georges1

The fork blades of the columbus max series are easily recognizable due their slightly larger and aero size than any other of the fork blade from the other columbus steel series also the diagonal tube is larger and finishes as an elliptical end where there is the bottom bracket for adding increased torsionnal rigidity.

spclark 

I bought a 'donor' Fuji last summer for the Suntour VGT it had on it. Then noticed the kickstand, something I'd always felt the lack of on my MB.

It wears both now, along with a couple of other items 'traditionalists' would frown upon.

But, as you've said, "it's my bike."

genejockey 

Yep. The top tube and down tube cross sections are both elliptical vertically at the head tube, circular in the middle, and elliptical horizontally at the seat cluster and bottom bracket, respectively. When I got this frame back in 2007, the paint had been worn off the sides of the top tube near the seat cluster. The tube and that lug are REALLY wide!

Oh, and the massive chainstays are another dead giveaway!

merziac

My bikes are my friends.

bikingshearer 

I am a strong believer in "It's your bike" and "ride what you like," and I won't deviate from that here. But I can't help but feel that putting a kickstand on that bike is pushing right up against the limits of taste and decorum. I'll stand by my usual "it's your bike" beliefs, but this is one instance where I would definitely be judging, however silently (and I make no promises there).

Also, after all the effort you went to to get that bike juuuuust right, sweating details I'm pretty sure I didn't know existed, it strikes me as a little odd that this would be the bike you would hang a kickstand on. Kind of like painstakingly restoring a Stutz Bearcat and then painting flames and a racing stripe on it. But hey, you do you.

RB1-luvr

I like restofied classic frames. New running gear transforms them.

Breadfan

I think it's awesome, screw what everyone else thinks. I just built my first steel frame bike, a 72' Nishiki Road Compe with mid school Ultegra 9sd components with down tube shifters. a modern neck to get the stem up a little, and 32mm tires. It is a work in progress and I have a few rusty parts to replace but it shifts like butter and rides like no other bike I've ever ridden. I love it.

cinelliguy 

Are you a bad person, NO. If a bike shop or some individuals in a ride group give you a hard time or shun you, time to ride with other, like minded, friends and drop that shop. Ride and enjoy, don't look for acceptance or validation. My common advice is "just care less", works for many life instances.

Breadfan

Yea, if I was shunned by a bike shop for expressing myself my way with my bike, they would never get another look or penny from me. That's a terrible way of doing business.

curiousabe

Lol absolutely not, if it gives you more enjoyment and more miles then go for it! Unless you use one of those ahead stem adapters/swapped fork to a non quill one, those are bad, bad people and should not be trusted, if this is you I'm afraid there is no salvation

I'm running 9/10 speed on all my vintage frame and love it. Even went as far and had a custom frame made that reminded me of the elegantly shaped vintage roadies

squirtdad

very cool....you could also have gotten similar height with something like a nitto dirt drop stem...... just saying

repechage

my grandfather had a Stutz and got 6 flat tires driving over Beverly Glen… when it was a dirt road. Tested my grandmother’s patience.

unfortunate that she made him sell off his 6 motorcycles when they got married. This was the era where a young man that could afford a new motorcycle was clueless to repair them, so many sold them off cheap.

Midlifecyclist

I really love this community

This post is of course in jest, as at 45 years old it’s pretty hard to care if other don’t like it.

I’m so stoked to see so many of these old beauties still on the road in WHATEVER capacity. The steel lugged frames are just beautiful in a way that’s hard to recreate in this modern era.

Thanks for all the support, I knew that I couldn’t be the only bad guy out there

Breadfan

I’m still new to the road bike thing so I will look into that stem! I don’t necessarily like the newer stems so finding something that looks more of the era would be good. Much appreciated.

squirtdad

Here is what the look like

mhespenheide 

Or the Technomic!