bikes

[GardenSkater77]

Anyone here wish they had a 1980’s 10 speed?

[TastyBurrito]

1980s had 8-speeds max and friction shifters. LOL.

But I do have a 1985 Medici Pro Strada with modern 10-speed Shimano.

It's a fun bike.

I might try to track down a 105 11-speed and add Carbon wheels to the mix in order to upgrade my beast.

[Joust Ostrich]

Anyone here wish they had a 1980’s 10 speed?

Forgot papa P Rod was in there.

[GardenSkater77]

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

Anyone here wish they had a 1980’s 10 speed?

That's what you think until you realize how heavy some of those bikes were. I picked up a couple Schwinn Varsity's in pretty good shape of craigslist a couple of years back and they were legit over 40 pounds each, it was crazy.. Rode them a couple of times and flipped them.

That being said if you can find an older frame with Reynolds 531 tubing or something, they can be super fun builds and they ride great.

[apport]

So many interesting bikes on this page. I wish I had more patience to really learn about working on bikes but I just do it as a money saver.

That said, I just converted my daughter’s 7 speed dutchie to a single speed because she didn’t like the shifting aspect. I used a Muqzi tensioner with a GearClamp cog dual clamp: https://www.bikeparts.com/BPC385397/gearclamp-single-speed-conversion-kit-for-shimano-sram-freehub

It went fast and the chain is nice and tight. However, I have two questions that are slightly unrelated.

1.) I used a liquid soap rub on the bars to get the grips on and the outside half is sliding around. And better ideas for getting grips on?

2.) The hand breaks for the rear breaks are not springing back into place but when I tighten more the breaks are rubbing on the wheel. Should I be using a tool to tighten the break cable? I’m just pulling with my hand…Thanks ahead of time.

i’ll second barthartley, isopropyl alcohol is the move if you don’t have an air compressor

what kind of brakes? try testing them without the cable, like just in your hand. if they’re caliper it would be easy to tell if the spring is bad. if they’re canti/v remove the cable and test how the arms move on the boss, if they don’t spring independently then the spring is probably the issue. also if you work on brakes with any frequency, or even if you don’t, a fourth hand tool is a must for getting brakes tuned.

[GardenSkater77]

Expand Quote

So many interesting bikes on this page. I wish I had more patience to really learn about working on bikes but I just do it as a money saver.

That said, I just converted my daughter’s 7 speed dutchie to a single speed because she didn’t like the shifting aspect. I used a Muqzi tensioner with a GearClamp cog dual clamp: https://www.bikeparts.com/BPC385397/gearclamp-single-speed-conversion-kit-for-shimano-sram-freehub

It went fast and the chain is nice and tight. However, I have two questions that are slightly unrelated.

1.) I used a liquid soap rub on the bars to get the grips on and the outside half is sliding around. And better ideas for getting grips on?

2.) The hand breaks for the rear breaks are not springing back into place but when I tighten more the breaks are rubbing on the wheel. Should I be using a tool to tighten the break cable? I’m just pulling with my hand…Thanks ahead of time.

[close]

i’ll second barthartley, isopropyl alcohol is the move if you don’t have an air compressor

what kind of brakes? try testing them without the cable, like just in your hand. if they’re caliper it would be easy to tell if the spring is bad. if they’re canti/v remove the cable and test how the arms move on the boss, if they don’t spring independently then the spring is probably the issue. also if you work on brakes with any frequency, or even if you don’t, a fourth hand tool is a must for getting brakes tuned.

I don’t have an air compressor but I certainly have rubbing alcohol (91% IPA). I can take the grips off, wash the soap off and dry and then rein the bars with IPA. Thanks.

Thanks for the break information. I have always worked on my bikes since I was 12 and my attitude with breaks is, good enough. However, being that this is my daughter’s bike she will be using to commute to work I am more concerned about issues.

This may shock you but I didn’t know hand brakes have  grips. I thought the system ran on tension only, good to know.

This is the bike BTW…

https://retrospec.com/collections/bikes/products/beaumont-7-speed-step-through-city-bike

[BartHarleyJarvis]

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Expand Quote

So many interesting bikes on this page. I wish I had more patience to really learn about working on bikes but I just do it as a money saver.

That said, I just converted my daughter’s 7 speed dutchie to a single speed because she didn’t like the shifting aspect. I used a Muqzi tensioner with a GearClamp cog dual clamp: https://www.bikeparts.com/BPC385397/gearclamp-single-speed-conversion-kit-for-shimano-sram-freehub

It went fast and the chain is nice and tight. However, I have two questions that are slightly unrelated.

