AdventureManCO 

I've been trying to avoid this thread bad. I LOVE the idea, and USAZorro has been the admirable torch-bearer for the top 'clunker' challenge right now. Its just I've been trying to get rid of these things and this type of build is so condusive to hoarding junk lol!

BUT.

I love the spirit, its right up my alley, I've never had a successful entry yet, and I DO actually have a project frame still...it has been so close to heading to scrap...probably more than a dozen times. Which means its probably the perfect time to throw money and time at yet another pointless, useless project (I'm great at this).

IdahoBrett 

Do it AdventureManCO !! I for one am an admirer of your…..work

jdawginsc 

Dont throw money at it...throw substandard but cheap parts! Besides, it could be from the frame up and classic restoration categories!

jdawginsc 

Agreed.

AdventureManCO 

I guarantee there would be nothing 'classic' about it

If anything, I sadly actually paid money for the bike and would feel to dumb to just send it to the co-op knowing they would absolutely, instantly throw it in the dumpster with zero hesitation. I mean, I kinda feel dumb anyway for buying it in the first place knowing how valuable space is now, but I don't want to feel double-dumb. But then again, spending time, money on it...aaahhhg I can't get away from it lol!!

Here is the best part. Its not a Huffy...but it weighs more than any Huffy frame I've ever weighed. I was shocked.

AdventureManCO 

The hesitation is on-point

jdawginsc 

Must be a Schwinn...

Sactown_Albert 

Whew, this was a hard one! Started with a raw frame that the BF hive mind helped me identify as a 1971 Fuji Finest. I stripped and repainted it to match the catalog images I could find. Automotive paint in aerosol cans. Gus Salmon had period and model accurate waterslide decals that worked out great. This way, if I want to complete a historically accurate build, I just have to replace the drivetrain with Suntour GT and Dia-Compe bits that are easy enough to track down. My build approach was to make a workhorse bike with wide range gearing that would be Eroica compliant but still enjoyable to ride on a long, hilly course. Cue the Crane long cage derailleur, a Super Mighty Tour crank with an inner 36 tooth chainring and a 32 tooth rear freewheel. I can ride this bike anywhere. Rest of the drivetrain is first generation Shimano Dura Ace so I stuck with a Japanese theme for the bike. Pretty happy with the result!

jdawginsc 

Great job SA! Fantastic!

Pompiere

Painting the water bottle clamps is a detail I had not even considered. Great job!

BTinNYC 

Wow, that is a beautiful build!

IdahoBrett 

Agreed, absolutely stunning!

rgvg

Tried it and to my surprise worked. Not very well but it still worked. So tightened up the cabling a little bit and it works (badly). The cable is a bit frayed so I will have to replace it. I do have a 7 speed cassette available so I'll have to decide if I want to stick with the 9 speed or change it out.

I also learned not all dynamo lights have a bracket that will work with cantilever brakes. I was hoping to build a dynamo wheel. The light I have doesn't have the correct bracket and it gets in the way of the front brake cable. I didn't realize dynamo lights can be so picky.

AdventureManCO 

Alright, I'm in.











A little different than what was planned.


I found this the other night perusing around (I know...) and identified it from a picture. Looked like absolute garbage for probably 99.98% of everyone else, but there was no mistaking that fillet braze/lug combo, and then that lug at the top of the fork.

I'll have $68 left in the budget to get her up to speed. Once again, I keep finding bikes probably too small for me, but hoping that they will work I'm gonna really hear it from everyone in the 'collection reduction' thread over this one, but come on. Just look at it. This one needed saving. You know it. I know it. It found me

AAAANND...stuck seatpost, probably stem too. Whoohoo!

jdawginsc 

The vine and rust were already part of the bike as of December 31, 2023. Neither should be included in any price calculation.

However, the amount of evaporust, kroil, WD-40 and reciprocating saw blade do.

I do like the yellow tires. And honestly, if you de rust the parts, there are some exceptional pieces in there.

