At last... my love has come along

[smurfalicious]

Wow, what a ride this has been! Despite the sometimes depressing and frustrating challenges I am so happy that I bought and rebuilt this bike. I learned more about bike components, compatibility, and my own level of patience than I did being a weight-weenie wannabe mountain bike racer. Back in those days I bought parts and waited while they were installed.

I can't say that reassembly was not without it challenges. Par for the course I didn't have enough brake cable housing. The shop estimated it on a bike that had stops, not guides.

The biggest scare came this morning when the rear derailleur had been adjusted, but she would only move one gear, if at all, and immediately fall back down a cog. I tried to explain that I thought maybe the shifter was in a different gear than the derailleur, but apparently it came out wrong. Jokingly my roommate yanked up on the derailleur cable and said, "Well, you can always ride like this." Defeated I figured I could ride my fancy three speed (front derailleur worked) to the LBS and pick it up after work.

Then as I sulked off to my room to put on street clothes and go to work my explanation finally dawned on my roommate. Next thing you know, we're in business.

I got a little to grease happy on the seat post and had to beat it back up at every stop light much to driver amusement I'm sure. Then I stupidly brought sandals to work and got sent home to get different shoes. Just at the bottom of the worst hill on the ride home I heard a bang so loud I almost fell of the bike from shock. Sure enough, it was my tire. Again, I wouldn't have it any other way. I had to roll her home on her rear wheel because my brakes have no quick release and I was unsure of my flat fixing skills. You never know how heavy your bike is until you effectively carry it a few miles.

I'm gonna shut up now, because I know what everyone really wants are pictures. One final note, Bike Shop Lords who said it couldn't be done 0, determined girl with an extra measure of bike love 1.


Before, to refresh your memory.




After, world's purdiest frankenbike.


That saddle has to go!


Lugs of love


Happily...


....ever after...

[OakLeaf]

Awwwww, sweet

Sure is purty! Great job!!!

[sbctwin]

Great job, smurf...

[uk elephant]

The bike looks fantastic and you two look so good together....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

.

[Blueberry]

How very cool! She looks great (and I love the pictures!!)- looks like you replaced the entire drive train??

CA

[Tri Girl]

Wow- nice job on the rebuild! Very neat "frankenbike."
Is that reflective tape on the rims? Pretty cool. I also love the pink accents. Really, you did a GREAT job. You must be so proud!

[Melalvai]

How much $$ did you spend on this? I'd like to build rather than buy a bike, but I'll probably buy because I don't have the guts to climb the steep learning curve. I've heard it's actually more expensive to build a bike, but then you don't have to make concessions and you get just want you want.

[solobiker]

Great job!! So when are we going to ride??

[madscot13]

How much $$ did you spend on this? I'd like to build rather than buy a bike, but I'll probably buy because I don't have the guts to climb the steep learning curve. I've heard it's actually more expensive to build a bike, but then you don't have to make concessions and you get just want you want.

If you are ever going to swap a part out, I think it is best to pick out the components and start from the ground up. It also takes a little patience to find the right parts at good deals, but love takes time. My bike was less than a grand including drivetrain, shifters, handlebars, stem, one seat (not counting the ones it took to get there), and used bike. Oh yes also shotty build by LBS. So that does not include the wheels I had to replace for otherwise reasons and the tubus rack, which I had to have. All in all the only used pieces on my bike were the front derailer ( I could not find it new), pedals, and the bike with some accompanying parts that I did not replace.

Sorry for the personal fountain of information. The bike is awesome. Next bike will definitely be a by me build- yours looks awesome. And since I am a bike geek, you are going to have to give me the components listing.

[smurfalicious]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I keep looking at the before and after and it still amazes me. My mom taught me a love of repairing old things. Guess it shows. The color scheme just kind of happened. I picked the black and pink, ebay and the barter system picked the rest. I sent the pics to the original owner, he cannot believe that's the same bike. My bike shop gawd in Portland seems impressed as well.

I got to take her for a spin around the Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek trails Friday night. They're both MUTs with minimal road connections. Once you get out a ways there is almost no one on them. I would say they're like mountain biking for roadies.

It was definitely a fun and well deserved ride. I did things I never did as little miss, "I wanna go fast and race." I coasted, took it easy, looked around. I invented a new game I call "Goose Poop Weave." It's a multipurpose game that helps improve handling skills and keeps you from wearing poo splatter! I can tell where I need to make adjustments, but other than that things are great. There was one spot that cried out for a sprint so I curled up in the drops and went, "Wheeeeee!"

With regard to the rims my roommate says it's Scotchlite tape and there are several varieties with varying degrees of reflectiveness. They used to be his wheels and he does it to all of them. I kind of like how they look, and it's just an extra measure of safety.

Components wise, let's see what I can remember:

• Wheelset - old "crank and go slow" (Campagnalo) rims with Shimano 600 hubs
• Tires: Vittoria Open Pave Evo-CG
• Frame and fork: Tange Champion 2 CrMo
• RD: Shimano Tiagra
• FD: Shimano Sora
• Shifters: Shimano Sora
• Brakes: Shimano 600
• Stem: Origin 8
• Bar: Specialized Dolce zertz handle bar, 31.8mm clamp diameter, 40cm width, 142mm drop, 75mm reach
• Crankset: Specialized/Sugino triple 167.5 crank length 30/42/52 tooth chainrings
• Pedals: old Shimano Look style
• Cassette: 12-25 Shimano HG50
• Bottom bracket: PowerPro bottom bracket BB-7420
• Random conversion related parts: Campagnalo down tube stops, Profile Design quill stem adapter, several trips to Home Depot for paint related items, blood, sweat, grease, lots of tears

All said between buying the bike and the parts I probably have $300-350 into it, but who's counting? Educational value alone is worth a ton! I made out scoring the bulk of the DT and such on ebay.

And Solo, I'm riding to Lyons for lunch and then back on Tuesday or Wednesday. Can't remember what the rest of my schedule looks like. Working nights except Monday.

[lph]

oooooh, what a pretty bike she turned out to be underneath that grubby exterior Well done, great job! Love the silver tape.

[snapdragen]

Beautiful!