1.) I used a liquid soap rub on the bars to get the grips on and the outside half is sliding around. And better ideas for getting grips on?

2.) The hand breaks for the rear breaks are not springing back into place but when I tighten more the breaks are rubbing on the wheel. Should I be using a tool to tighten the break cable? I’m just pulling with my hand…Thanks ahead of time.

[close]

i’ll second barthartley, isopropyl alcohol is the move if you don’t have an air compressor

what kind of brakes? try testing them without the cable, like just in your hand. if they’re caliper it would be easy to tell if the spring is bad. if they’re canti/v remove the cable and test how the arms move on the boss, if they don’t spring independently then the spring is probably the issue. also if you work on brakes with any frequency, or even if you don’t, a fourth hand tool is a must for getting brakes tuned.

[close]

I don’t have an air compressor but I certainly have rubbing alcohol (91% IPA). I can take the grips off, wash the soap off and dry and then rein the bars with IPA. Thanks.

Thanks for the break information. I have always worked on my bikes since I was 12 and my attitude with breaks is, good enough. However, being that this is my daughter’s bike she will be using to commute to work I am more concerned about issues.

This may shock you but I didn’t know hand brakes have  grips. I thought the system ran on tension only, good to know.

This is the bike BTW…

https://retrospec.com/collections/bikes/products/beaumont-7-speed-step-through-city-bike

I’ve worked on those before and they’re notorious for bad rear brake adjustments due to the cable routing. Often times the cable or housing gets kinked from the factory which causes a ton of drag.

[GardenSkater77]

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So many interesting bikes on this page. I wish I had more patience to really learn about working on bikes but I just do it as a money saver.

That said, I just converted my daughter’s 7 speed dutchie to a single speed because she didn’t like the shifting aspect. I used a Muqzi tensioner with a GearClamp cog dual clamp: https://www.bikeparts.com/BPC385397/gearclamp-single-speed-conversion-kit-for-shimano-sram-freehub

It went fast and the chain is nice and tight. However, I have two questions that are slightly unrelated.

1.) I used a liquid soap rub on the bars to get the grips on and the outside half is sliding around. And better ideas for getting grips on?

2.) The hand breaks for the rear breaks are not springing back into place but when I tighten more the breaks are rubbing on the wheel. Should I be using a tool to tighten the break cable? I’m just pulling with my hand…Thanks ahead of time.

[close]

i’ll second barthartley, isopropyl alcohol is the move if you don’t have an air compressor

what kind of brakes? try testing them without the cable, like just in your hand. if they’re caliper it would be easy to tell if the spring is bad. if they’re canti/v remove the cable and test how the arms move on the boss, if they don’t spring independently then the spring is probably the issue. also if you work on brakes with any frequency, or even if you don’t, a fourth hand tool is a must for getting brakes tuned.

[close]

I don’t have an air compressor but I certainly have rubbing alcohol (91% IPA). I can take the grips off, wash the soap off and dry and then rein the bars with IPA. Thanks.

Thanks for the break information. I have always worked on my bikes since I was 12 and my attitude with breaks is, good enough. However, being that this is my daughter’s bike she will be using to commute to work I am more concerned about issues.

This may shock you but I didn’t know hand brakes have  grips. I thought the system ran on tension only, good to know.

This is the bike BTW…

https://retrospec.com/collections/bikes/products/beaumont-7-speed-step-through-city-bike

[close]

I’ve worked on those before and they’re notorious for bad rear brake adjustments due to the cable routing. Often times the cable or housing gets kinked from the factory which causes a ton of drag.

The bike arrived with a frayed break cable, so I took the bike to my local and RetroSpec reimbursed me $50 for a new break cable and a few other issues that were evident on arrival. I like the design but the company in China must have cheeped out on the packaging because there was damage that may have occurred in shipping. My kids don’t care enough about biking for me to buy something better.

[Joust Ostrich]

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

I was given a Raleigh Record, and turned it into a single speed and it rides pretty great.  It's probably a couple of years newer than the one in this video, and way less beat.

[Joust Ostrich]

Expand Quote

Anyone here wish they had a 1980’s 10 speed?

[close]

That's what you think until you realize how heavy some of those bikes were. I picked up a couple Schwinn Varsity's in pretty good shape of craigslist a couple of years back and they were legit over 40 pounds each, it was crazy.. Rode them a couple of times and flipped them.

That being said if you can find an older frame with Reynolds 531 tubing or something, they can be super fun builds and they ride great.

A Schwinn Varsity is like skating a wallmart board.  No one in that movie was riding one of those.

[Skibb]

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

Old cockpits are so insanely unconfortable, crazy how far just basic ergonomics have progressed in the last decades.

