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Clunker Challenge #5

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Clunker Challenge #5

Old 04-05-19, 12:12 AM
  #26  
Reco Very
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Which one(ones) to choose?? I have been looking forward to this challenge for a while.
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Old 04-05-19, 12:40 AM
  #27  
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posting just so i can keep track of this thread and follow it. good luck everyone
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Old 04-05-19, 04:57 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by cudak888
Sounds like the 24 Hours of Lemons rules here - good stuff.

Question 1: What if I want to build something in a pile of bikes that cost me over $100, but I have documentation to show that I sold off enough of the lot that my starting price is under $100? Would that suffice?

Just considering the alternatives before jumping into the frying pan here - I just walked into four projects today (in a single lot) that could all fill the bill. I don't think I can swing a fifth, and I'm not really keen on riding the wheel-less Specialized RockHopper that a neighbor gave me (that'd be just way too easy - it's complete save for wheels, and the LBS gave me a pair of wheels that'd work - I'd have all but $5 in replacement spokes into the thing).

Question 2: Is there a side category for overeager mechanics that can enter multiple sub-$100 bikes, and simultaneously disqualify themselves for not riding all the bikes 62 miles?

-Kurt
yes
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Old 04-05-19, 05:32 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Narhay
yes
I like these rules.

-Kurt
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Old 04-05-19, 09:34 AM
  #30  
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I’ve gone through old PMs, and deleted Craigslist ads. Turns out that for my $100 purchase, I sold $130 worth of parts between last November, and March. That number reflects established value of parts sold after shipping costs.

Selling both derailleurs, three chainrings, both hubs, both skewers, the freewheel, shift levers, brake levers, and a rear caliper, left me with a “free” frameset, stem, bars, and 30 bucks in the pocket.

So, @Narhay last stipulation to work out here. Do I have what is a free bit of clunker material to work with? Or do I have clunker material AND a $30 credit towards the build?
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Old 04-05-19, 04:41 PM
  #31  
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I have had a hankering, for no logical reason, to find an early 90's hybrid to build up as a bullet proof Commuter; Schwinn CrissCross, Specialized Cross roads,Trek multi track, Nishiki Ambush, Diamond back approach etc.. Steel, (some lugged) 700c wheels, slack angles, etc. Might try to find one for the challenge and then build it up after. I found a MTB in good shape for $80 last year which almost felt like cheating so I need to try something different this time.
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Old 04-05-19, 05:31 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by deux jambes
I’ve gone through old PMs, and deleted Craigslist ads. Turns out that for my $100 purchase, I sold $130 worth of parts between last November, and March. That number reflects established value of parts sold after shipping costs.

Selling both derailleurs, three chainrings, both hubs, both skewers, the freewheel, shift levers, brake levers, and a rear caliper, left me with a “free” frameset, stem, bars, and 30 bucks in the pocket.

So, @Narhay last stipulation to work out here. Do I have what is a free bit of clunker material to work with? Or do I have clunker material AND a $30 credit towards the build?
The idea is you make your $100 go as far as possible. If that means a free bike and another 30 to add to budget then so be it. Just because you are being clever with the budget doesn't require penalization.
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Old 04-05-19, 07:16 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by ryansu
I have had a hankering, for no logical reason, to find an early 90's hybrid to build up as a bullet proof Commuter; Schwinn CrissCross, Specialized Cross roads,Trek multi track, Nishiki Ambush, Diamond back approach etc.. Steel, (some lugged) 700c wheels, slack angles, etc. Might try to find one for the challenge and then build it up after. I found a MTB in good shape for $80 last year which almost felt like cheating so I need to try something different this time.
Do it. All the reasons are logical.
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Old 04-05-19, 10:35 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Phamilton
Do it. All the reasons are logical.
Fascinating.

-Kurt
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Old 04-06-19, 05:29 AM
  #35  
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I would like to do this , is there a dead line as to when you need to start? How old dose the bike need to be? Thanks
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Old 04-06-19, 12:00 PM
  #36  
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Update: The Jeunet is still there at the co-op, and I had the wisdom to put a 'save' tag on it. I looked it over and the bike is literally almost 100% steel. The handlebars, the seatpost, the wheels, the cranks, etc. I think the only aluminum bit s were brakes, levers, and maybe (?) chainrings. The bike was in the 'strip' pile, which didn't make any sense. All the parts that could be stripped wouldn't really fit on anything else except an old french bike, which sort of defeats the purpose, and the rest of the parts wouldn't be worth saving anyway.

