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?