Cinders is finally done (well almost!)

[rivergal]

Crimped on the caps and taped the handlebars last night, and took her out for a short ride between storms this afternoon. Here's some pictures of her now, and one of her "before" condition (about 4 months ago). She's come a long way!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/6289649822_d7a9960c61.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnamaui/6289649822/)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6289649698_167d9fe6c8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnamaui/6289649698/)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6025443427_51e0f1fb47.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnamaui/6025443427/)

Just a few more things to do - shorten the seat post and pick up some water bottle cage bolts. But she's rideable -- and what a sweet ride she is! It was totally worth it to build her up from the frame - I learned TONS and got in touch with my inner bike mechanic ;)

[CAL]

wow - what a beauty! congrats.:)

[redrhodie]

What was the deal with her when you got her? It looks like she's come a long way! Pretty!

[rivergal]

What was the deal with her when you got her? It looks like she's come a long way! Pretty!
Thanks! I bought her this summer from a LBS that got her back after she was stolen, stripped down of all components, and spray painted the classic stolen bike nasty black. Yes, she was a sight! Got all the spray paint off with a product called Winning Colours (miracle stuff, btw) and several Tuffy scrubbers, and started picking up parts here and there. Polished and waxed her up, touched up a few scuffs, and she looked like new.

Ended up giving her mostly Ultegra components, Neuvation wheels, Bontrager WSD bar, cushy Fizik bar gels, and my old Koobi saddle.

This project really took me back to when I used to work on my brother's hand me down road bikes in my teens. I keep thinking how was I able to do all that back then without Google and YouTube? Lol!

[Owlie]

She's beautiful! Job well done!

[redrhodie]

Oh wow! What a transformation. Great story.

Everybody loves a happy ending. :)

[spokewench]

Nice

[Tri Girl]

Wow- what a transformation!! She's just beautiful! Congrats on getting her finished and rideable. yay! :)

[spindizzy]

You did a beautiful job!

[roguedog]

wow. great story of both the bike and your learning process. nicely done. Love the name too.

[jobob]

Well done! :cool:

[rivergal]

wow. great story of both the bike and your learning process. nicely done. Love the name too.

Sis thinks I should change her name to "Ella" now that she's been transformed. Does that make me her fairy godmother? Ouch! Say it ain't so!
http://images.wikia.com/disney/images/d/d4/Fairy_Godmother.png

[grey]

Pheonix?

I like Cinders. Great job - makes me wish I had the gumption to tackle such a big project!

[Ered_Lithui]

Wow! That looks fantastic. Way to go. :)

[rivergal]

Pheonix?

I like Cinders. Great job - makes me wish I had the gumption to tackle such a big project!

Hmm, I like the "reborn" idea of Phoenix. Maybe Natasha?

There were times when it seemed like I'd never finish. One especially "grrr" time was when I got my cassette - a used 105 off eBay, and found it was missing the spacer that goes between the wheel and the cassette. Each bike shop I went to answered my request for the spacer with "that should have come with the cassette" - Yes, I KNOW! -- it became a house joke. Finally found a shop that had slightly used one that they gave me - they officially became my favorite LBS that day!

[Trek-chick]

I love it. looks really good. I love Cannondales, they just don't fit me all that well. I really like the green accents