OK, let’s see if I’m getting my blog fixed here with a project update.
I’ve been working on this bike for about a month since I found the frame. It came from the basement of Northampton Bikes and they sold it to me for a song, seeing that it was going to a good home. Now, I’ve wanted one of these frames since I was a teenager and I used to ride the MS150 bike ride (which looks to be a much larger event now than it was in 1988 or whatever.). So when I found this frame, I knew this was a golden opportunity. It’s a 1992 r900 with downtube shifters (so quaint!) and short but practical geometry.
I started buying parts for it when I got the frame. I’ve been getting used stuff and trawling Ebay for parts, but it’s still coming in pretty spendy. The project means a lot to me, though, so I’m willing to do what I need to do.
Now I’m going to try my newly upgraded blog’s gallery function. Let’s see if it works! Pics and details follow the fold.
First, a bike has wheels. I’m still learning how to do it. It’s a surprisingly weird thing.
The front wheel, spoked radially, and with a red stripe to make it go faster.
Here’s the frame, just back from Sevoian Cycles, where Jesse Sevoian powder coated it beautifully.
… so up in the work stand it goes!
That work stand cost me about $50 to build. A comparable one would have been some $200. It’s not perfect, but it holds the bike steady.
This is an Ultegra derailleur that I got on Ebay for $27.
I loved this crank arm so hard, I peed in my mouth a little when I saw it.
With the Biopace chain wheel (and ugly “aluminum” paint) it was $3 at Richmond Re-Cycles. If you’re in the Richmond, VA area and need bike stuff, go to them first. Ask for Evan. He rocks out with his cocks out. I took a Scotchbrite pad to it with some acetone and removed all the paint and crap. I wanted that brushy look, so that was perfect. I tried polishing a bit of it, but it was too, I dunno, mirrorish, I guess. I wanted something more machinish.
The bottom bracket, properly installed.
I’m pretty sure I should have gotten one with longer spindles, but I don’t know how to figure that out beforehand. Sheldon does (did?), but I don’t quite understand what he’s saying. If someone’s knowledge is around after they die, do they still know it?
Left crank in place. Yes, that crank bolt is very rusty. It still works.
Downtube cable mounts.
I had to Dremel down the concave surface on these mounts to fit the Campagnolo component to the Cannondale frame. Plus, the cable mounts were really ugly shiny nylon. So I went over them with the Scotchbrite pad and an exacto to de-ugly them. Then I did the bolts with the Scotchbrite and the adjuster barrels with a steel brush. They look much less trashy now. They make these same mounts out of aluminum, but I wouldn’t have been able to reshape them. I’m kinda surprised that Campagnolo made such a crud item. Anyway, they should work fine and they look good now.
Wheels on!
More on its way in part 2.
I’m going to be needing a name, by the way. My scheme so far has been “color animal” so, Grey Fox, Yellowjacket, Blackbird, Iron Monkey. I’m open to suggestions!
(cont. in phase 2)
Bike looks great, and I’m liking the redesign, too. Your question about Sheldon’s knowledge dovetailed a bit with this:
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/japanese-graves.html
which I found interesting.
I’m considering bike names as we speak.
Interesting and weird!
I’m’a put up the next post tomorry. I’ve got a bunch more pics now.
I’m waiting on a shifter. This bike has literally 20 minutes more work before it’s rideable and I’m *waiting*!
Rassafrassin’!
Ebon Vole?
Well? New pics?
How about… re-christening the Blackbird as something like the Wolverine and using that elegant name for this bike? Or Ebon Vole.
No Christening. They’re Jewish bikes, except for the Iron Monkey, which is Taoist.
Ben suggested something zebra-based. I’m thinking of Zorse.
Hmm… and while discussing hybrid animals, it could also be the Snark, both from Lewis Carroll’s poem and from a beautiful sailplane made by Fud Benson in the 80s with a similar color scheme.
Hm… And I think the Yellowjacket might be Jedi.
Rachel said the same thing! Sorry to imply all your bikes are goy.
Goyischebiken!
Hey! What happened to the comment I left yesterday?
Anyhoo, my suggestion: What about Blackbird? Lookie- touch of red and all:
http://www.kiroastro.com/images/va/4006_web.jpg
Oh, you already have a blackbird. Damn these poor reading skills. I still think this one’s more apt because of the red. I guess it could be “Redwing”, but there might be a cheezy superhero called that.
I also like “Black Molly.” They look fast. Does the fact that they eat algae make them less cool?
Google tells me that Redwing is The Falcon‘s animal sidekick.
Maybe I should rename the other one Black Mambo because of the dildo reference. It *was* built by Daniel, after all.
“Black Molly” has a nice murder ballad feel to it. Hm.
Black Molly’s pretty good. It’s too bad you have a best friend named Raven, because…
Hm. Hm.
Yeah, something really bothers me about naming something after the living. Almost as though there were some sort of cultural taboo against it.
“It *was* built by Daniel, after all.”
and Daniel *is* kind of a dildo. . .
Now with additional red stripes, I think this bike is even more of a Red-winged Blackbird than before. Although I agree that Black Molly has a great murder ballad feel.
Oo! LIquorice Llama!
Ebony Emu
Midnight Moose
Onyx Ostrich?
Jett Jaguar
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
The SCARLET TANANGER is also known as the Black-winged Redbird! (As opposed to the Red-winged Blackbird)
Check it!
woah. Fix that, would you?
Mmmm…. maybe, but only if you find a variety that has brushed aluminum.
Jet Jaguar… silly, yet mighty!
I think that’s pretty good. I have to wait until I ride it to really know. And maybe more Internets will want to weigh in on this.
Yo. You know Jet Jaguar is the Ultraman knock-off, yes? I think that might have to be it. Goo-Google him!
Do I kn…
I..
Sir, you wound me! Every day, I wake to the Jet Jaguar Anthem!