Mogens

I had taken an awl to the housing, but maybe not sufficiently. So, I took the awl back up and it did help. Then I realized that if I shortened the housing, it would be at a better angle coming from the top tube. Then I took up the awl for the third time. Finally I stripped some of the plastic to get a better fit into the barrel adjuster. And it’s working! Now I just have to tune up the Mafacs and it’ll be roadworthy.

J.Higgins 

Phil_gretz

I just finished this 1991 Schwinn LeTour's modernization from Accushift to Shimano-standard shifting. It's a Christmas gift from my daughter's friend to her soon-to-be fiancé. The red/white/blue theme was chosen by the friend because the fellow is quite the Patriot, apparently. I was surprised how solid the ride feel is. Honestly, it's not as dull as many bikes I've ridden. Weighs in at 26 lbs.

EDIT: Those are my test ride pedals, he'll get the repacked resin Blaze pedals and toe clips. I'm shocked how smooth those originals are.

noglider 

I make mental notes of what needs doing on my bike as I ride. Then I write the note in my maintenance spreadsheet. It's hard to remember, but I think I'm getting better at it. I took the bike out and worked on it on the patio in the sunlight. Gosh it's great to be out in the light. I've been spending too much time indoors, concentrating on my classwork. I went down the checklist, and everything went great. I discovered I had lost an attachment bolt to the front fender, so I replaced that. I did a bunch of little things, and I tooled up and down the road near the house to check things as I went along. This bike (my 1971 Raleigh Super Course) is in great tune now, and I love the fact that it doesn't rattle at all, even with fenders, rack, dynamo lights, and all kinds of stuff. And the riding position is immensely comfortable.

Nemosengineer 

Working on the Bob, drive train is together and indexing, no drama their. The aero cabling is going well so in the morning the housing will get a final trim, cables will get installed and bar tape. The current all up weight is 19 lb 15 oz with pedals, a triple, and leather saddle, measured with a Park bike scale...

20201201_201308 by nemosengineer, on Flickr

20201205_220749 by nemosengineer, on Flickr

: Mike

Prowler 

Been working down the winter maintenance list. First up was to align the fork on my '84 Fuji TS III. It was 2.5mm left of the steering axis. Got that done with the guidance posted by Andrew R Stewart , but have not tested it yet. Yesterday I rolled the '80 Nishiki to the bench for overhaul of the BB and HS. They were done in 2014 during the initial frame up but not touched since then. Opened the BB and it was excellent. Almost a waste of time except for the peace of mind. I'll bet the HS is just as nice.

Probably service some other BBs and HSs too. Oh, and the Schwinn Voyageur is still all apart, getting the frame/fork coated. I'll OH the HS on that too as it gets built back up.

Continuing on the restoration of a 1961 Schwinn Traveler. Coming along nicely. Decided to bob the fenders as the bottom end of each was all dented and mangled (from use or from storage). The front is now a shorty and the rear is about 1/2. Not a bad look. The chrome came back nicely.

rccardr 

Nice build, Mike. Are those drilled Tektro's or TRP's?

J.Higgins 

I like that you are using fiber-reinforced tape on your handlebar cable routing. That's engineer thinking right there!

Nemosengineer 

Hi Reccardr,
The levers are IRD Drillium, the shape of the lever bodies work really well with my hands and the Nitto Noodle bars. Shapewise their copies of the Campagnolo Ergo levers, cheap, cheerful, and fairly light.
: Mike

JaccoW

Built one wheel for the Grand Tourist. As always with big hubbed wheels I ran into some problems on the first try but the second try worked a lot better.

It does mean however I will need to grab some extra spokes for the front hub as it seems I miscalculated slightly.

JaccoW

As a continuation on the post above;
I installed the rear wheel into the Gazelle Grand Tourist yesterday. New spokes are on the way for the front wheel as well as new fender stays to gain some extra tyre clearance.

The 70mm drums offer surprisingly good braking compared to the 90mm drums that I used in the Koga-Miyata SilverAce so I am curious to see how they perform once the front is done as well. It does feel like the rear needs some cleaning and lubrication so that means more tools... next month. I have spent enought money for now. Though it does make it harder to let go of this bike like I planned to.


