I made some changes to my son's bike over the last few days which really improved things for him. After having only ridden mountain bikes, he was having trouble adjusting to drop bars and skinny tires. I replaced the drop bars with Velo-Orange Tourist Bars and cork grips. I added mountain bike brake levers, a high rise Nitto stem, and 28mm tires. I also found an old used Wrights saddle on Ebay. Almost everything I bought was on sale with the stem being the most expensive item.
We took the bike out for another test ride this afternoon and thankfully he was happy with the new setup.
My son wanted a Brooks saddle like mine, I just could'nt justify spending over $100 on a high maintenance saddle for a 12 year old. He can abuse this one all he wants. 
I think I left the brake cable housing a little too long.
Which Wrights is that? FWIW they are just as good as the Brooks IMHO. I have a couple of them. The one I use most is a 5N currently it is on my "tour" bike.
ReplyDeleteGood looking bike, do you eventually plan to reinstall the drop bars?
Aaron
Good job with the bike. I gotta keep an eye out for a Wrights saddle...
ReplyDeleteIt's a W3N that was original equipment on a 1973 Raleigh Gran Prix. I'm keeping the drop bars in the garage in case my son wants to reinstall them but I think he may be outgrowing this bike soon.
ReplyDeleteDoohickie-They're less expensive than Brooks.
ReplyDeleteResourceful. Effective. Excellent. You have a gift for project bikes.
ReplyDeletesuper! love how some small adjustments make the bike (and its rider) have its own personality
ReplyDeletewhat a cool ride :)
Reminds me of a souped-up Schwinn Collegiate. I used to have one that I dearly loved.
ReplyDeleteChristopher-Thanks, now I need to learn how to adjust a rear derailleur. It doesn't matter how many instructional videos I watch I can't seem to get it right.
ReplyDeleteMeligrosa-You're right, the bars and higher stem have really given this bike a much friendlier personality.
Big Oak-I wouldn't mind having a Collegiate with a basket as a second bike.
So I got to see this bike in person; apparently your son dropped it off at my favorite LBS for some adjustments. The cork grips look very cool. Overall it's a great bike.
ReplyDeleteSooner or later we will meet face to face!
Doohickie-No matter how many instructional videos I watch I can't seem to properly adjust a rear derailleur. I decided to let the professionals handle it. City Cyclist is a neat little shop. I've been in there once before. My son had a nice conversation with the owner and had nothing but good things to say about the place.
ReplyDeleteI like the place but I'm biased in that one of the owners (the lady that usually runs the register) and I go to the same church. I was planning on buying a bike from them, but before I did, she told me about how someone else in the church had some bikes she was trying to sell; that's how I got this one and this one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the other owner (the mechanic) has been nothing but helpful to me. By the way, if you ever print up some of those sharrows t-shirts we talked about, you may want to see if they'll sell them.
I was thinking about printing the sharrows as a front and back design using something like this http://www.iccink.com/optilux/505.htm. I'm still throwing ideas around. My press should be here sometime this week. Hopefully I'll be printing by next weekend. B.T.W. I need your shirt size.
ReplyDeleteI need to try to work out a deal with some area businesses. I had a bad experience with a now defunct bike shop.
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ReplyDeleteXL will do fine.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of reflective ink! Awesome! You know, if the safe passage bill passes into law, you may want to consider designs along the lines of "Give me at least 3 feet of room.... It's the law!" Okay, maybe something shorter for the shirt design, but that idea.
Be the first one to market with a shirt like that and I'll bet you'll sell a bunch. Give one to Wendy Davis; she's a co-author of the bill and our state senator (not to mention a cyclist), and get a picture of her wearing it... the publicity would be awesome.
IM IN UR BLOGZ, STEELIN' UR PICS. If you have a problem with that, let me know and I'll take it down.
ReplyDeleteNo problem at all. That pic looks great as a header. You're welcome to anything I've got on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI figured it would be okay, but I don't use pics from someone's website unless I clear it with them.
ReplyDelete