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.