, after several health issues and injuries, I enjoy riding again, and my Old Friend is in the mix to be ridden outside. I have something else to put back on the trainer...

ryansu

Missed that makes good sense -congrats on ridding again. +1 on the long reach tektros to accommodate the needed reach for the 700c wheels

3speedslow

An enjoyable read! My wife and I are also former Fostering parents. Our Son Charles is one who never left. He is 14 now...and a handful!

The one KHS bike I had was quite nice, full 531 but just a little small for me. Sad. Glad to read you and the friend are back again gathering miles together.

Fahrenheit531 

The first couple of posts left me with a curious desire for moo-cow bar tape.

zjrog

HAHAHAAAAA! I at least found something close!

zjrog

Fun 9.5 miles with the daughter and her hubby. Letting him borrow the Redhead while he tries to decide what he wants in cycling. He tried my 29er. But the Redhead he likes... Daughter's 98 Scwinn Passage, my Old Friend, and the 92 Trek 1400, AKA, The Redhead...

zjrog

I'm glad the boy reached out to us a few years ago. His life sure turned out differently than I expected. We've met his wife and kids and we stay in touch. Our son and his wife, have fostered many, but adopted 3, and in process of a 4th. The two oldest kids are siblings, I've got them on bikes, the third is almost 3 and on a balance bike. The one is process is a half sibling to the first two... And 8 months old...

I know some people have issues, blood or not. No matter to me, my Mom was adopted, so I have a different perspective...

zjrog

I have never ever weighed this old bike... Curious a few times, but never did... Well, after 30 years and untold variations, I finally did...



Not quite as heavy as I thought it was. I can only imagine how much heavier it was years ago with lower end parts...

zjrog

16 mile ride today with the daughter and her hubby... I've lost 120 pounds, and today was my first public outing in bike shorts and jersey!

qcpmsame 

Kudos on both the bike build, and on some serious weight loss. You're better off for both experiences, trust me on this one. Now, get back down to P'cola and visit your old haunts so we can get in a ride here.


Bill

zjrog

P'Cola! Oh my. Yeah. If I hadn't been going to C school in 89, I may have never ridden bicycles again. The old Photo School building is now base HQ, and I want to see the photo museum in the periscope room...

Haunts, oh my. Yeah. Statute of limitations is likely expired, and all parties should be retired now!

Rebuilding the Old Friend has certainly been it's own reward. Working on ME has paid the greatest dividends. As much as I love this bike, I have another build in process. A reward for my weight loss, and minus cabling and bar tapes weighs just 17 pounds... I was going to reward myself when I reach 240 pounds, only 18 more to go. But my daughter convinced me to go on a charity ride with her sister in law. Now seriously. How can I say no to riding with 2 beautiful women?