Ultimate Bike Thread....

[jyl]

It seems possible, yes.

I wish whoever invented the freewheel had heard the words "bayonet mount". Would have saved millions of cyclists and mechanics a lot of trouble.

could you get a metal pipe and make one? trace the slot and start filing or machining. I rather do that then to use a two prong remover to screw up the freewheel body. That one there is worth its weight in gold if you ask me.

[intakexhaust]

My late 60's era masochist project for under a $hundo-

Going with a SR Winner FW 6 speed 13-18 and only 52T chainring. Steel seat post, steel Nitto bars, azzhatchet Perjohn 17, Universal centerpulls front/rear but a single Mafac dual control brake lever. Tubulars on a 32 spoke 3 X.

[intakexhaust]

Even the seat tube (no pic) shows its wrinkles . Some idiot clamped the hell out of it in a bike work stand and wrecked a decal. Poor thing.





6 lbs. of steel, yeah, that's right.... six pounds

[herr_oberst]

Nice Bottecchia.

Funny how with the passage of time those SR stems look kind of elegant on the right frame! Great bike!

Edit. My mistake - I see it's an AvA.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by jyl

That was $5 for both . . . good to be friends w/ your local bike shop.

The Micro Pro can be removed with a two-prong tool, but it should be removed with a special six tooth tool, to minimize damage to the aluminum body. I don't have that tool, and it isn't easy to find. The bike shop has it, but I don't see myself running to the bike shop every time I want to change a freewheel.

I think either I'll a) install the Micro lightly for "weigh-in", then remove it (aka cheating), b) install the Micro and ride it until it croaks, c) keep it as a curio, and keep looking for a Zeus 2000, d) stumble across a six prong tool.

The Zeus 2000 has a steel body and alloy cogs, it isn't as light as the all-aluminum freewheels but is more practical and loose cogs show up on eBay occasionally. The cogs are splined so I could in theory make a CAD file and have a local water jet place cut me all the spare cogs I want.

Curt, I bought a lightly used Regina Superleggera hollow-pin chain for $50 on eBay. It is about 1/3 worn, so still okay to use. The NOS ones are crazy priced.

Edit: I see a used one w/ Regina Oro FW on eBay, pretty cheap, and a NOS one for $139 also on eBay via Boulder Bicycles.

Screamin' deal from the bike shop! I have a few shops near me as well that are really cool too. They have no time to piddle with the old stuff but like to talk of them. Always seem to have the 'right' odd part on hand.

[intakexhaust]

thanks herr_oberst. Its not really a bike to get carried away with or upgrading. Mid-level of the times. The cottered steel crank is absolute garbage. Eventually I'll replace that and the bottom bracket. Fun loaner guest ride for vintage events.

[CurtEgerer]

Very cool Bottecchia A friend had one similar to that when the rest of us were still on modified junk Schwinns and Raleighs. It seemed like such an exotic bike at the time! Have fun building that one up.

[jyl]

Help, help, Death Stem, Death Stem!

The Headbadge: Death Stems Demystified: AVA and ATAX

My daughter's peugeot has an AVA stem. I've been unconcerned about it while she's here, but I might replace it - or, at least, inspect it closely - before the bike goes away to college.

[porsche4life]

Why not just swap it out?

[jyl]

French bike and stem. Compared to standard bike ISO parts, French stem diameter is smaller by 0.2 mm at the quill (inserts into headset) and smaller by 1.0 mm at the clamp (around handlebar). I can find old French stems no problem, but they won't fit a standard handlebar unless you hog out the clamp. I did that on the AVA, took some time and effort. Next time I will use a standard stem and sand down the quil instead.

[intakexhaust]

The mere fact that the AVA vintage stem is called the 'death stem' makes me like them even more. Adds character to the old hardcore bikes. Have them on a few other rides too and never had an issue. Drilled a small relief hole at the top of the slot and makes no sense to over-torque tightening.

Although, I will add that the AVA type with the hollow opening facing the rider looks cool, its been explained that they are a weaker version.

[intakexhaust]

Fun old ride. Relaxed but spirited enough. Vittoria Tubulars on Mavic alloys made a huge difference vs. the original 27" rubber on steel rims..LOL. Running with just a single 52T chainring and a 13-18 six speed FW.





In the spirit of Ottavio, went with a dual control single brake lever.

[CurtEgerer]

Love the graphics on the Bottech. The checkered flag stripes, the world champion stripes, the Italian champion stripes. Classic.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

[intakexhaust]

[CurtEgerer]

Anybody missing a Colnago?

[jyl]

[jyl]

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

Who's that, John?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Anybody missing a Colnago?

No, not my Colnago. Its still here with my old friend the Casati.