Bicyclettes

[m1sterko]

i think its better off to go to a local bike shop test ride a few and buy one you'll ride and like the look of.

eventually you'll replace parts... but if you really want the kilo go for it.

right now i wish i had gotten a bit better bike.. but the choices i was faced with made me go with the cheaper one. i love it, but it does need some changes here and there. its all a learning experience.

remember, there is no best... best is what you make of it

[will 1 am]

So while cleaning my basement today I saw a Gitane 10 speed bike in the storage room. It was my fathers from the 60's. All I know for sure is it needs new wheels/tires and possible a new gear system (dont know the right name).

I was trying to figure out what size, brand, etc. etc. to get for the parts, I was thinking about taking it to the bike shop but I have always been interested in building road bikes/fixed gear bikes.

I have built a bike but it was a ape crate esque bike. I used Schwinn parts and things of the sort but I had help from a local guy who built bikes like that,

So back to the main question, how do I figure out what size of parts to get or whatever I need to know to change the gears and wheels. Also, would it be possible to convert it to fixed gear?

sorry for shitty iphone pics

can somebody help me?

[BTT]

take a picture of the rear drop outs.

[terrible!]

Just because he probably might know what a dropout is...its where the tire axle connects to the bike frame.

[b3ans]

It's its from the '60s, and has downtube shifters I would be 99% sure that it has horizontal drop outs.

It would be pretty easy to convert on a budget. All you really need to do is strip down the frame of derailer system.

All you really need is a new track hub, and it will need to be dished out to accommodate the wider space where the cluster of the previous wheel was.

Or you can just bend the chain and seat stays. Which can work, but sometimes not well.

And from then on you can upgrade to track specific stuff if you want. With the crankset being the first option.

[will 1 am]

Just because he probably might know what a dropout is...its where the tire axle connects to the bike frame.

alright thanks for the info, ill get the drop out pic tommorow

[murdered out]

was wondering if anyone have seen these hplusson deep wheels

granted that they probably weigh a ton, they look pretty badass and have an additional 12mm of depth compared to the velocity deep vs.

im looking for a set of rims with similar depth. shamals or atlantas are on my list to. does anyone know why these wheels only come radially laced though?

[Wolves]

Aren't they more expensive than the deep vs? was there a guy on velospace selling them?

I just learned to leg over the handlebar skid. nice.

[BTT]

i've talked to the h+son rims guy before.

its expensive as hell including international shipping. they're having a distrubted by late fall 08/winter 08.

they're like 70 for a group buy of 10 including shipping of 100. for the 10 rims.

[m1sterko]

Aren't they more expensive than the deep vs? was there a guy on velospace selling them?

I just learned to leg over the handlebar skid. nice.

i've talked to the h+son rims guy before.

its expensive as hell including international shipping. they're having a distrubted by late fall 08/winter 08.

they're like 70 for a group buy of 10 including shipping of 100. for the 10 rims.

i only know of aerospoke since it seems alot of people are getting them but are there any other wheels out there that are on the same level of prestige?

budget can range from 0-300 i suppose.

i rode with a hipster today... he was using all this whack terminology..:confused:

i also rode street... it was alright since drivers here are really unsure what to do with bikers so they really stay far from you. (which is nice o; course)

[Wolves]

oh wow, you haven't been riding in the street m1sterko? it's super fun. don't get aerospokes. they're a regret waiting to happen. i'm sure they're pretty durable but they weigh alot and are really overhyped and expensive. (i'm only saying this until I can afford one. lol.)

I need a new rear wheel. How you like riding so far m1sterko?

[m1sterko]

its been great and fun, i went from my friends house to a food place... 3.5 miles to there.. and then back.. and then a bit of riding to home. was the most riding i have ever done. my legs were killing me but i kept strong and mushed.

it helps that im riding fixed cause you keep pedaling and it helps you keep the momentum going. a lady driving a car was nice enough to stop for me when she coulda gone... thank god i ride on relatively spacious streets.

i miggght get a aerospoke, i'll prolly put up on market if i dont like or something

not the colored one... im not cool enough for those. might have a bike specialist or auto powderpaint my bike if it doesnt turn out the way i want it to when i paint mine.

