Ultimate Bike Thread....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

That looks like a beauty. I wish mine were so clean!

These bikes have some quirks. The biggest is the headset. Proprietary Bianchi integrated headset using 1/8" balls. The parts are unobtanium and no other headset fits. Servicing requires a special pin wrench, I had to spend >$60 for a vintage VAR tool. The headset on my bike was bone dry, and rough. Crossed my fingers and rebuilt it with new balls and lots of grease. Result - it is serviceable, not too bad.

The bottom bracket is 70 mm Campagnolo, I can't tell if anything else about it is weird, but I'm re-using it anyway. Nice and smooth after repacking and new balls.

If I even do re-finish the frame, I will probably sacrifice originality and do it in Celeste. The early 1960's Specialissimas were not imported to the US in Celeste, but they could be had in Italy with that color.

The bike has an interesting history. Under the pump, there is a Dymo tape label with a name and a Berkeley address that is in the hills, a few blocks from where I used to live. But the bike was found in Central Oregon, with evidence of repaired collision damage (which is okay to ride, per an inspection I had done). I located someone of that name who lived elsewhere in Berkeley, and wrote the wife a letter, real pen and ink because I didn't have an email address. She emailed me back and gave me the history of the bike. Her husband had a long and distinguished academic career the UC Berkeley (I found lots of papers published by him). He bought the bike for cash plus the trade of a used car, and rode it from their home in the Berkeley Hills to a field station in Richmond where he did his research, every day for many decades. That would be about 10 miles of hills up to 10%, or more depending on route. Then he suffered a brain injury, and could no longer cycle, but he kept trying to ride his bike, so she gave it away to a thrift store in Oregon where they had a second home. The husband was very angry that his beloved bike had been disposed of, and was very happy to hear news of it. He wrote me a letter, quite garbled, explaining how he bought the bike and that it had been ridden down a hill too fast, crashed into a telephone pole, and never worked right after that. The time sequence of his narrative was confused, but I think the crash was in fact how he sustained his brain injury. From the dates the wife gave me, he would have been 79 y/o at the time of the crash.

So when I look at the bike, I think of a man who bought a bike was strong enough to ride the Berkeley Hills in 45 x 26 for most of his life and was still riding when almost eighty. I've preserved that Dymo tape strip, and it will stay with the bike.

That is a really cool story. The best part is they wrote back and gave the history of the machine.

[sc_rufctr]

[intakexhaust]

jyl-

Back to your bike. That is one amazing story. Almost chilling in an odd way but life moves on. Very cool for you to seek the original owner. No doubt it pleased him especially after such crash and the wife giving it away saga.


Dig the thought of your rando bike build-
Hub: I like the thought of the 3 speed IGH and Campagnolo derailleur combo but would try to stay period. Back in the days and in Europe, one would see these combo's. Exotic and now rare. Do check out the older publications and names like Cyclo. Definitely can make a wall climber out of it.

(Matter of fact, I'm thinking of doing 'another' one but this time for a 1950's rendition of a mountain bike.) That old road bike I have uses a 1950's Styria 3 speed IGH plus 3 speed cog using a derailleur from the late 1930's. Only the cogset is a Cyclo. It took me awhile to get it sorted and fully utilize but its now an awesome and robust drivetrain. It does use the older wide 1/2 x 1/8 chain. Kind of funny but I've pedaled passing others walking up with their modern bike on some wicked grade! Truly makes on giggle while on this old stuff.)

Anyhow, the SA are incredibly reliable and the way to go. Depending what IGH you find, there are 3 and 4 speed cogsets from the old Cyclo / Benelux. One version has the three spline and could almost call it an early version cassette with snap ring retainer. Since the three spline is the same as used with BMX singles, you could also make your own 3 cog set and go nutz with choice in gearing. In this case, two gears are beveled / dished and one is straight. There's a little more involved but basically a machined groove for the snap ring to fit and the gears spot welded. I have a small assortment of single gears if needed. Other sizes run $5 to $10 each.

The other type SA hubs use threads for the gear. More precise but not easy to source. Better luck finding this stuff UK or euro fleabay.

An early SA hub can be found for next to nothing from a throwaway gaspipe bike. Strip it for the hub. But don't take the hub apart. Spray lots of wd-40, Liquid Wrench whatever in it. Drain and repeat multiple times. After you're satisfied, just lube with less than a teaspoon of Tri-flow. Polish it and build your wheel. Awesome hub that sounds like a Chris King.... or a ticking time-b*mb.

To play with the rest of the Campagnolo, I would get an NOS single Campy DT lever from Boulder Cycle (approx. $35). Mount the shifter wherever but I probably would run an alloy pulley for the cable near the seat tube clamp and that third lever up front on the top-tube.

