Show us your Bitsa
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
I'm not native, I came here looking for work in 1973, and I've been here since, married a local girl, brought a house and raised a family.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/pollard.html
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
There is a 1986 Schwinn Passage in here somewhere. Just a frame a fellow had on Bike Forums last year, I built it from a bare frame and old narrow set cantilever brakes. Columbus steel, as a number of Schwinns were that year. Made in Mississippi. This was the touring bicycle above the Super Le Tour, but below the Voyageur. This is the second Passage I have rebuilt, I had the rare misty pinkish one a number of years ago, but it got all noodly carrying a heavy rider and heavy touring load around. My next Bitsa will be a Bianchi Squadra with an aluminum fork from an old Trek racing bike, and whatever Campagnolo or Shimano 600 I can glean from the co-op after it reopens.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Just finished my rebuild the only original part is the frame and bars, even the paint is new 
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
At least you stuck with a Raleigh frame.
The original smaller one looks like a Wayfarer 3-speed, and the current larger one bears a strong resemblance to an early Pioneer with it's caliper brakes.
Until I cracked the frame on it, I was running a hack Pioneer that embodied various parts from more than half a dozen donors.
I’ve got an absolute identical Raleigh Wayfarer in untouched condition in my collection that I’m about to sell.
In fact, are you sure that’s not mine?
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Bloody hell, I had a Wayfarer. I'm always on the lookout form another in good order in a large size.
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I could be wrong, but I think the mens Wayfarer was only available in 21" and 23" sizes. The early Pioneers up to about '92 were available up to 25", and I believe the Dawes Diploma 3-speeds were as well.
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All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Bitsa bikes? Is there any other kind?
Here's my favourite, 1995 Marin Stinson resprayed with homebuilt wheels made of ebay purchase hubs, spokes and rims.
Tyres, bottom bracket, headset, bars, gears all from my box of bits. V brakes from China.
Biggest expense was a paintjob by Argos Racing Cycles. Worth every penny to me.
I've ridden thousands of miles on this and love it.
Here's my favourite, 1995 Marin Stinson resprayed with homebuilt wheels made of ebay purchase hubs, spokes and rims.
Tyres, bottom bracket, headset, bars, gears all from my box of bits. V brakes from China.
Biggest expense was a paintjob by Argos Racing Cycles. Worth every penny to me.
I've ridden thousands of miles on this and love it.
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I assume it must have a pretty decent cro-moly frame to justify the expense of an Argos repaint. The thought of spending two hundred quid to pretty up a low-end hi-tensile job would be enough to give me a funny turn.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
It was Tange double butted, and was so comfortable from the moment I sat on it. Looked at from one perspective it makes no sense, but compared with the cost of a fairly basic new tourer it is an absolute bargain. All I can say is that I haven't regretted it for a moment.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
This thread has inspired me to build a bike based on this Raleigh 531 frame which has been hanging around for a while. Here's my morning's work.
Wheels from an old Carrera, Tektro long drop brakes, a little used Acera derailler. Only the bar tape is new.
This one will go up on Gumtree. I want the space.
Wheels from an old Carrera, Tektro long drop brakes, a little used Acera derailler. Only the bar tape is new.
This one will go up on Gumtree. I want the space.
spending any money gives you a funny turn
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
The way I look at it is, a steel frame with no moving parts is never going to wear out so there's no reason not to refurb one for a DIY custom build, even if it's market value is bugger all. I've had one fail on me, but it was in a battered state when got in a £10 job lot of donors and had probably had a very hard life. I doubt there's much qualitative difference between a Tange and something like Reynolds 501 in reality, both quality steels. I'd happily stump up for a powder coat on the right frame, not so sure about a wet finish that will probably be less durable though.
If you do a DIY build around a 20 year old steel frame and it ends up costing the same as a mass-market hybrid but lasts another 20 years it's not really that extravagant in the scheme of things, and yours turned out pretty well..
Plenty of carbonistas lose far more than that in depreciation within just their first year of ownership!
If you do a DIY build around a 20 year old steel frame and it ends up costing the same as a mass-market hybrid but lasts another 20 years it's not really that extravagant in the scheme of things, and yours turned out pretty well..
Plenty of carbonistas lose far more than that in depreciation within just their first year of ownership!
you certainly live up to your forum name.........
