Rebuilt single speed circa '73-82 Motobecane Ride report!!

[Trek420]

She's heeeere!!!

First a bit of history. A year ago I found this bike dumped, abandoned, in an unrideable condition along with a pile of other stuff-that-it's-illegal-to-dump-on-the-condo-grounds. I waited, maybe it's someones bike? And waited and finally thought "well, the bike itself is a POS but the frame is lovely".

I did everything I could to see if it was someones bike; ran ads on Craigs, checked the bike registries, even checked with local PD then finally with no owner found brought it to my LBS.

He said the frame is sound, they could turn it into a free-wheel we talked parts and off I went. Life went on, I did another AIDS ride, we re-painted and remodeled the GT my commuter, I met Knott took and passed tests at work I did not think much about the mixte but could always see her in the back of the shop.

It was funny though, while normally we'd discuss parts at length when I'd say
"well maybe we should do...." he'd say
"It's been decided"
"what about...?"
"It's been decided."
"will you keep the...."
"It's been decided"

So they were having fun at the shop with the project The guys at my shop have my sort of quirky sense of humor, one of the many things I like about them.

You should see what they do to telemarketers.

The other thing that was odd is he would never discuss the cost. This has been my shop for about 10 years and we always talk about costs
"I need to do ___ , I want to get ____"
"That would cost you $___ but I could do ____ it would do the same thing"
"But but I've heard _____ is better"
Then he gives me all the pros and cons and ____ would save me the weight of one spoke but cost _____ but if I really want my bike to do ____. So we always talk about the costs and benefits but he wouldn't on this bike.

Knott said "that's because he's doing it free" and I said "people don't do that, that's silly." She said "I bet he is." Listen to Knottedyet, she is wise.

Finally it was done. My LBS says that all week the bike got oohs and ahs in the shop. One of his clients who I also know from Aikido is inspired to bring in an old Massi he has. Who knew Robinson Wheelworks he could do single speed conversion? I knew 8-)

She is a puhrty puhrty bike.

So I go in there and whip out the credit cards cause I know what bikes cost and say "what do I owe you?" He says "nothing" my jaw drops.

I insisted, he says no, back and forth this goes, he picks up a broom I grab a handlebar the fight rolls out to the alley ... just kidding about this last bit. I'm pretty close to tears by this point and I'm a tough gal so that does not happen often (ignore Knotts hysterical laughter in the background) I tell him I really never cared how long it took, this is a fun project bike and not my major mode of transportation after all and he should get paid. He insists. He's at least 6'2", he wins.

Folks, support your LBS, and buy 4 bikes get one free. But seriously it's all about service, box stores do not do this. Over the years I know my shops advice has saved me many times what I've spent there.

When I brought the bike home could not resist a short ride.

Wellgo platform pedals are supportive and surprisingly grippy. I know Knott and others here ride platform pedals. I felt that I could stand in the pedals even wearing sandles! Must work on that oh so fashionable trackstand while holding cup of coffee.

The shop chose Salsa Delgado Cross wheels, black spokes and rims with Continental Ultra gatorskin tires. Surly single speed hubs. Apparently he agonized about the color choice; black, chrome, black, chrome .... he picked the right one. It looks striking with the tea-green of the bike and more important they handle as well as they look.

Nitto Dynamic stem, cork wrapped mustache bars with Cane Creek 200TT brake levers look clean and simple. Did you say TT ? Yeah, I did. They face forward, counter of "normal" brake levers. He thought up achieved this look by using the same type of levers he was putting on the aero bars of a Cervello TT bike when I was in.

They are positioned juuuust right. If they were straight down my wrists would be a little awkward. They are turned ever so slightly in, perfect!

The brakes are Tektro R556 verrrry long reach brakes.

And to cap it off just a perfect little brass "temple bell"

I'll post more pictures as I get them but some are here.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=6993

[kelownagirl]

Very cool Trek! What I wouldn't do to have my old 1975 10-speed back again. It was a purple Apollo bike. It cost me $114 and I loved it.

So when are you to ride it? Just for fun or ?

[Trek420]

So when are you to ride it? Just for fun or ?

Aren't all our rides for fun? I was thinking on my first Tri .... maybe not. Maybe a ride to coffee today but we need to do a low key and I mean really low key Bay Trail ride.

[RoadRaven]

Wow Trek
Great story

What a very very cool LBS and 6'2" dude!
I can so relate to that... with 7 cyclists in my family, doing four different types of riding, we end up with lots of spare parts and extras that we keep "just in case".