[look 171]

I met that old guy in his shop under the Vigorelli velodrome. As soon as I walked in (very simple shop which I liked) there are pictures and posters singed by all the famous people like Merckx and on and on. All those beautiful machines made by his father. He spoke very little English, so we had to make do. I got measured up and was ready to have a Milano 3V custom made but the tariff was too much to have it shipped back home. I went to Casati, it was the same, too much. I raced on a Castai for many years, and wanted a custom one to complete my fantasy.

Wanted one just like that red one there


Is that cool or what?

[intakexhaust]

jyl-
3 speed IGH w/ 3 speed cogset. The cogs are vintage Cyclo but this hub accepts the typical BMX three spline single. One could configure or tailor a group of three gears and mod to fit this Styria or SA IGH hub.

BTW: I finally acquired a rare-rear axle wingnut and matching front. Still missing the correct one for the left rear. Might have to modify a similar looking wingnut and match threads. Something to keep in mind if you go with an IGH and want some sort of a quick'er' axle wheel removal. No such thing as a skewer release for them.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by look 171

I met that old guy in his shop under the Vigorelli velodrome. As soon as I walked in (very simple shop which I liked) there are pictures and posters singed by all the famous people like Merckx and on and on. All those beautiful machines made by his father. He spoke very little English, so we had to make do. I got measured up and was ready to have a Milano 3V custom made but the tariff was too much to have it shipped back home. I went to Casati, it was the same, too much. I raced on a Castai for many years, and wanted a custom one to complete my fantasy.

Wanted one just like that red one there

I don't know who's religious here but that would be like going to church

[look 171]

I don't go to church or anything else, but that's one church I like to hang out for a little. I talked and used hand gestures with the him for about 20 minutes as he showed me and my wife all the photos on the wall and then some. I did understand the names of the riders and races in many of the photos.

[CurtEgerer]

[jyl]

jyl-

3 speed IGH w/ 3 speed cogset. The cogs are vintage Cyclo but this hub accepts the typical BMX three spline single. One could configure or tailor a group of three gears and mod to fit this Styria or SA IGH hub.



BTW: I finally acquired a rare-rear axle wingnut and matching front. Still missing the correct one for the left rear. Might have to modify a similar looking wingnut and match threads. Something to keep in mind if you go with an IGH and want some sort of a quick'er' axle wheel removal. No such thing as a skewer release for them.

Hmm. What might a gear chart look like for a set up like that?

Basically I want down to 38-40 GI, up to 120 GI, small steps from about 80 to 120.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Ahhhh nightmares.

Back in the late 70's i was working at a bike shop and they sent me to a 3 day seminar so's I could get certified by Schwinn.
Building bikes, assembling wheels etc.

In order to grad-u-ate we had to asssemble a fully functional and adjusted 1st gen sturmey-archer and a shimano 3 speed hub.
Oh, and BTW as if that wasn't bad enough the SA hub had coaster brakes also.
You gots any idea how many small parts are in one of them things?

Years of therapy later the twitch is almost gone.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Ahhhh nightmares.

Back in the late 70's i was working at a bike shop and they sent me to a 3 day seminar so's I could get certified by Schwinn.
Building bikes, assembling wheels etc.

In order to grad-u-ate we had to asssemble a fully functional and adjusted 1st gen sturmey-archer and a shimano 3 speed hub.
Oh, and BTW as if that wasn't bad enough the SA hub had coaster brakes also.
You gots any idea how many small parts are in one of them things?

Years of therapy later the twitch is almost gone.

thank goodness for sealed bearings and I do not ever have to deal with that.

[intakexhaust]

^^ha- That is some of the finest English made bike products ever. No thanks to taking one apart! Oh thanks for mentioning seals. Damn thing weeps like a typical old English car or motorbike! But, I've learned to store it with the hub oil port upward and lean the bike slightly opposite the drive side. Overall though, quite well made. The Styria is made in Austria and is a copy of the SA. I've been told parts do interchange. Curious what trade relations the UK company had with these Austrian's or patent arrangements (post WW2).

____________________
John /JYL:
^Haven't charted the g.i,. but I assure, no 1/2 step. Also, would be hectic to master the levers and combo of gearing as it is now ...LOL Typically and just before an ascent I drop the hub into low. For an IGH, you can only shift when NOT pedaling. For the derailleurs its the usual shift WHILE pedaling. The front bailout works quick and slick. Has no cables with just a direct lever.

Anyhow, could play with the following:
according the IGH booklet, L is 25% lower then N (assume 1:1) and H is 30% higher.

The three cogset is 15 - 20 - 25T

Chainrings are 46 and 52T

Not so sure with the above would meet your low but should achieve it on the high. Curious how drastic it would be in comparison with a 20-24-28 cogset.

misc.- crank length 165mm. Todays bikes are going short like this but I still prefer the 170 or 172.5

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Sturmey Archer!
That post made me go take a pic of my 1980 Torker.
Don't laugh too hard! this setup worked great.

[billybek]

I took my 3 speed hub apart when I was 9 or 10.

Took it to the bike shop to have it reassembled. Now I know why the old guy at the shop had that look on his face!

