Project Lazarus: The search drags on.... oh never mind

So I went to Ebay and CL to search and set up alerts for forks.  You think it would be easy with the right criteria correct? Well that  assumes everyone selling their stuff actually knows what they have and can list it accurately.  I had a search on CL for  touring bikes with cantilever brakes, I got 3 results and exactly zero had Cantis!  I stumbled across a nice Peugeot no one with an auto search will find because he spelled it Peugot.  Sigh.  I routinely see sizing that is way off and all sorts of wheel sizes that are not even close to a known size,  or 26" as 700c and vice versa.  What that means is I mostly shift through alot of crap to be sure I don't miss what I actually want.  Which brings me to the fork above.

When I searched for 27" wheel size, Cantilever brake forks I got very little and this one didn't show up so after scouring the ebay listing for forks I stumble across this blue Canti fork.  The description says its 700c, fortunately I know that is not correct because they have given me other info but I would have never found it without allot of digging through dross.

I know this fork is not 700c because its from a Schwinn Passage!!! its even Tange as you can see on the drop-out.  How is that for Karma?  I was led back to the model that got me into this Touring thing in the first place.  Its Hi-ten steel not cromo, like the current re-bent fork, but I can live with that.  The steerer is slightly longer that what I eyeballed mine at but I would rather have too many threads rather than too few and I have spacers that I can use to deal with any gaps and/or take it to a shop to have some length cut down.

It was more than a Sunlite  chrome replacement 27" caliper fork would, be or a 700c canti unicrown fork would be but neither of those fit what I want.  It was also considerably less that the $212 someone wanted for a Trek 520 fork!  Its ordered from eBay so we shall see in a week or so.  Its essentially what I paid for the Trek 520 Cirrus fork except in that case I got a whole bike attached.

Its going to be butt ugly with the contrasting blue of the frame but I am going to test it as is before I spend any time with aesthetics like paint.  And if I like the feel and the ride then I can worry about paint and maybe a Tange fork decal.  I guess I will have a Schwin-shiki Crestage when its all together.

Search for a grail.  Find a Passage. wait and see.


EDIT


I noticed that the same eBay seller has this on their site.

Which tells me there is a 99,9% chance the fork I bought came from a 58 cm frame -hooray.  Not sure why they broke up the band other than to maximize profit, I am paying more for the fork than they are asking for the frame btw,  or because the frame has a big dent maybe it was more of an after thought.  In any event I am grateful that the combo was broken up so I could snag a fork.

You Spent How Much...!!!?

It all started with the Schwinn Passage for many reasons; it was my introduction to Japanese built mid 80s touring bikes, a test best for upgrading parts on a vintage bike for fit and comfort, and finally I had to sell it on to bridge the financial gap from being unemployed to employed.

Job secured that left a hole in my quiver and it just so Happened a Nishiki Cresta GT popped up in my size on Bike Forums and from a local PNW blogger - Thanks Josh.  The new arrival cost me $185.00, more than I normally pay but was nearly all original and is a classic Japanese touring bike, plus I am a sucker for a cream head tube.

One of my first purchases was new rubber for the Cresta in the form of some plush 27 x1 3/8  Swift Sand Canyons (think fatter Panaracer Pasela's) which cost me $60.00, and I picked up my favorite MKS sneaker pedals for $22.

One thing I learned from the Passage was upgrading the cockpit for a comfortable ride; wider bars, taller stem, larger grip brake levers, and a new saddle.   I tried a Brooks Cambium for the first time and have not been disappointed.  All totaled I spent $194.50 on the cockpit upgrades and I love the fit.

I am not a big fan of the oval rings and I wanted a broader range and lower low, so I got new Sugino rings at a cost of $90 for 3 rings.

After the issues I had getting the original headset off the bike I overreacted and bought a new headset and while I was at it I also purchased a bottom bracket, this has the added benefit of making the install easier and they will be lower maintenance in the long run.  That cost me $89.00 for the pair.

And of course I needed the consumables;  chain, cables and housing, brake pads etc.  Those items ran me about $73.00.

One definite impulse purchase was the IRD Classica wide range 14-32 six speed freewheel that upgraded me from a 5 speed FW.  The cost of impulse was $60.00.  Add in some bottle cages, a wireless computer, and a bell and when you total everything up it came to over, gulp, $800.00!  Which seems like a lot for a vintage bike but then I considered that would basically get me a new Velo Orange Campeur frameset and a rear wheel...total.  I could have gone with the stock bearings and FW and brought the cost down closer to $650.

The total ended up being a bit of a surprise but I got a classic 80s Japanese touring bike, made it fit and I have so far loved the ride, that said I will probably not be doing this much of a splurge anytime soon.

Ride. Spend big bucks. Smile. Repeat?

A somber goodbye and an Impulsive Hello!