We have often given spare shoes, aero bars etc to people in need, or helped them with tweaking their bikes, with no expectation of payment. You do these things for pleasure, to see the enjoyment on someone elses face, or just because its great to see another bike on the road, or a bike or cyclist given a second chance.

But your story is even better because here is a money making institution who realises it is not ALL about money... who has not forgotten about the excitement of people, or the pleasure of creation...

Looking forward to hearing about your first few rides on her...

[dex]

I'd love to see your handlebar and brake lever setup. I have an old Mercier mixte sitting in my kitchen right now, awaiting a makeover/rebuild, and I was thinking moustache bars for her. Yours looks awesome! I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with it.

[DebW]

Wow. That sure turned out well. And rebuilding a 73 Motobecane isn't the easiest thing in the world since the parts are French (different threading). At least you don't need French threaded freewheels since you got a new hub.

[Trek420]

Very cool Trek! What I wouldn't do to have my old 1975 10-speed back again. It was a purple Apollo bike. It cost me $114 and I loved it.

Maybe that's the feeling of rebuilding an old bike. It's like the first bike you learned to ride on and the feeling it gave. We're older now and we know all about the fancy stuff. We log our rides, journal them on TE and BJ plot it out coordinated to our HRM.

But when's the last time I just rode around the block just because I could? I sure don't know when that last was but I just did.

At one corner a man called out "nice day for a ride!" and I replied "yeah it is!" I don't get that response from people when on my road bike which kinda says "don't interrupt the serious (but hecka sloooow) rider training" or the GT comutermobile. That was nice.

DebW, yes, I thought this was not an easy build to do. Chris hid his scraped knuckles well. It has a sticker on the tube "built with 1020 tubes & stays". What's that? Not Columbus.

Zen, that's whatever the technical term is for what you call the part you ring the bell with. We're so high tech here.

RoadRaven, he's an incredible businessman, with a tiny two-man shop I think he does quite well. Just hanging around I learn a lot about business like he's very efficient on shipping and saves a ton there. You'd think shipping costs would be sky high because with a small shop he can't get things in bulk. But I think a lot of us do good stuff with spare parts etc. I know he donates to the local Trips for Kids Store. I'm staring at a box of stuff now that's going to go either there or ALC riders. Yes, it's possible to have too many jerseys or to shrink out of them.

Dex like this? Don't tell Mimitaby you have a Mercier, I think that's what she wants. But do post pictures!

[Zen]

You should see what they do to telemarketers.

I like to ask them "what are you wearing right now?"

... he picks up a broom I grab a handlebar the fight rolls out to the alley ...

I saw that on YouTube!

Folks, support your LBS

HEAR, HEAR!

What is that black knob looking thing above the bell?

[Trek420]

I saw that on YouTube!

Nah, you saw this on YouTube, Spzzdog and I fighting over the check at the pre-Cinderella dinner.

[DebW]

DebW, yes, I thought this was not an easy build to do. Chris hid his scraped knuckles well. It has a sticker on the tube "built with 1020 tubes & stays". What's that? Not Columbus.

I wonder how many swear words it took to get the cotter pins out.

1020 is a grade of chro-mo steel. It was used on low-to-middling 10-speeds back in the day. Not the quality of Columbus tubing, but well above department-store grade. I believe 1020 was used on Motobecane Mirages (and maybe Nomads?) which came in mixte frames. The original weight on a Mirage was around 27-28 lb with lots of heavy steel parts, but since you've got upgraded wheels, crankset, a single rear sprocket, single chainring, no derailleurs, I'd guess your mixte now weighs.... 24 lb (maybe 23 1/2?).

[Trek420]

since you've got upgraded wheels, crankset, a single rear sprocket, single chainring, no derailleurs, I'd guess your mixte now weighs.... 24 lb (maybe 23 1/2?).

Which makes little difference because the rider has gained back 7 lbs lately but with a few more "nice day for a ride, isn't it?" rides ...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Trek- so great, the whole story!! And the green is perfect, and the cork bars.

I am still not seeing any pix of the whole bike- just a bit shot here and there- am I missing a whole bike picture somewhere??

Zen- the black knob is the thing you flick with your finger that hits the bell and makes it ring- it's on a spring.

[Trek420]

How's this?

[KnottedYet]

She needs a nice honey Brooks.

A B17 for your little heinie, and a B67 for when I come to visit!

[rij73]

WoW! It's so beautiful... Makes me all nostalgic just looking at it. What a lovely LBS. Great story...