Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
I ran across this frame in another forum, and drove about 60 miles north to meet the seller, who had this as a frame he wanted to sell. I had one from the previous year once, and had ridden it so long that I had gotten the frame all noodly. It had a hard life before I got it, and all the miles I put on it didn't help. I was surprised to see this frame on the forum for sale, as they were not plentiful, especially in my size, and also because this bicycle is made of Columbus Tubing, and so may be expensive. I procrastinated, and the price came down, but I still procrastinated, and when the thread went dead, I thought the poster may have donated it somewhere. I was going to message him about it, when I saw he had just reposted it, after three months, with a truly significant price drop, so I messaged him right then and there, and set up a time for the exchange of currency and bicycle, at a Northern Illinois truck stop and cafe. (The cafe was a time capsule, right out of the mid-1970s)(( Dark, woody paneling, heavy captains chairs, formica tables, ceiling fans, fake stained glass, shag carpet)) It was very hot outside, and all sorts of vintage autos were gassing up, on the way to a meeting in Southern Illinois. The bike started as a frame, fork, and headset, as well as a seatpost and brakes, with original straddle wires, which are necessary, as the brakes are set more narrowly than current fashion. The rest I added, with a more modern derailleur, bar end shifters, a five speed rear wheel and cog, as it won't take more than that, a matching front wheel, a newer front derailleur (both derailleurs are Deore) and a newer stem and bars with nicer brake levers.
I also added racks, fenders, and a Shimano Octalink BB with crank, and changed gearing to 53-39-30 on the crankset. I also had to order new downtube cable stops, but thanks to my own supplies and those of my local bicycle co-op, I was able to keep this build below $100.00 US.
I also added racks, fenders, and a Shimano Octalink BB with crank, and changed gearing to 53-39-30 on the crankset. I also had to order new downtube cable stops, but thanks to my own supplies and those of my local bicycle co-op, I was able to keep this build below $100.00 US.