I was going to ask about purchasing it or working it off, but today wasn't the day. Will wait for the owner to be in a happy mood and go from there
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Old 04-06-19, 06:34 PM
  #37  
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So, If I remove a rear wheel worth $25, and replace it with one worth $75, that's been in the shed for a few years, can I claim a "cost" of $50 ?
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Old 04-06-19, 07:54 PM
  #38  
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I ought to able to make something out of this, right?

March a good month for bike stuff. Found a few frames and parts for free, and then a friend asked me to rehab and build up the Bianchi frame in there for him... payment, three other partial bikes he had laying around the house. My candidate for the clubker challenge is this Azuki:

I actually rescued this bike from a junk heap five years ago, fixed it up, and sold it to a (different) friend... who rode it into the ground and then left it to rot in a back yard for four years.

My plan: Keep the drops, remove the rear wheel and drivetrain, add 7x3 indexed shifting in the form of OEM Shimano bar top "butterfly" shifters, and spread the rear triangle to 135 so I can wedge in some mismatched 700c hybrid wheels. I have a nicer frame I plan to cold set so this one will be practice. Then I'm gonna put a rack and a basket on and ride to Mississippi.

Looking at the bike, I think the brake pads might not have enough adjustment to reach 700c rims. So maybe I'll be making some drop bolts. I'll post in progress pictures as I work on it, but I have to clear out a couple other beaters first! I anticipate swift progress in May when I'm done with school.

Last edited by eeuuugh; 04-06-19 at 07:55 PM. Reason: Autosave didn't restore the end of the post
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Old 04-06-19, 09:00 PM
  #39  
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As previously stated I was thinking Hybrid for this years challenge and even had a line on a Trek 700 for $75. I went to the local co-op today looking for a seat post and stopped in at the warehouse, just to look, and I spotted this.. and since I have never owned a bike made of the mythical metal I was intrigued



Hey now

I could see it was a Trek but it had a fade paint job I had never seen on a Trek, not that I am expert, and the top tube said Cirrus which was not a model I was familiar with hmmm, and its my size and then I see


and the sticker says



Oh yeah! come to Papa!!

So here we are and after some brake adjustment some air in the tires a little saddle and stem adjust. And the addition of some no name pedals and a bottle cage - I figure 3 bucks for the lot out of my parts bin, I am $78 in and have done a 1 km shake down cruise. Aside from the replacement rear wheel and FW it all appears to be an otherwise Original 1987 Trek Cirrus 520.



Test ride time
Clunker indeed - Pinch me. The SIS Indexing even works!

Last edited by ryansu; 04-06-19 at 09:20 PM.
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Old 04-07-19, 07:45 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by eeuuugh
What crankset is that, I have been looking for one like that for a while now.
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Old 04-07-19, 10:34 AM
  #41  
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Took my potential clunker out for a shakedown cruise.
After a two day WD40 soak, it broke down two times in the first 2K.
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Old 04-07-19, 11:05 AM
  #42  
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Some good stuff in this thread already. A Trek 520, and a Schwinn Cimarron. The Univega buried under Classtime's pile of free bikes is pretty decen too.
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Old 04-07-19, 12:10 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by cudak888
Fascinating.

-Kurt
I did one myself last fall and have about 1,000 miles on it and I’m very satisfied. Most people seem to be quite pleased with the conversion.

Edit: had I been thriftier with my conversion, it would have come in under $100 total, I paid $25 for the bike, a 700 Multitrack.
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Old 04-07-19, 01:30 PM
  #44  
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After some back and forth consideration, and checking in with the famed facilitator of challenged clunkers, I’m officially submitting, and committing.

My entry as found, and purchased for exactly $100 last autumn...




A French frame of unknown manufacturer, and its replacement Gitane Interclub fork. I’ve removed, and sold all of its components except for what remains as seen here (bars too, still have those though not pictured)...




Actually the steel Regida noise maker rims were donated, but net profit from the sold parts is calculated at $130 resulting in a free frameset, and a budget credit of $30.

We’ll see how it builds, but I’m thinking cheap, quick, and dirty is the way!

