In and Out like a Supercycle Storm

A while back my brother bought a 15-speed Supercycle from the thrift store for $15.  He didn't ride it much, so it wound up in my care.  I swapped out the 6-speed freewheel for a 5, straightened it out, and sent it on its way for $40.

Other accomplishments: built up the Innova with mostly-used parts; grand total $200.  Finished off the dropouts for the Chariot - had to start again as there were too many weird problems with trying to copy the original design.  Went with an "all new" design inspired by the modern Chariot joggers, and lo it works again.

The current build is a 3-speed CCM Elan.  I've rebuilt the wheels with 700c rims, for superior braking and tire choices.  Going to try to lace up the rear wheel tonight, but the only 700c rim I have left is warped so it might not work out.

They cometh, and they goeth away

I got an old Giant Innova for $30 the other day. It's got 700c wheels and a lightweight cromoly frame - it will become a commuter for a co-worker (to replace his "iron-side" hybrid that weighs more than him)

Sold the 5-speed Raleigh, and the Fiori, in a flurry of activity today. I'm glad to see the Fiori go, even though it was a nice bike and a decent conversation piece.

I am negotiating another trade deal - a comfortable hybrid/MTB for a Gardin racer. Hope it works out for all involved; my offerings are either a built-up complete bike using the Sasquatch frame, or the readymade Kuwahara my sister-in-law-to-be-probably was riding. She's gone back to Australia (with my brother-in-law-for-real), and doesn't need the bike any more.

Also on the go right now - rigging new dropouts for an old Chariot trailer. It's more difficult than first expected! More on that later, once it's done...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.