[GardenSkater77]

Expand Quote

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Expand Quote

So many interesting bikes on this page. I wish I had more patience to really learn about working on bikes but I just do it as a money saver.

That said, I just converted my daughter’s 7 speed dutchie to a single speed because she didn’t like the shifting aspect. I used a Muqzi tensioner with a GearClamp cog dual clamp: https://www.bikeparts.com/BPC385397/gearclamp-single-speed-conversion-kit-for-shimano-sram-freehub

It went fast and the chain is nice and tight. However, I have two questions that are slightly unrelated.

1.) I used a liquid soap rub on the bars to get the grips on and the outside half is sliding around. And better ideas for getting grips on?

2.) The hand breaks for the rear breaks are not springing back into place but when I tighten more the breaks are rubbing on the wheel. Should I be using a tool to tighten the break cable? I’m just pulling with my hand…Thanks ahead of time.

[close]

i’ll second barthartley, isopropyl alcohol is the move if you don’t have an air compressor

what kind of brakes? try testing them without the cable, like just in your hand. if they’re caliper it would be easy to tell if the spring is bad. if they’re canti/v remove the cable and test how the arms move on the boss, if they don’t spring independently then the spring is probably the issue. also if you work on brakes with any frequency, or even if you don’t, a fourth hand tool is a must for getting brakes tuned.

[close]

I don’t have an air compressor but I certainly have rubbing alcohol (91% IPA). I can take the grips off, wash the soap off and dry and then rein the bars with IPA. Thanks.

Thanks for the break information. I have always worked on my bikes since I was 12 and my attitude with breaks is, good enough. However, being that this is my daughter’s bike she will be using to commute to work I am more concerned about issues.

This may shock you but I didn’t know hand brakes have  grips. I thought the system ran on tension only, good to know.

This is the bike BTW…

https://retrospec.com/collections/bikes/products/beaumont-7-speed-step-through-city-bike

[close]

I’ve worked on those before and they’re notorious for bad rear brake adjustments due to the cable routing. Often times the cable or housing gets kinked from the factory which causes a ton of drag.

Thanks again. Watched a few brake related videos tonight and after learning more about how brakes work I fixed the issues as best as I could and came to the realization that the brake levers on this bike are total garbage. On my bike I have entry level Tekras and they are so much better. There were three issues, two of which I fixed.

1.) The noodle slipped further down the cable then it should have. I slid the cable cover and noodle up to reduce cable slack.
2.) the barrel tighteners are garbage. They seem to be stripped. I played around as best I could but they don’t seem to tighten the levers at all.
3.) Way too much cable. If I was going to shorten the cables I would buy a whole new system but the brakes work fine now so I think she can manage.

The grips are only wiggling at the last inch so seems like the excess soap migrated to themselves of the bars. Not going to uninstall the grips for such a small amount of movement.

All and all the single speed conversion is done. I would share a picture but it’s not really a bike that I am very interested in. Just a bike for a 15 year old girl to ride across town to work.

Thanks all…

[Coastal Fever]

I’ve slowed way down on the bike flipping and been without my own for a bit, so I’ve been waiting to find a good buy on a keeper for myself. 

Bought this Sekine yesterday for $50.  Super light and the Alex rims/Pasela tires seem decent enough for the crusher dust trails I mostly ride.  Haven’t had non-drop bars in forever though.. hoping these flat bars aren’t too uncomfortable for medium-longish rides.

[fuckingawesomesauce]

Here is my Surly Cross Check, which I’ve had for about a year now and had in several different configurations already. I built it up from a new frameset last year just before Surly discontinued it and I hope to never part ways with it

Hey nice bike what is that front rack and basket ??

[Joust Ostrich]

Expand Quote

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

[close]

I was given a Raleigh Record, and turned it into a single speed and it rides pretty great.  It's probably a couple of years newer than the one in this video, and way less beat.

Internet says it's an 86.  Which is only a year newer than the one in the video, but seems like much more.

[GardenSkater77]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

[close]

I was given a Raleigh Record, and turned it into a single speed and it rides pretty great.  It's probably a couple of years newer than the one in this video, and way less beat.

[close]

Internet says it's an 86.  Which is only a year newer than the one in the video, but seems like much more.

Man. That color brings back some memories. I think my neighbor had that exact bike. How are you getting tension so perfectly on the chain? Did you just luck out? I always have to use a chain tensioner on all my single speed conversions. My next project is a 1998 Specialized Hard Rock. I’m gonna turn it to a dirt jumper per say. Not that I will use it as such…

[Joust Ostrich]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

The local bike shop in the 80s sold Raleigh Racers. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who didn’t have Huffy’s had blue and gold Raleigh’s. I never had a 10 speed because I always needed a BMX bike, but when I think of 10 speeds I always think of something like this…



I have to imagine that there is a market for 10 speed track bike. I guess cyclocross fills the gap, but I think some people would really prefer less gear options.

