Wednesday, August 26, 2009

More Cool Bikes for Your Gazing


Now this is sexy.

Some very nice pic's of some very cool cyclage. Go enjoy.

New Project - Raleigh Sports


Picked up a Raleigh Sports in Lawn Ornament condition. I might have (maybe should have) held out for one in better shape. But I rarely see these at all and I've got no compunctions about making a project of it, so I jumped. I had one of these back when they were new. At the time I would've much prefered a race bike and I sorta punished it for it. I nonetheless rode it fast and far and had a tremendous amount of fun on it. So I guess it balances out - I rode one of these into the ground, and now I'll resurrect one.


The good news is it looks like the paint stays - on the frame, certainly, that will polish up nicely. The fenders and chain guard are a bit rough. Even those responded to a quick preliminary scrub in a way that makes me think they'll achieve the condition known as "patina." So probably won't get repainted. We'll see. Nothing is frozen and all bolts turn.

I've already started pulling parts and cleaning and de-rusting them as they come off. The handlebars and brake levers came out nicely. There's a crack in the bezel of the three speed shifter that someone had glued and the glue has yellowed (browned) and it ain't perfect but it'll work. Even that horribly rusted lamp mount looks okay with the rust removed. The headset isn't notchy and the drivetrain all turns and shifts.

The worst part is the rims - these are nasty, still relatively true but badly rusted.. I don't know how they'll turn out. The good news there is that Sun makes aluminum rims in this size in their CR-18 model. That's a damn fine rim and not expensive. It wouldn't bother me a bit to upgrade the wheels. Or anything else for that matter.

This is not going to be a restoration more of a repair and refurbishment. And like any bike I'll own it'll be for riding not looking at. So pulling a few pounds off and getting it to ride and work even better than new are all good things. Parts most in danger of replacement are the rims, seat post, stem, handlebar and brakes.

The seatpost in part because it's made to go with the springer saddle that's on it and the leather is simply gone. Damn shame because the frame is still in surprisingly good condition. Those guys at Brooks knew how to lay on the chrome. If I find someone who puts new hide on old saddle frames we've got a deal to make.

The rest of those possible changes would be for downweighting, style, fit and function. The brakes move smoothly enough and will probably work fine. But they are stamped steel and a bit ugly. The crank is safe, it's heavy and clunky, but it's got Herons on it and Herons are good. Besides the accumulated grease and oil protected it from rusting. I don't recall ever removing a cottered crank and I've got some trepidation about that. It will have to happen to service the bottom bracket.

Of course you all can look forward to voluminous updates as this project proceeds.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Threadless


Peter Weigle is one of the finest frame builders of all time. There have been so many great builders of every era and style that to declare any the best would be impossible. But if someone wanted to argue that Peter has built the prettiest bikes of all time, I would not argue. I love his sensibilities and how they are manifested through his craft. The perfectly shaped, masked and painted lugs are lovely in ways no lug lining can match. They are intrinsic to the work rather than a nice addition.


So there I am, looking at the Gallery at Kirk Pacenti's Bikelugs.com gazing at the beautiful work that has been done by so many builders with his lugs. The pictures are unbig, but the work is gorgeous. And of course there are Weigle frames. And of course, I am looking at them.

Beautiful, huh. Bike porn at it's best.


Then we get to this.

Clunk.

Of course that's a Chris King headset, and obviously everything possible was done to minimize the awfulness with the knurling and all. But... But... Damn. That's like flipping through the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and running into a photo spread of the 1972 East German Women's Shotput team.

I know, me ragging on bicycle aesthetics is sorta like a fat chav in a track suit ripping on fashion models. But... But... Damn. Big globular headset cups and spacers you could adjust a tractor power take off with under a stem that could be used as a blunt instrument. I'm sure the detail isn't fair. And yes, yes, before the rec.bikes.tech types pile on, the threadless headset does a lot of things right and doesn't always look abominable. But... but... Damn.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Now for Something Completely Different



And by "Something Completely Different" I mean to instill the sort of borderline dread and anticipation of madness that Monty Python induced. These are not the sort of bikes we usually enjoy and celebrate around here. They are the sort that we look at and say "I really wouldn't want to ride it, but damn that looks fun." Kustom Kulture meets bicycles.

Rat Rod Bicycles in all their glory. Go visit the site, there are lots of guys playing with these things and God bless 'em. I'm sure there are some collectors of old balloon tire bikes who hate to see this stuff. But like the guys hacking old lightweights a lot of these bikes have been abused and corroded to the point of not being good for anything else. Most were never any damn good in the first place.






Looking around the Rat Rod Bikes I notice a lack of pinstriping. They need to get on that.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Things I am Learning


So the Proteus / Mystery Bike proceeds. I've begun painting it and these are a few things I have learned.

"Painting" is the wrong word. "Sanding" is the correct name for this activity as it comprises 87% of the activity and 95% of the results. You could use a mop and with enough work and sanding you can get a decent finish.

Bicycle frames are a nightmare shape to spray. There is not one tube that does not have either another obstructing it or another down-range to catch the overspray. Because they are tubes at least four passes are required on each. This multiplies the opportunities for something to go wrong.

About that sanding, 3M makes sandpaper. There may be a few other companies. I don't care. Discount sandpaper is a sick fraud perpetrated on decent, honest people. Do not ever buy any form of wet & dry sandpaper that does not say 3M on it. Okay, maybe if you are already aware of some other brand sure. But the only way to test these things is with a lot of labor, labor that costs a lot more than sandpaper.

Painting bicycles is for the birds. I may do others in the future but it will be according to a far different plan. More on that later.

Also upcoming photo's and exciting descriptions of me, sanding and then sanding again.