Baby pics- Meet Fern

I picked up this beauty last night! Fern is a 70s Raleigh Super Course. She's got the most beautiful lugs, I'll have to get pics of them. about half original components, about half shimano of the same age. I have to get a bit creative to trim the reach a bit- anyone know of short reach drop bars in 25.4 clamps? I found the Nitto 105 (65mm reach), but wasn't sure if maybe there's other options? Current bars are 110mm or so and I'm used to my FSA compacts on my Jamis, which are 80mm.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/...5feb5a4083.jpg

Wow, very nice find...

oooooo- soooooo purty! :)
Close ups- we demand close up pictures!

I will take some close-ups tonight, I promise!

PS- on the bars, I'd consider moustaches maybe, but not sure what reaches and widths those come in? Seem to be a bit bigger. I might eventually go to barcons- we'll have to see how I get on with the downtubers. Haven't had downtube shifters since my 3rd bike- 10sp Ross 70s bike that I had for a few years- maybe when I was 11 or so!

Now that's a thing of beauty. Look at those lovely slender steel tubes....curvy fork....that rich green....oooohhhh...... :p

Fern - what a great name. Yes we want to see some close ups.

mayanorange - Fern is a beauty. I love the contrast of that green with those chromed stays and lower fork.:cool:

She's not butted steel, but the main triangle is Reynolds 531 and she has aluminum wheels. You guys are going to love the lugs. She's so dainty compared to the OS modern tubing!

Plans are (once the handlebars are where they belong) a new saddle (well, maybe a vintage if the Middlemore one I scored on ebay is wide enough for me), hand-sewn leather bar covers (oh darn, I have some extra leather sitting around), then we move on to sweet chrome fenders and bottle rack (she's going to be a commuter BTW). Can't make her look too cute tho, or somebody will swipe her! But that goes against my design aesthetics.... *sigh*

As much as I love riding my aluminum bike (with a few carbon parts), I have to admit that the old steel frames are so beautiful and clean looking.

And that green! That's just one extraordinarily beautiful bike!

(Close ups, please)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/...a788dbdbfd.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/...4e9b174ecb.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/...547bcc8222.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/...18c3a97ac2.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/...6600b36621.jpg

Wow-I love the green! She is beautiful!

PS- that's not dirt, that's original handpainted gold accents highlighting her curvaceous lugs. And there's a trace of accents down the fork and at the green/chorme lines. Can't wait to get some sweet fenders on there and maybe a Brooks.

Very familiar. Even the R on the seat post bolt (which is English, not metric). I worked in a Raleigh shop in the 70s. What derailleurs does it have? Huret or Simplex?

I have the Ritchey Biomax bars on my Nishiki. 75mm reach and 130mm drop. I think it's the term Biomax that is the shorter and shallower part. Mine are silver and I got them on ebay. Silver isn't as easy to find as black, but they ARE out there.

Congrats! Fern is really beautiful:cool:. I was in the grocery store parking today watching a couple commuters buzzing in and out. Most locked their bikes. One did not. I wasn't close enough to see what the bikes were. But, the unlocked guy I thought, man I hope it's still there buddy when you come out. I agree, unfortunately you have to keep her undercover a bit to help prevent theft. Hope you have many happy and safe miles together:).

That green rocks! Congrats!

Deb- Front is the simplex original, rear is a period replacement of a shimano. Shifters and brake levers are also shimano replacements. Not sure how the shimano of that era compares to something like suntour? I also am think the rear wheel (which I knew was replaced) is steel, not aluminum- a bit too shiny for aluminum. Not a huge deal, but I'll keep an eye out for a replacement. Do you know if period aluminum cranksets exist? Not sure it would save a ton of weight, but just curious.

uforgot- Thanks for the handlebar recommendation!

Know what? I read my post and realize that I forgot to tell you what a lovely bike Fern is! I just love those old bikes. So much character!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mayanorange

Deb- Front is the simplex original, rear is a period replacement of a shimano. Shifters and brake levers are also shimano replacements. Not sure how the shimano of that era compares to something like suntour? I also am think the rear wheel (which I knew was replaced) is steel, not aluminum- a bit too shiny for aluminum. Not a huge deal, but I'll keep an eye out for a replacement. Do you know if period aluminum cranksets exist? Not sure it would save a ton of weight, but just curious.

---

Replacing a steel cottered crankset with aluminum would save quite a bit of weight. You'd need a new bottom bracket, or at least a new spindle. A modern replacement would work, but I think TA or Nervar was found on that bike in the day (it came with aluminum crankset by 1975). Simplex levers were poor-quality plastic, so better those have been replaced. For the rear wheel, you could rebuild it with a new rim. The shop I work in might have a whole wheel for $50-60. We carry 27" freewheel wheels.

I found a local guy who has tons of vintage parts, so he hooked me up with an old set of windsor wheels (and a used brooks and lots of other toys!). They could use some truing (he doesn't have a stand) and I'll check the bearings and such. I'll probably just use the real wheel from the set and keep the front as a backup. Or maybe I should put them both on and preserve the original wheel?

He's got enough stuff for us to eventually change back out to appropriate weinmann levers and maybe he's got a crankset too- I'll put it on the list for next time!

PS- Thanks Deb! You are a wealth of information, as always.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mayanorange

then we move on to sweet chrome fenders and bottle rack (she's going to be a commuter BTW). Can't make her look too cute tho, or somebody will swipe her! But that goes against my design aesthetics.... *sigh*

---

She's a beaut! I was going to suggest wood fenders with the green and flecks/hints of gold:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=20138

You're right Trek! That green is just crying for wood fenders!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by uforgot

You're right Trek! That green is just crying for wood fenders!

---

Of course I'm right (just kidding). Fern neeeeeeeds these fenders:

www.woodysfenders.com/store

I agree ladies, Fern would be drop dead gorgeous with some cherry and mahogany fenders! Maybe some day when she's not commuting with me... my dad's a woodworker, so I know he'd make her some gorgeous one of a kind shoes, but for now just going to have to give her some extra chrome. I'd love some brass-colored fenders- that would be sweet too!

Ooooooooh, look at these!!! http://store.somafab.com/tabrtrfe.html

It's hard to explain the aesthetic. It's like mixing silver and gold jewelry (which I'm wearing right now so ... :cool: ).

I just feel with the rich green and subtle gold with either chrome or brass it's just going to clash.

OTOH hand hammered copper just might work, warm enough to enhance the gold.

My vote is if you want something not so thief drool magnet worthy get plain black plastic fenders. But why uglify this gorgeous bike? This is a beautiful beautiful bike and remodel, there's nothing can hide that. So why not make Fern as beautiful as she can be?

Enjoy your bike, ride lots and inspire others when they see how gorgeous a customized bike can be.

Just keep her locked, in your sight, or under your @zz.