I haven't had time to work on my new acquisition yet, but my son really wanted to go for a ride. I figured this would be a good opportunity to figure out what works and can stay on the bike and what has to go. After a short ride full of squeaks and other annoying sounds I realized just how much work is to be done.
The bike looks nice from a distance. You cant make out all the scratches and paint chips. That stuff doesn't bother me too much. This is nearly a thirty year old bike.
I didn't realize that the rear wheel has forty spokes. I figured this out when trying to remove that ugly yellow spoke protector. That thing was practically crumbling in my hands. When I removed the rear wheel and skewer I realised that I needed a two notch Suntour freewheel removal tool which I don't have.
It looks like the rack was original equipment on this bike. It is surprisingly sturdy despite the fact that it doesn't bolt to the seat stays.
I wanted to get rid of the stupid front reflector, but I'll have to buy another cable hanger.
People must have been really skinny in the mid 80's as every set of road bars I've ever tried from the era seem to be extremely narrow. This is a 58cm bike but the bars would be right at home on a 49cm girls bike.
For alpine gearing.
I like the feel of these shifters.
From the 1979 Takara catalog. I guess she's about fifty years old now.
Photo borrowed from jonmilesnyc.
