Shop Update and Useful Bike Related Items Found on the Web

First off I would like to say that I luckily didn't need a skin graft, but my right hand is still healing. Despite whatever I may have said, it will probably take 2-4 weeks before I can wrench bikes again. I can still give advice and I have been thinking of offering 2 hour sessions with any individual on bike repair instruction for $60 or so. I can cover whatever people want to learn, but I won't be able to really get dirty (I have to prevent infection). I should note that a two hour session won't make you an expert but it certainly can give you the knowledge tools to start. I am just throwing it out there if anyone is interested.

That being said I have been glued to the computer for a couple of weeks looking for parts and such for a touring bike that I have been thinking about building up. None of these items I have bought but rather, just think they are quite ingenious.




Bar none, the coolest item I have found on the web are Phil Wood's "Riv" hubs made for Rivendell Bikes. What makes them so cool is that they are high flanged and the rear hub is centered. First off the benefits of high flanges are that they create a stronger built wheel, due to shorter spoke length. New road hubs these days have a small flange radius and thus longer spokes which at times can cause for wheels to come out of true more easily. Also the rear hub is meant to only have a 7sp freewheel often found on older that 1990 or so bicycles. What it allows for however for the flanges to be centered on the hub, thus allowing for the need of only one spoke size and no dish needed in the rear wheel. Again this makes for a strong long lasting rear wheel that should not come out of true. The front and rear hubs share flange widths and flange radius' so a common spoke size can be had for all the spokes in the front and rear wheel. Thus the touring bike rider would only need to carry a single size spoke as back up for their tour instead of three. Very trick, very brilliant, very expensive. I hope that wasn't too bike nerdy.




Next, have you found an old french Peugeot that that you wanted to update to new parts, but have been told the bottom bracket is french threaded and a replacement is hard to find? Well VeloOrange stocks a well priced ($48) Grand Cru replacement bottom bracket that can allow for you to use a more modern crank.

Like to see some other brands that make bike tools besides Park or need some specific tool that no ones seems to stock? Head over to BikeToolsEtc.com for a vast selection of tools, odd ball replacement parts, and more lubes and grease for bikes than Napa. I have on several occasions spoken with the owner/customer service who is extremely knowledgeable and very willing to find and stock something that he may not have. Definitely worth a visit if you a tool nut.

For Sale: Mimi aka 18” Trek 930 Mountain Bike - $225 obo

(Click for higher resolution pictures)

For sale: 18” Trek 930 Mountain Bike nicknamed Mimi due to its resemblance of the Drew Carey show character (tough, multi-colored, can handle any of your abuse). It would be perfect for offroad, commuting, college, or even 26” touring. This “Made in the USA” frame was from I believe 1993 which was last year Trek made lugged steel frames. Consequently, the frame is made of oversized True Temper Double Butted Cro-moly Steel Tubes, kind of an odd but super stout setup. Cro-moly steel GT Fork was recently put on and is in like new shape. The frame has normal signs of abuse (ie scratches) and is begging to be repainted.

Part specs are below, but I wanted to point out that most parts are in new or nearly new condition. Lots of NOS Bike (or Rivendell) preferred parts as well such as NOS Shimano Deore DX Rear Derailleur, Shimano Deore Thumbshifters, Brake Levers, and Rear Cantilever Brakes. Also, the tires are mismatched, but they are made for smooth usage on roads yet are knobby enough to use off road. Perfect for campus life.

If you are interested email me or call and leave a message at [9ine 1 3hree]- 9ine 0 4our -3hree 1 5ive 0 between 8am – 8pm. Lastly, the bike has had a complete tune up including wheels trued and bearings greased. Thanks for looking.

Bike Spec's:

• Frame / Fork: Trek 930 18” frame with oversized True Temper Double Butted Cro-moly Steel Tubing / 1 1/8” Threadless Cro-moly Steel GT Fork
• Headset / Stem / Handlebars: Tioga Alchemy 1 1/8” Threadlesss / Ritchey Logic Stem / Generic Aluminum Flat bar, wrapped Onza Bar-ends
• Brake Levers / Calipers: Shimano Deore Levers / Shimano STX Fr and Shimano Deore Rear Cantilever Brakes
• Shifters / Fr. Derailleur / Rr. Derailleur: Shimano Deore Thumbshifters / Shimano Altus A10 Fr. / Shimano Deore DX Rr.
• Crank / Freehub / Chain: New Sugino Impel Crank / Generic Shimano 7spd 12-28 Cassette / New Chain
• Fr. Wheel / Rr. Wheel: Shimano Exage 32h Hub, Trek SingleTrack Rim, Specialized CrossRoads II (26” x 1.95”) Tire / Shimano Acera-X 36h Hub, DT Spokes, 36h Specialized X26 (1.5” wide) Rim, Generic Kenda (26” x 1.95”) Tire < --- rear wheel is super stout.
• Saddle / Seatpost / Pedals: Phat Specialized Saddle / Trek alloy Post / Trek Pedals
• Also Included: Water Bottle Holders

55cm Bianchi Volpe Lugged Touring Frame - $100

Clearing out all of the unneeded bikes and parts out of my collection and this was a touring frame that I was going to have sandblasted and repainted so that I could make a nice touring / cyclocross bike setup. The frame is from the mid 80's and was made in Japan. The frame material is Bianchi Superset Double-Butted Tange Cro-Moly tubing and is lugged for a super stout frame. The fork is also Tange Cro-Moly tubing. I know that the frame is a 55cm size (C to C, seat tube and 55cm top tube).

All of those cool touring rack eyelets are there including those bolt holes halfway up the fork, and eyelets for fenders as well. The frame has cantilever posts for brakes and can be retro-fitted for v-brakes. I have disassembled and regreased the stem and headset and also pulled every bolt off greased the threads and screwed everything back together. The seatpost comes off as well. Make no mistake, this frame has a lot of surface rust and will need to be sandblasted and repainted, it is a true project bike. I also attempted to get the crankset off (which I do think is possible) and marred up one of the crank bolt covers, so rather than mark everything up I just left the SR Sakae Crank on the bike. So what is included is the frame, fork, headset, stem, seatpost, saddle, crank, bottom bracket, and front derailleur.

This could be a great frame for a SS conversion due to the old style adjustable dropouts or could easily be remade for a cyclocross bike. If this doesn't sell in the next two weeks, I am going to go ahead and get the frame powder coated and repost, but it will be more than double the current price.