Vic's Classic Bikes

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Humble Schwinn Collegiate Becomes a Vic's Classic

I remember seeing ads for the 1984 Collegiate and thinking it was a cool bike. It featured a lugged CroMoly frame built by Giant with integrated fenders & chain guard. A 3 speed Sturmey Archer coaster brake hub was laced to chrome plated steel rims. The Collegiate also had a cup & spindle bottom bracket, custom alloy crank with pressed on 1/8th drive steel chain ring, rubber block pedals, a steel seat pin, economy steel caliper front brake & lever, and cheap plastic Sturmey Archer shifter.

Now lets do it my way.

First I stripped the bike down to the bare frame, retaining the frame, fork, fenders, chain guard, handlebars, stem, and the Sturmey Archer 3 speed coaster brake hub.

I replaced the headset with a new Tange Levin unit. I upgraded the original cup and spindle crank bearing to a SKF sealed unit - the new standard for premium crank bearings.

The drive train now consists of a Pake track crank and 1/2 link Pintle chain. A new nimbus unit replaces the cheap plastic SA shifter.

The steel seat pin is replaced with a Uno alloy pillar to support a Brooks B67 saddle and Brooks tool bag in Honey. A Jim Blackburn rack on the rear makes the bike a little more useful.

Lighting is provided by an Schmidt E6 on the front and a Spannigna Pixeo fender mount unit on the rear. Both lights are powered by the Sanyo H27 dyno hub.

Wiring is routed internally. The front wire runs through the right side fork blade. The rear wire enters the downtube just below the lower head lug, runs through the bottom bracket shell and into the left side chain stay, and exits through the rear fender. It then runs along the inside of the fender, sealed inside a silicone bead, to the tail light. (see images below - wire circled in red)

Then on to the wheels. Keeping only the SA coaster brake 3-speed rear hub, I've added a Sanyo dyno front hub and laced both hubs to Sun CR18 double walled alloy rims using 14 guage straight stainless steel spokes and brass nipples. Finally a set of ColDeLaVie tires by Panasonic provide a soft cushy ride.

This is not your father's old 3 speed. $1,200.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Jack Taylor Tandem

The Jack Taylor tandem was handbuilt by the Taylor brothers in a workshop in England. Every bike they made was a classic and this tandem would be the highlight of any collection.

A steal at any price, $4,500.

Vic's Raleigh Fixie

This is my 1972 Raleigh Gran Prix fixed gear conversion. It has gone through several modifications since the initial build. I liked Paul's components and have been eager to use more of them in a build. Now in addition to the Paule's Racer brake and Love lever this bike features Paul's Crank and Hubs, Velocity B43 rims (wheels built by me and approved by the famous Perry) , Nitto Lugged Stem, Nitto riser bar, Ouri grips. with a half dozen fine bicycles to choose from (including 2 Rivendells and a Heron) this has become my favorite and most ridden bike.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

59cm Zullo Criterium

See it on the website

Make: Zullo

Model: Criterium

Frame Size: 59cm

Frame Description:

Columbus XLS tubing, aero fork blades chain and seat stays, Z engraved into brake bridge, top of seat stays, and fork crown. Special indentations into sides of top tube and down tube. Zullo logo engraved into headtube. Two sets of waterbottle bosses. Internally routed rear brake cable.

Wheels:

Mavic G 40 gray anodized 700c presta valve rims laced to Campagnolo low flange alloy hubs with stainless steel spokes.

Components:

Full Campagnolo Triomphe groupo including: cranks, derailleurs, shifter, brakes and levers

Saddle & Seatpost:

Vintage Brooks Professional pre-softened saddle, Campagnolo seatpost

Bars & Stem:

3TTT bars & stem

Price:

$1500

Schwinn Paramount

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hanquapillar shoot; New lighting

Special thanks to Beth for comming in last night to take these shots. I will take this oppportunity to discuss the lighting in greater detail. Personaly I am annoyed by anything being routed, especially wiring along the bicycle frame. However I was not comfortable asking to drill holes in a new Rivendell frame. So here is the solution that Steve and I setteled on. A Sanyo H27 dyno hub powering Bush & Miller Lumotec front-Toplight rear. This system gives Steven dependable and sufficient bright light to fill his needs when out after dark. With the lights mounted at the wheel top level they provide maximum visability to motorist. Both lights use a dual strand harness with the rear light being connected through and swiched by the headlight. I did not want to cut any of the harness off in the event of future light placement needing more wire. So on the front harness I doubled up the excess wire in a loop inside a piece of shrink tube zip tied to the inside of the fork blade. The harness was then routhe under the 2 existing zip ties holding on the computer sending unit. A short distance up the fork blade the front & rear harnesses join through another shrink tube and both terminate at the head light. The rear harness continues up to the fork crown where it passes through small fender stay mount screwed to the top of the crown with an existing bolt. From the fork crown to the underside of the center tube. For the run the length of the center tube I cut a piece of straight wire about the guage of a coat hanger just short of the length of the center tube. Both the wire and the harness were then covered with a series of shrink tubes and then zip tied to the under side of the center tube. I then fashioned a L brace with the same wire used under the center tube. This bracket can be seen routed up the back side of the seat tube, crossing above the tire to the left seat stay. The final fun is under the top of the rear rack to the tail light again using wire for stifness under shrink tubes.

I also want to thank Penny at Peter White Cycles for help in selecting the components used on this project. All lighting as well as the wheel build was provided by Peter White Cycles.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Meet Beth

I am pleased to introduce Beth Holladay. Beth does the photography and web postings. She also works full-time teaching art, producing newsletters, and performing other duties at Preston Arts Center just down the road. In just a few hours each Sunday afternoon she has been able to make a transformation in our internet presence.

So, why not check out her bike!

Also of note is the recent addition of studio lighting and background equipment to kick the photos up quite a few notches. Thanks Beth!