Project Lazarus: Turns out he was only Mostly Dead

Pre Crash Sept 2018

As I mentioned earlier I found that the replacement fork from a 1986 Schwinn Passage had a longer steer tube than the Cresta fork and I didn't have enough threading on the fork to snug up the headset.  I had called a local frame builder to ask about adding threads and was told it was not often successful and when they did do it they charged $200.  I was disappointed but the bike forums community encouraged me to keep trying and a couple even offered their die cutting tools if I wanted to try it myself, and I got more shop and builder suggestions.

I tried 3 more recommended shops/builders and got the polite brush off each time except for the shop that didn't even respond.  The last one, however, made a suggestion I hadn't thought of, a shop that used to be local to me but had moved to a cheaper neighborhood, Aaron's Bike Shop.  The owner is a bit of character and not everyone's cup of tea, but say what you will he is a master mechanic.  I reached out and got a positive response that yes they could add threads and it would cost $25.  Sold!  I stopped by after work last week and was in and out in 5 minutes.  Amazing what you can do with the correct tools and know how.  You can see the slightly shinier new threads above.

I had to check and see if it worked of course, even though I had marked it carefully before taking it the shop, and viola the headset snugged right up.  I might need some spacers for the extra length but one problem at a time.

I had decided that I wanted to ride the bike with both forks back to back to really test how it felt.  To that end I dug deep in my parts bin and discovered some XT cantis I had from about 5 years ago when I parted out an early 90s MTB for a friend.  To speed the swapping fork process I mounted them to the Passage fork and tested that they would work.

The original re-bent fork went back in and I measured the threads that were showing after I threaded on the top race - 1 cm.

The Cresta was ready to go with the rescued fork and immediately it confirmed my original feeling -twitchy especially at low speeds.  In my 2.5 mile test ride I really felt the need to grip the handlebars securely,  It rode fine but just felt different, exactly what I had experienced when I first rode it after the fork was fixed.

With the passage fork I had 3 cm of threads showing for a 2 cm delta between forks.   The spacers I bought when I upgraded the Cresta headset are about to come in handy.

The spacers allowed me to get everything snugged up without showing any threads,  The rubber seal is a bit askew but its fine for test purposes.

All ready to go, having the extra brakes mounted helped but of course I still had to fiddle with them to get them dialed in.   And in the first few pedal strokes up the slight incline I could feel it... not twitchy!  I think this might work.  And I as I rode on over the same route it seemed like the bike adsorbed the bumps and ruts better, the increased fork rake or just my imagination?   Anyway I liked the replacement fork and was very glad I actually got to use it.

A progression of shots in roughly the same place

Sept 2018 pre crash

May 2019 Post crash after forks were fixed

May 2019 The Crest-age

For one short ride I am happy with result and in my normal rush ahead fashion I am thinking of how I could paint the fork white when I am house sitting next weekend and also how I could get the steer tube trimmed by 1 cm, BUT, I want to ride it more and do more than 2.5 miles before I go down that path.  It looks a bit odd with the mismatched blue but its not hideous and it has, I think, got back its stately ride.

Ride. Don't accept the No's. Smile. Repeat.