Senrab62 

Have had this frame for like 3+ years. Shakedown ride tonight. Finally got it built. Need some adjustments, different pedal/cage combo (had custom straps made) and some bar tape. Plan 15-20 miles on it tomorrow.

ethet 

I retrieved the beloved Level frame out of the closet last week with the intent to build up something a bit more punk rock to contrast with the bubblegum pop of the other bike I’m riding around lately. We covered almost 200km together over the past three days and I must say that I have really missed this frame… This bike feels suited for me.

Sonofamechanic 

Ethet, what pedal straps are you using on that Level?

ethet 

I use the Hold Fast product... I absolutely love them.

Sonofamechanic 

Purchased silver—greased, cleaned, painted and polished. 0.025 flake looks like a million bucks in the sunlight.


Azuki 57 cm with mostly surface rust but solid components

Repainted w silver base, 0.025 sky blue metal flake faded to silver flake and pig-skin handlebar wrap and seat.

AlmostTrick

Well done. I'm a sucker for metal flake. Requesting a close up pic in the sun please.

ofajen

That brings back memories! The only bike I ever bought new from a bike shop was a silver Azuki “10 speed” (2x5) with a 23” frame back in 1975, I reckon.

Eventually I outgrew it and bought a slightly used 25” frame from a guy in a local shop and moved parts over. Then I turned the Azuki into a single speed and eventually I think I gave it to a friend. A good bike, and yours looks great with that paint job! 👍

Otto

Sonofamechanic 

This big flake is difficult to get down and then smoothed out into an even gloss, but I’ a big fan too. Even in sunlight its hard to capture in a still...

Sonofamechanic 

...if this adds content: the inly reason i did the large flake on a lugged bike frame (really tough to get back to a smooth, even surface) was to test run the process for a gas tank (below in mid-stage, not smoothed and polished yet). But that said, the flake turned out so well I’ll likely do another frame. Lots of comments, but mostly “that’s way over the top” LOL

veganbikes

It feels like some sort of Photoshop effect was done just on the frame. Would love to see it in real life, I am sure it looks way better.

takenreasy

Azuki 57 cm with mostly surface rust but solid components

Repainted w silver base, 0.025 sky blue metal flake faded to silver flake and pig-skin handlebar wrap and seat.[/QUOTE]

Looks like you could use a bigger chain ring on that blue bike

Sonofamechanic 

LOL—yeah...I just re-built it as It was...just polish, grease and paint. But it rides just fine...so no changes.

TejanoTrackie 

I recently revised this 2011 Wabi Lightning Scandium with new Wabi 650c wheels and Nitto stem. I've now replaced everything on this bike's frameset except the pedals and front brake caliper. At this point it weighs just 14.6 lbs (minus the seat bag and water bottle) ! The only carbon fiber parts are the fork legs, and the the only Titanium parts are the saddle rails, so no doubt it could be made to weigh a lot less.


2011 Wabi Lightning Scandium with 650c wheels

ceelint

Just finished up this klunker.

ofajen

I did ride the Schwinn SS road bike with drop bars for a couple of weeks, and I liked some aspects of that, mostly the option for lower, more forward positions, especially leaning forward while riding out of the saddle.

Then, this morning I got inspired to try running some touring bars on it with a really long and low stem. It’s a 150mm Tioga stem. I rode it today and it worked well, so I’m going to run it this way for a bit. The road bars setup is still together in case I want to compare. Anyway, here is what that looks like now...






The RockHopper has received similar treatment, in that I swapped in a shorter stem adapter and lowered the bars. However, I think I will locate a 150mm stem for it also, so the reach is similar.





Otto

bykemike 

Getting my 2009 Cannondale Capo dialed in and out test riding this past week.

This is it sitting at the top of the local 65' bridge on the way back to my car after a 40 mile ride. I am running gears too high for climbing at my fitness level but I did make it up twice only standing at the very last few feet , breathing pretty hard though.

I am waiting on the last few parts before the weigh in. The Edco Competition Swiss track crank saved almost 3/4 lb over the All-City I was using.

eatontkd

This isn't pretty. Heck, I don't even know the brand or model of frame. I found it in refuse, painted it with rattle cans and threw spare used parts together. The wheels aren't the same size; the aero rim is in the rear and the front is wider. It has a side caliper on the front and center pull in the back. But man, is it fun to ride!!

Eric F 

My former (a very long time ago) race bike reincarnated with less parts. Super fun ride

wjjones

What bars are those?

EnzoRWD

oouellette

Soma Oxford

TejanoTrackie 

I purchased This SE Draft Coaster with 650c wheels 9 years ago for $279 mainly because I wanted a cheap SS bike with 650c wheels that I could lock up and not worry about it getting stolen or vandalized. There are not very many options when it comes to track bikes with 650c wheels, the only other currently being a Wabi, and those are not cheap. I never really liked the coaster brake, and immediately added a front brake, because a rear brake alone doesn't work very well when you have to stop quickly. This bike was really heavy out of the box, weighing nearly 26 lbs with its hi ten frame and fork, and nearly every component including the cranks being made out of steel. The regular sized SE Draft bikes with 700c wheels were even heavier, weighing about 28 lbs. The bike was extremely hard to pedal, and it felt like I was pedaling through deep sand. I thought maybe the coaster brake was dragging, only later when I removed the rear wheel to replace it did I realize that the axle bearings were way too tight to the point that I couldn't turn it by hand. I also immediately discarded the crappy steel stem and seatpost, and replaced them with alloy pieces from my parts bin. Anyway, I thought about replacing the rear wheels and converting it to fixed, but didn't feel like spending a lot of money on the POS bike.

Fast forward to a few wheels ago when I bought a new 650c wheelset for my Wabi Lightning Scandium (see post #263), which freed up the original 650c wheelset for use in this bike. All I needed to do was transfer the tires and tubes from the original SE Draft wheelset to the Wabi wheelset, and find a fixed cog and lockring in my parts bin. I also needed to have pedals with foot retention, and found some old Shimano Deore XT caged mtb pedals, MKS large toe clips, Alfredo Binda laminated leather toe straps and REG toe strap buttons. So, bottom line, I succeeded in making the conversion without spending any additional money on this bike.

So, the new bike is about 2.2 lbs lighter, but still heavy at 23.1 lbs, and by far the heaviest bike in my fixed gear stable. I did lower the gearing a bit, down to 61 gear inches from 65 gear inches. The combination of lower weight, lower gearing, less drag in the rear hub, and foot retention has resulted a much livelier, easier rolling and better climbing bike that is actually now enjoyable to ride. The problem is that I can no longer use it as a lockup bike, because it would really upset me now if it were to get stolen or vandalized.

Anyway, the first photo below is of the new fixed gear setup, and the second photo is of the original coaster brake setup.


2012 SE Draft Coaster with 650c wheels converted to fixed in 2021


2012 SE Draft Coaster with 650c wheels

stevel610 

Out for a ride and found this covered deck at a local tennis court to sit out the lightning. New WABI Thunder.

Aquiles

That is a bike with a lot of personality

uncleivan 

I took this out today. 2007 Ritchey breakaway ss. I picked it up last week. It had been ridden once. (He also had the road and cx versions). If I told you what I paid for it you would be depressed. It wasn't much.



I swapped the drop bars out with these swept back bars from budnitz. Its a lot of fun set up this way. Flip flop hubs, on the freewheel side for now. Its relaxing. I have a few other fixed I'll post up soon.