Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
Well, I commuted on my "new" old 1970's bike today -a Raleigh Super Course from 1976.
I bought it earlier this Summer for $220 in fairly original condition (though it had a newer wheelset and tyres, as well as a fairly new chain). At first riding it, I was overtaken with nostalgia -with a wistful sigh and glassy eyes I could fairly taste the heat of that Summer of 1976, hear those Bay City Rollers and feel my eyes glued to a TV the size of a small bungalow showing an episode of Starsky and Hutch. I really was back in the 1970's -I felt 6 stone lighter, and could swear I was running my fingers through a full head of luscious hair (when they weren't getting cramp from using a rotary dial phone.)
But, much like everything about nostalgia, after about 2 seconds everything came flooding back to me as to why these things that have been, have now passed: the Summer of 1976 was bloody hot and uncomfortable, and let's face it, the Bay City Rollers really haven't stood the test of time now have they? And if you've seen a re-run of Starsky and Hutch, you can barely contain your cynical sniggering and chuckling of the whole hokiness and over acting of the thing. Let alone the challenge of actually having to get up to walk to your tv set to change channels.....
No, after riding the thing for more than a few minutes, the thirst of nostalgia was quenched with a solid draught of 2011 ipecac syrup, leaving me with feelings of disappointment and frustration: why, oh why, did someone think it was an intuitive place to put shifters on the downtube? And what was this "friction" shifting thing? Was it a disco group that had a hit with the song "Cla-cla-cla-cla-duh-duh"? Why were 4 or 5 cogs missing on the 5 speed freewheel? And were the brakes broken? Why were my clenched hands hurting so much yet I wasn't slowing down? Good lord, I have to carry a spanner with me to remove the wheels too.....
Don't get me wrong -I think for those people who wish to cycle around on original bikes with original specs, that's fine. There's nothing wrong with being... being... nostalgic retro grouches. Bully for them! But it's not for me; I want to be comfortable riding a bike, be able to change gears effortlessly with a sunny smile on my face, and stop the bike when I pull back on a brake lever. So I decided to upgrade this bike:
Even the seventies had some classic stuff.... yeah, great commute today... even the flares didn't get stuck in the chain
Pics:
Just before the commute this morning:
I bought it earlier this Summer for $220 in fairly original condition (though it had a newer wheelset and tyres, as well as a fairly new chain). At first riding it, I was overtaken with nostalgia -with a wistful sigh and glassy eyes I could fairly taste the heat of that Summer of 1976, hear those Bay City Rollers and feel my eyes glued to a TV the size of a small bungalow showing an episode of Starsky and Hutch. I really was back in the 1970's -I felt 6 stone lighter, and could swear I was running my fingers through a full head of luscious hair (when they weren't getting cramp from using a rotary dial phone.)
But, much like everything about nostalgia, after about 2 seconds everything came flooding back to me as to why these things that have been, have now passed: the Summer of 1976 was bloody hot and uncomfortable, and let's face it, the Bay City Rollers really haven't stood the test of time now have they? And if you've seen a re-run of Starsky and Hutch, you can barely contain your cynical sniggering and chuckling of the whole hokiness and over acting of the thing. Let alone the challenge of actually having to get up to walk to your tv set to change channels.....
No, after riding the thing for more than a few minutes, the thirst of nostalgia was quenched with a solid draught of 2011 ipecac syrup, leaving me with feelings of disappointment and frustration: why, oh why, did someone think it was an intuitive place to put shifters on the downtube? And what was this "friction" shifting thing? Was it a disco group that had a hit with the song "Cla-cla-cla-cla-duh-duh"? Why were 4 or 5 cogs missing on the 5 speed freewheel? And were the brakes broken? Why were my clenched hands hurting so much yet I wasn't slowing down? Good lord, I have to carry a spanner with me to remove the wheels too.....
Don't get me wrong -I think for those people who wish to cycle around on original bikes with original specs, that's fine. There's nothing wrong with being... being... nostalgic retro grouches. Bully for them! But it's not for me; I want to be comfortable riding a bike, be able to change gears effortlessly with a sunny smile on my face, and stop the bike when I pull back on a brake lever. So I decided to upgrade this bike:
- first, to improve the centre pull brakes, I added Koolstop Salmon pads and modern shoes. An online store over here: $20
- to get further improvement, I invested in some Cane Creek brake levers from Amazon. $30
- changed out the bb, crankset and rear derailleur with an old -but relatively modern -Shimano crankset and rear derailleur I had in my spare parts drawer as well as the bb. I had to buy a rear derailleur hanger from Amazon for $10 since the frame did not have a hanger for a derailleur -it was old style).
- traded a stem with someone at work for a handlebar that was wider than the original (is it just me, or have we grown to become more broad shouldered than those narrow pigeon chested youfs of the 70's? Or was it the style to have obscenely narrow bars?)
- bought new 7 speed index downtube shifters from Amazon ($14)
- bought Kelly Take Off shifter mounts that can put the shifters close at hand (off ebay $35).
- bought a new 7 speed freewheel from Amazon ($11)
- used some bar tape and cable and housing I had in my spare parts drawer.
Even the seventies had some classic stuff.... yeah, great commute today... even the flares didn't get stuck in the chain
Pics:
Just before the commute this morning:
