July 2019
Getting Close
08/07/19 12:42 Filed in: Bike Builds
Brakes are connected and working. Shifters are installed and the new bar tape has been installed as well. The front derailleur and the cable guides are installed. As you can see, I went with white for the cable housing, in keeping with the original look. I hope to give it a test ride within a week. I just have the chain, pedals, and hook-up of the rear derailleur to do.
From Down Low To Up High
04/07/19 12:40 Filed in: Bike Builds
Good progress today. Yesterday, the crank set and the shifters came in. As I mentioned at the start of this, I’m modernizing the drive train. It’s for good reason, though: safety. While nostalgia is great, it’s blows monkey vomit if you’re dead or injured all because of a fixation on ensuring the bike is as period-perfect as possible. Based on my research, being period-perfect isn’t necessarily any cheaper, either. That’s not to say the bike will be unrecognizable from a 1973 Fuji S10-S when I’m done.
The new drivetrain is Shimano Tourney. No, it’s not what one would call a fantastic group set. However, it can be had with 14 speeds (2×7) and being new, I’d trust my life with it.
First thing installed today: the crank set.
As I had been thinking that the ideal buyer for a bike like this would be a commuter, I just had a moment of questioning my decision to go without a chain guard. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt my chances of getting my money back from this project.
Next up today were the handlebars:
I’m keeping the handlebars because they’re an integral part of this bike’s identity. However, that bar tape and those brake levers need to go. The black bar tape pays no homage to the bike’s heritage. Additionally, based on videos I have watched, it appears it wasn’t installed correctly either.
Tourney STI shifters. Again, safety is the reason. It’s not just convenient that brakes and shifters are together. It’s safer not having to move your hands.
There was one surprise in the box the shifters came in. No, I’m not talking about the utter lack of instructions on how to install them. Thankfully there’s one guy out there who recorded a video of him doing the same thing as me, albeit with Sora bits. The surprise I’m talking about is the extra cabling and housing. The online description said it came with shifter cables and housing. It didn’t mention that it also came with brake cables and housing! Too bad, though, as they’re not going on the bike. Black just won’t look right in my opinion. Also, take a look at the original bike. The right cables should hopefully be installed Friday or Saturday.
The new drivetrain is Shimano Tourney. No, it’s not what one would call a fantastic group set. However, it can be had with 14 speeds (2×7) and being new, I’d trust my life with it.
First thing installed today: the crank set.
As I had been thinking that the ideal buyer for a bike like this would be a commuter, I just had a moment of questioning my decision to go without a chain guard. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt my chances of getting my money back from this project.
Next up today were the handlebars:
I’m keeping the handlebars because they’re an integral part of this bike’s identity. However, that bar tape and those brake levers need to go. The black bar tape pays no homage to the bike’s heritage. Additionally, based on videos I have watched, it appears it wasn’t installed correctly either.
Tourney STI shifters. Again, safety is the reason. It’s not just convenient that brakes and shifters are together. It’s safer not having to move your hands.
There was one surprise in the box the shifters came in. No, I’m not talking about the utter lack of instructions on how to install them. Thankfully there’s one guy out there who recorded a video of him doing the same thing as me, albeit with Sora bits. The surprise I’m talking about is the extra cabling and housing. The online description said it came with shifter cables and housing. It didn’t mention that it also came with brake cables and housing! Too bad, though, as they’re not going on the bike. Black just won’t look right in my opinion. Also, take a look at the original bike. The right cables should hopefully be installed Friday or Saturday.