Mad Honk 

AdventureManCO
Nice to see you all in on this endeavor! I'm going to try to do the frame-up with existing stash to get points for Mucho Cheapo utilizing the Trek 950. As of now I have probably less than $5 in the project, and I am thinking I can get the bike done and make the miles to complete the challenge before I have to go back to work in August. Pictures and continuation of the build thread to come soon. Smiles, MH

Pompiere

So I went up to the Monroe Bike Show and Swap today, formerly the Ann Arbor Bike Show and Swap. I reminded myself that I was only there to enjoy all the old bikes and possibly pick up a few odds and ends to complete or enhance any of my projects. I was sticking to the plan, mostly. I had also said that I DO NOT need any more bike bags. Except when I found a Performance handlebar bag for a buck, naturally I had to have it for my Performance Parabola. But then I was walking through one of the buildings late in the day as many sellers were starting to pack up the remnants of their booths and one of them offers me a frame for the princely sum of one dollar so he didn't have to take it home. I gave it a quick lookover and figured I could take a chance for a dollar, even if I end up turning it into wind chimes. There aren't any decals left to indicate the model or tubing, but it does make a nice ping when you flick it with a finger. The serial number appears to be from 1977. Size is 23 inches/58 cm CTT, top tube 56 cm CTC, 40 inch wheelbase, and 120 mm spacing.

I think I already have everything in my stash to build this into a nice bike, so the challenge to myself will be to build a bike for $1.00. I already had rim strips on my shopping list, but in the interest of keeping to my budget, I may have to cut up a couple old inner tubes to get by. I'll follow my usual protocol of building first to evaluate, then I'll tear it back down for painting.


1977? Univega

AdventureManCO 

Just in case anyone was wondering if the Cimarron came with a silver ano'd Nitto stem, it did NOT



The stem was not just not stuck, it was extravagantly not stuck. I mean, the thing just pulled right out. There is art in this bike, if only for the juxtaposition of how loose the stem was, with also at the same time how stuck the seatpost seems to be. This thing sat out in the weather for a long, long time.

And it is just barely my size | not my size, therefore it should be fun to actually ride it and see which side it falls on!

Pompiere

That is the most severe fading I have seen. Usually the black just turns brown. But, given the way the other paint looks, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I was fixing up a bike for my niece a couple weeks ago and found the fixed cub of the bottom bracket in the same "extravagantly not stuck" condition. To say it was "finger tight" would be generous. It was also a Schwinn.

jdawginsc 

I wonder why someone painted it black just for below the max line...

Insidious C. 

Looks like a Gran Rally.

Pompiere

After searching through what seemed like hundreds of articles last night, I agree. There isn't a lot of documentation for Univega before 1980. The spots where the name and tubing decals are supposed be have deep scratches, like someone deliberately scraped them off with a screwdriver to conceal its identity.

IdahoBrett 

Ta-Dah

jdawginsc 

The Continental is finished! Looks great! Also the safest bike to own during a hurricane. Looks like it just came from a bike shop in the 70s!

Murray Missile 

Well, I was going to use "the Pig", my Technium 480, as a frame up build since it didn't sell but I kind of feel that's cheating. It "technically" qualifies but I wouldn't feel quite right using it. But, I kept back one "What the heck am I going to do with this thing?" bike from my recent donating frenzy and it hit me just now I can throw it together while I decide what to do with it long term. I bought it as a frameset with brake calipers, derailleurs, crankset and a seatpost which may or may not be stuck and paid $10 for the whle thing about 6 years ago. It's a 1991 Diamaondback Momentum, my thinking is that the handling would be similar to my 1990 Interval which I love. The paint is actually not too bad considering I found it in a pile of frames in a trailer on FB Marketplace. I have the 27" wheels off an old Univega and the Kuwahara I parted out will supply the brake levers, handle bars and stem, I also have a fair selection of DT shifters. I kept the 27" Panaracers off Big Bird before I let him go and I have boxes and tubs of other parts. I don't think I'll have to buy anything, everything I will need was on the premises prior to Jan. 1st. Here's the "as found" picture LOL.......

Maybe I should call him Waldo......



.....and one mocked up with spare parts a couple years ago. Heck yeah, I forgot it even has a good chain on it already! Pretty sure I can have it on the road by this coming Saturday.



This just in, seat post was NOT stuck and the brake calipers will reach 700c wheels.