My philosophy all along with this bicycle was only to replace parts that actually need replacing. If it was old, beat up, rusty, dyspeptic, etc. it was staying on the bicycle as long as it could still do the job. It's been hard putting some battered old pieces back on my shiny refinished frame, but the whole point was to learn how to overhaul a bicycle, not to spend enough on replacement parts that I could have bought a new bike.
However, I decided to make an exception for the saddle. The old one is a vintage example of an artistic period known as "The Eighties":
And while I'm all in favor of the eighties, I decided that the saddle is a reflection of the rider sitting on it, both literally and figuratively. And I am vain, darn it! Vain! So I went and bought a saddle in black, with dark and light gray highlights and a tiny hint of red. It matches the frame remarkably well. Hopefully it will match my rear end to a reasonable degree also.
Today I replaced the bearings in the head tube, packed everything full of grease, and put the front fork, the handlebars, the brakes, the pedals, cranks and chainrings, the wheels and the saddle back on. Countless hundreds of words have been spilled on the subject of aligning the brakes, the saddle, and the handlebars. Turns out a couple of paragraphs would have sufficed. Either that or else I'm actually starting to get the hang of this thing.
Tomorrow, I need to attach the shifters, the front and rear derailleurs, and the chain. Then, much like Walter Mitty actually attempting street surgery with a pocketknife, I will attempt to align the derailleurs. If all goes well, it will be ready to rock and/or roll!
If I survive the test ride, I'll have pictures of the completed bicycle for you tomorrow.
3 comments:
Hey!
What are you trying to say about that saddle of mine?
Abel,
This is so awesome. I'm glad you're having so much fun with the Red Baron. I wish you many great rides!
Greta,
You're the one that made it all possible! Thanks so much. I think we need a new name, now that it's mostly grey. Maybe the Grey Ghost? Suggestions, anyone?
That is so ironic that you should suggest 'grey ghost'. That was the name of my first 10 speed bike. I crashed on it the day I got it in a collision with a friend and the front fork was never the same.
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