A few weeks ago, reluctantly, I put the Schwinn Passage on Craigslist.  I made sure the price was at a I don't want to sell this but if you meet my price I will be ok with it level.  There was no action in the first week and then I got some interest from a young man who arranged to see it on a Saturday.  The day before on Friday I got a call I had been waiting a long time for, a Job offer!  A lack of job was the reason the Schwinn was on the block and I considered cancelling the ad and telling the guy the Passage was off the market.  Although I had an offer I wasn't going to start right away or get paid right away either and I had a good feeling about the potential buyer so I went ahead with the meeting. The guy and his wife drove up from Joint Base Lewis McChord (about 50 miles) and when he saw the bike I heard him say under his breath, it looks even better than the ad, and I knew I had made the right choice.  He was very excited to buy it and I was excited to fill up my wallet.

I now had a  job in the offing, projects completed and listed on CL, and a hole in my quiver, I have been working hard to clear the decks of bike projects, frames and parts that I will probably never get to..BUT...I really liked having a mid 80s Japanese touring bike.  Maybe I will just take a peek at CL, nada, hmm wonder what's for sale on Bike Forums these days.

Catalog shot

On bike forums I see that there is a 1987 Nishiki Cresta in 58cm which is my size but it says local pickup only.  I click the post for a closer look, the seller is in Portland, Oregon, that is not too far down the road, my old stomping grounds and home to numerous friends and family, that could work.  And wait a sec the logo the seller is using on his Bike Forums profile is familiar....I think its the same as the logo for The Simplicity of Vintage cycles blog, the same blog that got me so obsessed with Vintage Japanese Touring bikes that I went in search of a Schwinn Passage.  So I PM the seller, is this Josh of blog fame? and he emails me back asking if I am the guy who runs the Ryan's Rebuild blog, small world!

Now I am still technically unemployed and cash strapped so I don't commit right away but I keep my eye on the listing, ping my Portland friends, who are Oregon Ducks and live in the Hollywood district btw, to see if I could stay with them on the off chance I come to Portland for the weekend.  I find the 1987 Nishiki Catalog online and start obsessing.

Ok who am I kidding, of course I am going to buy it!  I get up early Saturday and drive down to Portland, meet up, get a tour of his very nice, and clean!, shop and seal the deal.  And now I am the proud owner of a 1987 Nishiki Crest GT touring bike that is nearly bone stock.

I have many more pictures here and I will probably do another post just on all the cool features of this bike but for now I just wanted to follow up on my tease from a few days ago and share the new addition to the stable.

I just completed the Raleigh Mixte and the Motobecane Mirage has been over half done for 8 months so I want to get it completed on CL soon.  I have one other potential quick and dirty project after that and then the decks will be cleared.  Then I can start the rehab on this lovely Nishiki, maybe in time to do the Tour de Lopez for the second consecutive year on my second consecutive mid 80s Japanese touring bike.

Ride. Replace, Smile. Repeat.

First ride(s) of the new year, ABC and good-bye MotoGT?

In looking at the weather forecast last week I noticed we had a few sunny days on the way and it occurred to me that it might be time to get on the bike for the first time in the new year.

Ride One

On Monday I did a 2 km ride to breakfast at Easy Street Cafe and when the drip coffee arrived I realized I was practicing ABC... Always be Coffeeneuring!

the blurry bike through window is mine

It was a short ride but you have to start somewhere right?   And dry streets, not to mention sun, are a rarity for Seattle in January.

Ride Two

Low an behold it is still Sunny on Tuesday, so more riding and more ABC.

I was reminded on Monday how squeaky the front brakes on the Passage are, so I went with the Motobecane Grand Touring today as it only needed some air in the tires.

I did a 2 mile ride (3.2 km) to Hotwire  for a Mexican Mocha. I went super scaled down on this ride; no pump, tools, spare tubes or locks, which I wouldn't normally do but since it was a short ride I figured what the heck.

Part of my reason for no lock was I knew there was a court yard right outside the front door at Hotwire and at this time of the year it is usually empty, so it wasn't like I was leaving the bike unlocked on the sidewalk.  I actually ran into an acquaintance there and we sat outside with the bike and caught up.

With the skies turning threatening  I decided it was time to head back home. 

Another reason I  picked the MotoGT to ride today is that it might be part of an asset liquidation.  My current job search has gone on longer than anticipated and my finances could use a boost.  I love the look of this bike and I spent a long time pursuing this specific model and size, on the other hand its basically a racer and has a more aggressive position than I find comfortable for longer rides.   Its not on the block yet and there are a few bikes that will proceed it but its something I am thinking about.

May you also have sunshine and dry roads.  As always ride smile and repeat.

2017 Bike year in review

Its that time of the year when folks are looking back over the year that is almost over and I am doing the same.

I spent the winter months tearing down and building back up my 1986 Schwinn Passage including many upgrades.  It has been my favorite bike to ride and I am very happy with how it turned out.  I have had occasion recently to think about which one bike I would keep if I could only keep one, it might just be the Passage.

