Yes! whenever bicycles are broken, or menaced by international communism, Bicycle Repair Man is ready!

Monday, April 27, 2009

New Bike: Nishiki Regal


This bike was free - it has a stuck seatpost.  Otherwise it's in really nice condition, hardly any mileage.  Midweight frame (Tange 5), stamped dropouts, 27" wheels.

I will probably make a device up to ram the seatpost out from underneath, using the slide hammer.  There are a few bikes that need this treatment, so now is the time to come up with a clever way to do it.

I sold the old Mountaineer and finished up a 5-speed Raleigh Campus - it just needs the rear brakes dressed and a bit more tweaking / oiling / polishing and it will be done.  It's either becoming a mother-in-law bike or going to a family friend.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Back with the Saddle


In a stroke of good luck I snagged a Brooks B66 saddle today off UsedVictoria.  The seller was close enough for me to ride over there (unfortunately, they lived over a steep hill, but I managed)

The B66 is one of Brooks' most popular saddles - this is a good example of an old worn-in one.  It has proper big springs and is suitable for an upright (comfortable!) riding position.

I will need to get some Proofide for it before pressing it into service - as original - on the Raleigh Superbe hanging in the garage.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Bike Built: Norco Mountaineer


This bike was already built and sold once - it came back in a mercy deal; I'd sold a pair of bikes to a visiting couple; hers was crummy and his frame broke (!).  So I bought them back.

The combined bikes make this one - a 1980s Norco Mountaineer.  12 speed, mixte frame, rattlecan paint job, and steel wheels.  Not a great bike, but I think it's worth the $40.

Next in the queue is a Raleigh Campus 5-speed.

Friday, April 10, 2009

New Tool: Park AWS-1


I've been meaning to find an excuse to buy one of these things, but now I don't have to!  Found it on the road when riding home after work last night.  

Today I am doing cleanup work- painted over the rust on the Fiori's fork, stripped the spokes and hub out of a donor wheel, and am re-assembling a Norco Mountaineer for resale.

I also took some photos of the Vainqueur's rear derailleur:


Huret Allvit!  Sounds like a brand of bottled water.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

New Bike: Heidemann Vainqueur


A $20 find!  (The seller was asking $17.00 but I talked him up to a 20).

This is a very rare bike, if only because it was originally very cheap.  It's not very light, and not really that good, but I will fix it up and ride it myself.  We'll start with an overhaul and see what else needs attention thereafter - I'm thinking this will make a nice single-speed conversion.

There's not much info out there about Vainqueur / Heidemann - just that they were low-end bike boom bikes from Europe.  Looks like this is a German frame with French components and an Italian saddle.

In other news, the Fiori San Remo is finished (aside from some paint touch-ups) and I am now overhauling a tank-like Norco Mountaineer.  Also from 1985, the Mountaineer is the other end of Norco's lineup, and it shows.