[CurtEgerer]

One of my first 'real jobs' in high school was 'chief' bike mechanic at Sears during the 70s bike boom. No training required In between assembling/repairing bikes and dealing with customers who expected their $59 POS Free Spirit bikes to perform like $700 Paramounts, I'd take 3-speed hubs apart and reassemble them for fun in my little shop in the back of the auto center

FYI: Sears did sell a top-of-the-range bike with a 531 frame. I think it was made by Puch in Austria. I got my hands on one eventually via a shipping screw-up but it wasn't anything special. It had gold paint. Edit: pretty sure it had Campy Record derailleurs with an assortment of other components.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

^^^ It shames me to admit it, but I had this very bike when I was in the eighth grade.

By way of redemption, I'd replaced it with a 531 Falcon by my freshman year in high school. (Sew-ups on paper route money! Hah!)

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

^^^ It shames me to admit it, but I had this very bike when I was in the eighth grade.

By way of redemption, I'd replaced it with a 531 Falcon by my freshman year in high school. (Sew-ups on paper route money! Hah!)

LMAO. Well, I'm sure it was assembled by a highly-trained technician such as myself I had a new Schwinn Paramount (bought partially with paper route money) at the time of that job (replacing the venerable Schwinn Continental!). It came with Clement silk sewups. Rode that to work often. Also took it (a road racing P-13 version) on a 3-week tour of northern Mich. with some sort of racks clamped onto it. Probably fixed 8-10 flats (always fun with tubulars) on the side of the road during that trip.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Anyhow, could play with the following:
according the IGH booklet, L is 25% lower then N (assume 1:1) and H is 30% higher.

The three cogset is 15 - 20 - 25T

Chainrings are 46 and 52T

Not so sure with the above would meet your low but should achieve it on the high. Curious how drastic it would be in comparison with a 20-24-28 cogset.

misc.- crank length 165mm. Todays bikes are going short like this but I still prefer the 170 or 172.5

Playing w/ this calculator Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Gear Calculator

The setup above gives an okay low, not high enough, large steps if staying in the same IGH gear, if I memorized the whole shift pattern in theory steps could be 7-11%.

[intakexhaust]

Good for them! Olympic hopefuls-




Afghan women put aside their own safety and their country's culture to create a national cycling team

These six young women are defying cultural barriers in Afghanistan. On some mornings, they can be seen speeding along Kabul's dusty streets on their racing bikes.

That's a daring thing to do in a country where women aren't supposed to ride bikes at all. But these young women aren't just riding for fun.

Their dream is to one day qualify for the Olympics as members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team.

That's where Shannon Galpin comes in. She's an American women's rights activist and mountain biker. Her charity, Mountain2Mountain, is helping to train the team.

"I started riding and mountain biking in Afghanistan in 2009, looking to see whether women would ever be allowed to ride bikes and challenging that barrier. And now I ride with the girls team in Kabul. It gives me incredible insights as to the risks that these young women face," she says. "When I ride with the Afghan team, they are often harassed, insults are thrown at them, rocks have been thrown, and they have even been sling-shotted. You know, something quite serious could happen."

Galpin says the situation for the team members is similar to the way school girls often get harassed when walking to school in Kabul. "Doing something as controversial as riding a bike in Afghanistan certainly comes with a risk," she says. And "they are a spectacle when they ride. People look and stare and notice."

When the team heads out on early morning practice rides, Galpin says the girls always have their coach on hand, and often ride along with the men's team. The men, Galpin says, are mostly supportive of the women, and “see them as sisters. We've really tried to nurture that."

But occasionally, the men, who “are more experienced riders who wear spandex, who charge the hills and know what it means to compete as racers," resent that the girls who are just learning how to ride as a competitive sport are getting attention as a team. “But when we explain the cultural differences, that [the men] grew up on bikes, whereas this is entirely new for the women, and we tell them that we're really trying to support them to grow the sport overall, which will also help the men's team, then many of the men will then go out and ride with the girls."

Galpin says the hope is that the women's team will have a chance to go to the 2016 Olympics as observers "so they can see the level of cycling and they can understand really what the sport of cycling is about on a global scale.”

She says reaching the 2020 Olympics may be more realistic. “These are girls who have really only been riding bikes for two to three years, so to grow the sport and to have them have a good chance at the 2020 Olympics will mean a lot of development and a lot of training, much of it outside Afghanistan."

Given all the threats to their personal safety, the gruelling workouts, and the overall fact that it's culturally taboo for women to ride bikes in Afghanistan, the question is: what motivates these women to be part of the cycling team?

Galpin says, "I think what I see with these women is the same as what I see with young women who risk their lives walking to school, who risk their lives to run for politics. They have said to me many times, change does not happen by playing it safe. We're not going to change the access for women if we sit at home on a couch. I think that represents the Afghan women that are coming through in this period of time. They're incredible courageous, resilient, and they're not willing sit by and let their rights be oppressed."

[CurtEgerer]

A proper Gitane 'fixie' ...