Part of the reason for building up this 80's Japanese touring bike was to use it for the Tour De Lopez in April.  It was a ride I have been thinking about doing for a decade and it almost didn't happen because of back issues so actually getting to ride it on my freshly rebuilt bike was especially rewarding.  Did I mention there was beer at the end?

June ended up being vintage Mountain bike month.  I had wanted to find a lugged steel 80s Mt. bike for a while and for a total outlay of about $50 I found two, a 1984 Nishiki Cascade and a 1986 Miyata Trail runner respectively.  I have made some progress on the Miyata and got the Nishiki down to the frame and conquered a stuck seat post.

I also accomplished my goal of riding to a baseball game this year in June, they even won!

July was just about my "bikeyest" month ever, just a few highlights:

• Felt like I blogged just about every day (19 posts)
• One week I rode four different bikes
• Had a fun ride in Portland on my birthday and there was beer!
• Finished working on the Ritchey Project
• Capped off the month with a gravel ride on the John Wayne trail

October featured getting to ride on the Willapa river trail on an upgraded, but not finished, Miyata Trail Runner on a beautiful fall day and also kicked off my 2nd consecutive Coffeeneuring season.

There are plenty of projects in the queue so we'll see what happens in 2018.  Happy Holidays all and remember to Ride.Smile.Repeat. 

Coffeeneuring Challenge 2017: Ride 7 Freshy's

The forecast was for dry weather Friday and Saturday and then a pattern of rain for the next week so I decided to strike while it was relatively dry for ride # 7, the finish line of the Coffeeneuring challenge 2017.  Not only did the weather gods smile on me but so did the deities of the traffic lights.  There are 5 lights between me and my destination so 10 for the round trip.  I made it through them all without having to stop! I am pretty sure that is a first.

My destination today was Freshy's, they have been open for 12 years and are within 2 miles of my house and this was my first visit!  They have a funky living room vibe. eclectic furniture and arcade games scattered throughout.

I could have even sat next to the (gas) fireplace if I'd wanted to.

Instead I sat at the Space Invaders table top arcade game, probably a good thing it wasn't working or I might have had to feed it some quarters for old times sake.

Even as I finish this years challenge I am thinking of next year, Olympia coffee, based in the state capitol is going to open a shop in West Seattle.  They had a target open of October 1st but look no closer to opening than they did when I first noticed their store front 3 weeks ago.  So they may be on the roster for 2018.

The data:

1. Where - Freshy's Coffee
2. Date - November 10th, 2017
3. Consumed - Mocha, everything bagel toasted with cream cheese
4. Details - dry, 45 degrees, bike parking out front, first visit
5. Mileage - 6.05 KM / 3.78 Miles

Until next year. Ride. Caffeinate. Smile. Repeat

Edit:

And today I sent away for my prize

Patches!  We really do need some stinkin" patches!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqomZQMZQCQ 

Coffeeneuring Challenge 2017: Ride 6 Realfine Coffee

New month, new season and a new destination for ride #6 of Coffeeneuring 2017.  Today's ride was over 20 degrees cooler than ride #5, over the weekend it snowed! in Seattle, in November! which just does not happen.  It didn't stick in my neighborhood but not for lack of trying.  I wasn't feeling hardy enough to ride in snow flurries so I targeted today when it was supposed to be sunny.

In addition to adding a heavy merino wool sweater to my riding kit I used long fingered gloves for the first time in recent memory.

It had been cold and wet enough over the weekend that the roads, and bike lane, got a dose of salt.  Dang! I knew I should have sprung for that undercoat protection.  I briefly thought of using the Handsome Devil for today's ride with its wider tires and heavier frame but decided I was being an over reactive sissy and went with the Passage instead.

My destination today was Realfine coffee where bike parking was nonexistent but I was able to park just outside the door so I had a great view while I was in the shop and in a pinch I could have locked up to the picnic table  but didn't.

The nosh was quite good and if I was in need of a haircut....

 I could have just stepped into the adjoining barbershop.  When I moved to the area almost 20 years ago this building housed a Diva Espresso location but a few years ago the new coffee shop/barbershop replaced them and this was my first visit.   The building has been around since the 1930s and I had always assumed it had been an automotive shop but I learned something today.

It was originally an oil company that delivered oil for home furnaces, you don't see them much today but the very first house I rented right of college had one.  My friend and I had a budget fail and spent one cold winter month without heat, we learned our lesson!

Waiting for today to ride worked as expected and although cold it was nice and clear, no rain or snow.

The Data:

1. Where - Realfine Coffee
2. Date - November 6th, 2017
3. Consumed - Hazelnut Latte, plain crossiant
4. Details - Clear cold winter day, 40 degrees, zero bike parking, historic building
5. Mileage - 4.98 KM / 3.11 Miles

I have 13 days to get in my last ride, can I do it? will it be epic? will it come down to the wire like 2016?  stay tuned.  Until next time Ride. Caffeinate. Smile. Repeat.