[close]

I was given a Raleigh Record, and turned it into a single speed and it rides pretty great.  It's probably a couple of years newer than the one in this video, and way less beat.

[close]

Internet says it's an 86.  Which is only a year newer than the one in the video, but seems like much more.

[close]

Man. That color brings back some memories. I think my neighbor had that exact bike. How are you getting tension so perfectly on the chain? Did you just luck out? I always have to use a chain tensioner on all my single speed conversions. My next project is a 1998 Specialized Hard Rock. I’m gonna turn it to a dirt jumper per say. Not that I will use it as such…

The frame is slotted just enough to give you room to work.  So, I partially lucked out.  Not a fan of tensioners, so I'm glad it cooperated.

[Síota]

Just saw this on a BMX FB page....


Edit: the photo on insta:

[concerned_parent]

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Here is my Surly Cross Check, which I’ve had for about a year now and had in several different configurations already. I built it up from a new frameset last year just before Surly discontinued it and I hope to never part ways with it

[close]

Hey nice bike what is that front rack and basket ??

looks like origin8 messenger rack and perhaps a wire basket from any home goods store zip tied to it

https://origin8.bike/products/rush-messenger-front-flat-rack

[lucid beauty]

1980s had 8-speeds max and friction shifters. LOL.

But I do have a 1985 Medici Pro Strada with modern 10-speed Shimano.

It's a fun bike.

I might try to track down a 105 11-speed and add Carbon wheels to the mix in order to upgrade my beast.

the terrm "10-speed" isnt a reference to a 10 cog groupset and predates that tech by like 25 years - its a reference to a 2x5 drivetrain which i think was standard on the "bike boom" roadbikes of the 70's (schwinn varsity/world sport, etc).

[Frank and Fred]

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Here is my Surly Cross Check, which I’ve had for about a year now and had in several different configurations already. I built it up from a new frameset last year just before Surly discontinued it and I hope to never part ways with it

[close]

Hey nice bike what is that front rack and basket ??

[close]

looks like origin8 messenger rack and perhaps a wire basket from any home goods store zip tied to it

https://origin8.bike/products/rush-messenger-front-flat-rack

Crazy that Surly discontinued one of its most successful and popular frame sets... heard the Steamroller might be on its way out also? Meanwhile... they are moving into electric bikes?

[j....soy.....]

I got the pizza rack it’s sick.  Won’t fit on the new set up though….

Board/seat post rack?  Would this make sense?  Too kooky?

[Texas_Tone]

So I’ve got an Electra loft 3 speed, I am wanting to get like a 7 or 8 speed, some wider more swept bars, upgrade my saddle and change the pedals, better wheels etc. question is is there a way to upgrade my 3 to a 7 and if so is it worth it? Or should I just find an older 8 speed moutain bike and build up my own and just use the 3 speed as a six pack accessory?? And does anyone have any suggestions or things to look out for if I’m gonna build up an older mountain bike? Just getting into this scene but I’m super into it, even have tried making a couple custom bike bags for myself

[concerned_parent]

So I’ve got an Electra loft 3 speed, I am wanting to get like a 7 or 8 speed, some wider more swept bars, upgrade my saddle and change the pedals, better wheels etc. question isspeed moutain bike and build up my own and just use the 3 speed as a six pack accessory?? And does anyone have any suggestions or things to look out for if I’m gonna build up an older mountain bike? Just getting into this scene but I’m super into it, even have tried making a couple custom bike bags for myself is there a way to upgrade my 3 to a 7 and if so is it worth it? Or should I just find an older 8

going from an internal 3-speed hub to a 7-speed could be a bit of a financial headache if i'm being honest. Or you can source a used wheelset with a 7-speed cassette and go through the means of getting it dialed in but it's definitely not just plug and play. its doable - but finding an older bike and building it up to what you want it to be is probably the more attainable option / customizable. just find a $100 90's MTB and tweak it out to your desires!

[BartHarleyJarvis]

Cavendish!!!!

[Joust Ostrich]

No. 

[bartlaser]

Cavendish!!!!

And Bini in the green.  Sick finish.

[Skibb]

I just recently came to think of this absolute gem, thought I'd share it.



Dream trip.

[sharkjumper]

Tour de France has been super fun to watch. Carapaz win today was great. Love seeing Girmay crush the sprints.