[so-so]

Those rims are actually lighter than deep v's if I recall correctly. Which I suppose could be interpreted as, not as strong.

I personally like them. But if I see them too much, it could start to get annoying.

[mr.invincible]

so right now im running a 48/14 set up. It feels like running a high gear every time I start riding and is it suppose to this hard to skid? omg, my legs hurt right now, but will it be easier to skid if I have lower gears?

what's a good low gear set up? As of now, sometimes when I tried to skid, if I don't put enough back pressure to it, the pedals end up lifting me up. I imagine that if should take less pressure to skid since I am really really pushing it.

EDIT: alright, lower the gear easier to skid. need a good setup...

[chromesquared]

was wondering if anyone have seen these hplusson deep wheels

U can read about these here:

http://www.tarckbike.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1696&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

And, already on the bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Formation-Face-Deep-V-Rim-42mm-Deep-Non-NJS-Track_W0QQitemZ160277432443QQihZ006QQcategoryZ159089QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[m1sterko]

so right now im running a 48/14 set up. It feels like running a high gear every time I start riding and is it suppose to this hard to skid? omg, my legs hurt right now, but will it be easier to skid if I have lower gears?

what's a good low gear set up? As of now, sometimes when I tried to skid, if I don't put enough back pressure to it, the pedals end up lifting me up. I imagine that if should take less pressure to skid since I am really really pushing it.

EDIT: alright, lower the gear easier to skid. need a good setup...

are you putting your weight all the way forward? lock up your knees and stick that groin out. if not, it prolly is your gear ratio~~

[will 1 am]

take a picture of the rear drop outs.

now that I think about it, I think Im going to keep it a 10 speed but It will still need some major repairs.

I have to replace the brakes, the wheels the shifting things and the cables

things needed to be upgrade/replaced

-wheels

-seat (the one on it feels terrible)

-brakes

-gear things (cables etc.)

-crank (if Im right on what i think the crank is)

[m1sterko]

edit: mystery solved i suppose

[Wolves]

It's horizontal, but I guess that doesn't matter now since you're keeping it a 10 speed.

[m1sterko]

how'd you tell from those pictures??:confused:

[Wolves]

Just keep turning your head and you'll eventually see it. lol.

[will 1 am]

how do I find the size of the wheels I should buy?

also, hubs. What are they and should they be replaced on a 40 year old bike?

[Wolves]

700c bro. Old road bikes us 27s but 700c are the standard i think.

[the Repeater]

I think modern culture and the internet would make you believe that a lot needs to be done to a bike to make it "rideable." But in the case of that Gitane (and a lot of other bikes, for that matter) replacing the chain, cables, brake pads, and dried-out tires would make that bike ride like it were nearly new. Replacing the grease in the hubs, headset, and bottom bracket would make it ride like it was new.

Grease and rubber dries out in 40 years, but if it's just been sitting, metal parts don't wear themselves out!

[Wolves]

Biking is too expensive.

[ipp]

how do I find the size of the wheels I should buy?

also, hubs. What are they and should they be replaced on a 40 year old bike?

i'm sure your wheel size is 27", but your options will be more limited if you stick to 27". check the side of the tire, and it will most likely say 27 or 700. you could buy 700c wheels, but your brakes might not reach the rims.. get long reach brakes if you get new ones (if its needed).

if you buy new wheels, they come built and have new hubs anyway, so no need for new hubs. the front hub should be 100mm, but could be a 96 or 91mm. The back looks like its 120mm spacing, because its a 5 speed. to check, take out the wheels, take a ruler and measure the spacing between the drop outs in mm.

[Knugget]

I need a better rear tire..

[c.r.e.a.m.]

this was chained right infront of my appartment today, thought you guys would appreciate... srry for the iphone pic

[poopslush]

I need a better rear tire..

looks like you need new bar tape more...

[dokydoky]

this was chained right infront of my appartment today, thought you guys would appreciate... srry for the iphone pic

So nice. Deserves way better than getting cable locked to a tree.