38C / 40-622 in the rear vs. 25C / 28-622 in the front. The plan is to move both to the bigger "balloon" tyre Schwalbe Little Big Bens.


The front rack will be removed (the chrome is flaking) and the headlight will be moved to the top of the fender. It's a B+M Cyo Premium that I modded into a vintage light to make it blend in.


Sturmey Archer RX-RD5 5-speed hub with the cable running across the top tube. Original stainless steel chainguard.

momoman

Bought a set of Suntour Superbe brake calibers from Ebay. Cleaning them up and hand polishing them.

J.Higgins 

Those are going to look great! *huge thumbs-up*

CV-6 

Bertin C35 by Bernard Carré

SJX426 

Finally glued a tire to the rear rim of the hastily build Trek 760 with all Suntour Superbe Pro parts I had. Still missing the right pedals. They should be here within the month.
Took it out for a spin around the block. Adjusted the clamp on the bars after then rotated when applying the brakes from the hoods! Then had to adjust the cable tension on the RD.
Shifts so smooth, equal or better than the DA 740x set up that was on the Pinarello. Using an IRD freewheel and 8V chain.
Short ride indicates equivalent to the Italians in the stable.

May need to replace the stem with a shorter one. I like the hub to be hidden by the top bar. It is a bit forward.

Looks like crap, but that was the point! BTW: 20lbs 15oz
P1040476 on Flickr

abshipp 

Could you possibly post a picture of the bars and levers from a side view?

I have a set of Nitto B135 Randonneur handlebars that have a similar large radius bend from the ramps down to the drops like the Noodles. I'm curious as to how the lever bodies sit on the curve of the bars.

Thanks!

merziac

They are perfect for the BJ build.

I think they ratchet the C+V cool level up, I need to get some more on something else.

I love those levers, really look the business to me and not that I care but got some shade over them a couple of times at bike shows, "cheap crap" was one of the comments.

They were mounted on a pretty nice B Gordon with a Sugino, Cyclone, Shimano 600 build, whatever.

No pics, but I need to get some.

xiaoman1 

Lynn,
Very nice looking Bertin, I very much the paint on the crank !.....BTW, how the heck do you keep your garage so clean, do you have a separate place to work o your bikes?
Best, Ben

Nemosengineer 

Here you go.

20201208_170542 by nemosengineer, on Flickr

Tonight's fun is re radiusing the Honjo fenders without screwing them up using my new secret tool, an oiled 2 1/2 inch hardwood ball with a shot glass as a handle.

20201208_174304 by nemosengineer, on Flickr

And the brakes keep changing color.

: Mike

abshipp 

Perfect. Thank you!

CV-6 

That is in my basement. Trust me, the scene behind the camera is not so pretty.

Nemosengineer 

Hi Merziac,
Thanks for the encouragement.
I hate that kind of attitude, when I look at bicycles I always find something I like and keep my comments positive. I like your build style and you have a great eye, your bikes always look exceptional.
With the Bob I find myself taking chances with mixing my favorite Dura-Ace with Campagnolo and IRD levers with some goal of getting the proportions right and the look cohesive. The same battle with the black, silver, high contrast color choices, and keeping everything functional.
I think functional is the key as it doesn't take long to realize levers and hoods are consumable items as bad things happen to them over time, having readily available spares is priceless. Its the enthusiasm here at BF that motivates me, the creative bikes and builds fire my imagination and pushes me to to "do my own thing".

Have A Great Evening: Mike

merziac

@Nemosengineer

Anytime Mike, and really like the side shot, please do that again when the bars are wrapped.

Also agree with the skeletons and would add another thought.

That colorway, fenders and all else is great fun to be sure.

Very sad to me that all the big bike brands now days have decided that this aesthetic doesn't hold its own any more.

xiaoman1 

Lynn,
I always say, "There's nothing like careful editing"!
Best, Ben

merziac

Turns out mine are the TRP's that are a bit more stylized with a whoop de doo in the middle, still like them and those.