cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/39423488

Last summer the LBS gave me this old Rodriguez that was part of a batch of bikes they got from an estate sale. I just "completed" it yesterday. Even in its neglected state, it felt soooo good. Also, since it was from the original era of Rodriguez, it merits all the love.

How I got it:

The original TA 50.4 BCD crank was ruined because it was over-torqued to the point of rubbing the frame. Not the biggest issue since 50.4 chainring selection has been problematic for decades.

I stripped it down, cleaned it thoroughly, touched up the paint dings, and put clear film on all the wear points. I'm not a fan of blue on bicycles, but this metal flake blue really grabs me.

The handcut lugs and brazed cable guides are also a pretty detail.

Upgrades:

• VO fluted triple crankset, 165mm
• VO 124mm cartridge bottom bracket (holy hell, this took me months to find; of course, now they're back in stock :D )
• VO Enterprise wheelset, 27inch, 126mm rear OLD
• Pasela Pro-Tite tires, 27x1 1/4 (meh)
• VO first gen quill stem, 100mm, NOS
• Nitto Noodle 177 bars, 46cm, NOS, traded some IT work with the LBS for these
• Shimano BR400 brake levers, NOS (although I recently found out these are still in production!)
• 14-30 custom, rebuildable freewheel traded from the LBS retrogrouch in exchange for homemade peppermint patties :D
• VO clear braided stainless brake and shifter cables
• Forager Cycles cable cherries (highly suggested farkle for all your bikes! They make cable adjustments much easier away from the workbench.)

What I kept:

• Suntour Honor rear derailleur - not the prettiest, but a total workhorse and will last until the heat death of the universe
• Huret front derailleur
• Campagnolo Record downtube shifters
• Suntour Superbe sidepull brakes
• Specialized cartridge headset
• SR Laprade seatpost (but it needs a polishing)

What I'm going to change:

• 700C wheels - there's plenty of room on the brake arms to move the pads down; the switch to 700C will vastly improve my tire selection and give me room to add...
• Full coverage fenders, probably VO smooth
• Tubus Fly stainless racks, front and rear
• That bar tape was not my best wrapping job and the tape itself doesn't impress me; probably gonna go with Lizard Skins DSP or Supacaz Super Sticky Kush

Part of the fun of these old bikes is the by-hook-or-by-crook refurbishing journey. The networking and human connection involved in bringing this bike to its rideable state... it absolutely took a village. I found fellow retrogrouches in my small city. I helped the LBS resolve a bunch of their computer network problems. Old components that were languishing in a box got a new life on a bike that will be ridden. Seeing this in the sun, feeling it on the pavement, all that frustration turns to joy.

Special callout to Classic Cycle in Bainbridge Island WA USA: (https://classiccycleus.com/museum/bikes/). They are a seriously cool museum bike shop. They have encyclopedic knowledge and a ridiculous NOS parts selection. For being such a tiny shop, it's absolutely worth the trip. Be sure to say hi to Tullio, the friendly chill shop kitty.

God damnit, that was an expensive ride.

Now I’m trying to find one identical to this so I can use it for parts. I just hope this isn’t a common issue with this frame and that I just got unlucky with mine.

Would’ve been an easy fix if the frame were steel - but from what I understand, welding isn’t really an option with these alloy frames.

Been having a blast living car-free with my Jones SWB, embracing the low-tire-pressure lifestyle. Also, hello lemmy / fedi bikers!

My own city, which is not Indianapolis, has a few sections of trail that locals tend to avoid because they're congested with homeless camps and while I've never had an issue, there is a perception of danger and it doesn't make for a relaxing ride. I go in the day and in a group, but not alone at night.

I am planning a daytime ride in Indianapolis along the Monon Trail from Carmel to Downtown, then circling back using the White River. Are there any sketchy or outright dangerous sections of trail I should know about?

The city glows bright red on crime maps, but so does almost every downtown in every US city over 500,000 people.

I've looked at what's available online. A lot of what I could find was either generalized or dated so I'm still looking for additional perspectives.

Grant Petersen designed #BridgestoneRB-1 (1989 in this case) has been a grail bike frame of mine for years.

This beauty showed up at a swap meet this weekend, and was complete and in great working order. Took it home for $250.

I have a full set of 11s 105 that’s going to make its way onto the bike, and I’ll keep the Suntour GTX components safe for the originalists out there.

Spring has sprung, the cycling networks in Québec, the Route Verte and other regional or municipal paths, are now mostly open.

So it's again possible to explore or use the network to go camping, as part of touring, or just to get from point A to B.

And you should know that if you are touring or arriving on a bike, there is a program called "Bienvenue Cyclistes" where all national parks (provincial parks here) will offer you a campground for less than $10. Keep in mind you also have to pay entry fees that are around $10 too. About the same for some wood. This is also possible in some other establishments. Consult the map linked above.

You should also know that you can use public transit around Montréal to bring your bike with you. It's included in the ticket. So you can take the metro, but more importantly, the REM, and the commuter trains. There are also some exo buses with bike racks. So you can go to St-Jérôme for Le P'tit Train du Nord in a commuter train with your bike for a few dollars. From that trail you can also reach another park, Parc national du Mont Tremblant

Today I'm going to see my family from Montréal to the Drummondville region. In the other direction. The ~140 km to get there is entirely bike trails/paths. I cut the itinerary in two stages and stop in a small national park called the Parc national de la Yamaska for a night of camping.

The first part to get there is using a network of local bike trails. The first from Longueuil to Chambly is called La montée du Chemin de Chambly. Then from the other side of the Richelieu river there is a trail called La route des Champs to Granby. And from Granby to the park it's local trails. They have very nice cycling infra in that region.

Here are some pictures of La route des Champs and the local trail before the park.

Then tomorrow, I will use another trail connecting to the park called La Campagnarde. This one goes to Drummondville, entirely on small gravel, and sometimes very remote and quiet.

I do this multiple times a year so I thought I would share some tricks and adventures. And I've been encouraged to by /u/Evkob.

Have fun cycling everyone!

A short video with dos and fonts to properly lock your bike. Tom from shifter, as good as always!

I can hear a bad bearing again, but in my infinite wisdom, I didn’t bother to write down what types of bearings this motor uses the last time I had it disassembled. So here I am again, trying to breathe some new life into these rusty mofos - hopefully, by the time I need to do this a third time, I’ll have clean, new replacements ready for all of them.

Also, I have no idea what I’m doing here, so here’s to hoping all the parts find their way back to the right spots and I don’t break anything else in the process.

Also, note to self: just buy them damn lockring pliers.

EDIT: I didn't fuck it up.

Winter project nearing completion, but I am having decision paralysis on the last few pieces. I'm thinking of a honey colored Brooks saddle and color matching bar tape (shallaced cotton maybe). Then some tan sidewall touring tires. Which in turn would all match the honey colored leather of the bag.

My biggest questions are color options for the saddle, bar tape, and tires in contrast to the blue of the frame? And on the subject of tires, what would you choose? Wheels are 700c, and I think 32s would fit.

Oh ya, and eventually there'll be hammered silver Honjo fenders when I can find them.