Last edited by deux jambes; 04-07-19 at 01:42 PM.
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Old 04-07-19, 02:15 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by bwilli88
What crankset is that, I have been looking for one like that for a while now.
It's a Sugino Maxy. 54/47 chainrings, the big ring is swaged to the crankarm, and looking closely at it the driveside arm is 165mm and the NDS is 171.
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Old 04-07-19, 02:33 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by deux jambes
After some back and forth consideration, and checking in with the famed facilitator of challenged clunkers, I’m officially submitting, and committing.

My entry as found, and purchased for exactly $100 last autumn...




A French frame of unknown manufacturer, and its replacement Gitane Interclub fork. I’ve removed, and sold all of its components except for what remains as seen here (bars too, still have those though not pictured)...




Actually the steel Regida noise maker rims were donated, but net profit from the sold parts is calculated at $130 resulting in a free frameset, and a budget credit of $30.

We’ll see how it builds, but I’m thinking cheap, quick, and dirty is the way!
Bon Chance!
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Old 04-07-19, 03:08 PM
  #47  
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My current go to bike is my UO10.
If I were to put it on craigslist, I'd be surprised if someone gave me a hundred bucks for it.
I also have a Grand Touring frame, that's missing it's drive train because I stole the components
for my Grand Julbilee. I could put it back together with parts off my work bench I'd have a bike that I paid
less than a hundred total, for parts.

But if I used either. it would feel like cheating, because if anyone called them clunkers,
I might hit them.
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Old 04-07-19, 03:26 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by ryansu
As previously stated I was thinking Hybrid for this years challenge and even had a line on a Trek 700 for $75. I went to the local co-op today looking for a seat post and stopped in at the warehouse, just to look, and I spotted this.. and since I have never owned a bike made of the mythical metal I was intrigued



Hey now

I could see it was a Trek but it had a fade paint job I had never seen on a Trek, not that I am expert, and the top tube said Cirrus which was not a model I was familiar with hmmm, and its my size and then I see


and the sticker says



Oh yeah! come to Papa!!

So here we are and after some brake adjustment some air in the tires a little saddle and stem adjust. And the addition of some no name pedals and a bottle cage - I figure 3 bucks for the lot out of my parts bin, I am $78 in and have done a 1 km shake down cruise. Aside from the replacement rear wheel and FW it all appears to be an otherwise Original 1987 Trek Cirrus 520.



Test ride time
Clunker indeed - Pinch me. The SIS Indexing even works!

I’m envious! The drop bar hybrid has hidden longings to be a 520 anyway, you’ve spared yourself much time and money for a superior product!
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Old 04-07-19, 06:39 PM
  #49  
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Hmm, I picked up a 1987 Specialized rockhopper for $45. Sold the derailleurs and picked up some cheapy replacements so I'm $35 into the bike so far. This will make a fine commuter.
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Old 04-07-19, 08:50 PM
  #50  
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So, because the Jeunet is not secured yet and I have nothing else to contribute, I'm turning the Fuji Cambridge VI into my unofficial official Clunker # 5 challenge bike. At the least, its turning into an interesting placeholder.



The bike is hi-ten, but has some redeeming qualities. First of all, it is uncommon/rare/unpopular. That makes it slightly interesting. The other unusual thing is that it has a curved top tube, which to me is reminiscent of the old CCM flyte -




...without any of the other cooler features the CCM had.

Other than that, it has forged-ish looking stamped steel dropouts, some secure looking lugs, and dates to the early 1980s.

Like a rescue animal that bites the hand, this one has thwarted my attempts to save it from a 100% scrapyard doom by throwing me a frozen seatpost AND stem. But I know it's just because it still feels unloved. I got the seatpost out with some coaxing, but that stem is going to be a tricky beast. I want to actually save it and use it (since it was free and will contribute nicely to the status quo so far) and since so much is sticking up, my plan is to cut it off near the base and 'shorten' it for use later by grinding down a new wedge angle on it. With it cut down, I will also gain access to pounding out the wedge, which may be contributing to the problem. HOWEVER, the headset nut is also stuck, and so I don't want to cut anything before cracking that sucker loose, so it is all soaking with some penetrating oil after a few good whacks with a mallet.




Hopefully will have a fun update at some point, either with some stem action going on, or even a new bike in the shop!

Last edited by AdventureManCO; 04-07-19 at 08:56 PM.
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