...a simple build. You know, the kind where you have a frame sitting around that's, maybe, Juuuust a bit small for you but you could still ride. In this case, its a 1992 trek 720 19" frame (actually measures 20") that is scratched and the paint is a little scabby...but it's a good frame, all in all. Parts shouldn't be a problem...I've got some parts to strip off another frame and have others in my parts cabinet. But..."oh, look! A complete group on Ebay. It's going cheap....may as well bid (I probably won't win it anyway)" SURPRISE! "You win!" First I cleaned the frame (somewhat...let's face it...it'll never look spectacular). Remove, clean, and lube the headset. (Pesky bearing! Where did it land?) Buy new bearing at LBS and re-install headset. The bottom bracket feels sticky. I'll just take it off and replace it. Oops! That little sucker is frozen on! After a trip to the LBS (they couldn't get it off either) I finally get a pipe clamp and get enough pressure on the BB tool that it doesn't slip out of the splines And with a big wrench, a hammer, and not a little bit swearing and skinned knuckles later, I finally get that little sucker out. ....and I need a new BB as the other BB's I have are 110 mm and this one is 122 mm. back to the LBS I go. I come back from the shop to find my package from EBAY has arrived. Holy Crap! The crank set and front derailleur have never been mounted! The shifters and rear der are used but very minty. Everything kind of makes the frame look a little ratty. So friends, that is where you find me. Contemplating sand blasting and powder coating the frame and fork. ....I've started giggling and talking to myself... .........There are strange facial tics and eye twitches thrown in for good measure. I still have a good enough grasp on reality that no powder coating will occur until I've put the whole thing together and ride it to see if I'll keep it. It really was supposed to be a simple build with spare parts I had laying about. Now I still have all these extra parts.... Maybe I should build another bike....?
..and it just keeps on going. It's like the old anti-drug commercial of the businessman walking tight circles in a bathroom stall, "I do cocaine so I can work hard and make more money so I can buy more cocaine so I can work hard and make more money to buy more cocaine..."
Make a rat bike, sort of like a rat rod the body is flat black, old and wore out looking but it has new rubber, brakes, and a sweet engine. Just do the same with the bike. Scuff it so paint will stick, rattle can a few coats of flat black on it with a few top coats of satin clear and then throw the shiny pieces on it and take it out and ride it. Remember it wasn't about having the fastest shiniest and most expensive bike, or you would have bought a new fancy shiny bike. It was about resurrecting an old bike and adding to the stable of bike you have, expanding your choices. Also remember you gave up on this bike once for some reason or another and let it sit on the corner unused. No new parts will fix the original issue so no reason to go the high zoot route. Slap paint on it the cheap ebay parts you got and have fun until you no longer are interested in it. Then remove, clean and properly store the parts for the next time they are needed.
Heh. I actually got the frame for free from a guy who was gonna toss it (bought in one of those storage facility auctions where you bid on the entire contents of the unit). I like the rat bike idea and may go in that direction if I can make it fit...perhaps by buying one of those quill stem to threadless adapters and throwing on a 110 - 130mm stem (got a bunch of those too). Anyhow, It's all about the process and only partially about the end product. I just have to keep proving to myself that there's nothing more expensive than a free bike........ .....unless it's a free boat...... ...................hmmmm...........free boat listed on CL...... Aaaaugh!!!! Run away!!!!!
OK folks, It's Picture time. First the frame: Front (note the semi-peeling decals and chipped paint): The Rear Triangle: New cranks (the bit sticking out is protective plastic that got caught in crank bolt) and Front Der: Here's the crankset I was going to use before (somehow the rust isn't showing up well in the pic): Rear Der (slightly scraped, but still shiny): The whole thing with handlebars/ sans shifters: That's as far as I got as our temps started dropping and I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. It's Cold in Texas so Hell must be freezing over again.
Once I started getting the stuff put on the frame, it didn't look so bad...brings to mind Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. I may have to save the paint for another frame. I'll go with flat bars for now though I have some old drops and Suntour bar ends to try too. The rings/cranks look too far away from the frame so I'll probably have to switch the BB for an shorter spindle (110 or 113 at least I already have a couple of those) as I didn't know that certain cranks determine the length you need (finally found the reference on Sheldon Brown's site.) They must have had different cranks on it before...I just figured I needed the same size BB that I took off it.
Pulled the cranks and switched out the BB for 110 mm and put the cranks back on. (Looks MUCH better) That's as far as I got before having to come in. The Temp is still below freezing. I'm gonna have to wait for Monday, when the rest of the house is at work so I can finish in the front room. (that's where we park the good bikes anyway...don't know why she has issues with a stand.... and some tools ..................and grease...........)
Your frame looks about the same condition as my upcoming SS project -- and I see we both have solid der hangers! I have an old Octalink XT crank installed, with an ES-25 BB, and a kinda generic-level Cane Creek headset. Also have ready and waiting: V-brakes for the rear (waiting on pads), QR's, some cool spacers for the stem/HS, and the low-riser/stem combo. There are a few parts I'm gonna pillage from the bike I built for my nephew (he's gettin' new this year), but I'm not touching that bike until I bring the new one home. Haven't decided if I'm gonna use his old bar or the one I have (mine is a black OEM SpecialEd, his is a blue Titec Trucker). Other parts will get binned, but the bike is pretty much done in. He has an 'abusive' brother....
So... Now that the cold snap is over... the Franken-build is slowly progressing again. Here, it is almost done (just needs rear brake cable and housing). I've stolen the wheels off the Le Tour (700x25...I think, running 120 psi), and some Funky Purple Pedals from the takeoff bin at the LBS. As you can see by the seatpost, it's a bit small for me. Therefore, I'll be pulling the cranks and maybe the bar and shifters to put on the bargan($50) Nashbar touring frame (56 cm) I got a couple weeks ago.... I have to say that I LOVE THESE PEDALS! VERY grippie and spin effortlessly. I just can't see them on a green frame, though...
