Kuwahara klunker

So hard to get the rainbow sparkle to show in photos. I had this problem with the Albini as well. It’s a lot more subtle than the Albini was, which is fine.

I’ll hopefully do another final coat of gloss this weekend and then leave it to cure for a week or so.

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Found some chainrings.

Decided to go for a double, 40t and 24t. It was either that or 50t or 44t big ring. And I didn’t see the point of doing a triple with the 44t and 40t.

Hopefully the Simplex derailleur goes out wide enough to do the outer big ring. I do have a donor bike with a triple derailleur, but it’s a bit too modern.

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Decided to steal these from my Albini. They suit this build so much more.

All that is left to get is a chain and cables. And figure out the bottom bracket width.

Also ordered one of these Spur Cycle knock off bells. I have a couple and they work well enough.

Party Saturday night for me (I actually thought I had dinner plans, but that’s TOMORROW night).

Reassembled these brake levers after cleaning them up. Realised that the cable adjustment screws don’t actually match perfectly, but I’ll live.

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Nice updates and love the sparkles

All coated and curing.

I really hope the shim I bought for the slingshot quill stem fits. If not, back to the drawing board (or buying a quill adapter and shim for the bars and running a threadless Velo Orange stem).

God this looks good.

Realised that the cable adjustment screws don’t actually match perfectly, but I’ll live.

I like your perfectionism tempered with practicality. And thanks for removing the headset for coating. You’d have hated yourself a little bit afterwards if you didnae

Love the idea of "sealing" the frame with some glitter over the rust. I was just thinking recently somebody should try that.

Roll that turd in glitter!
(Meant in a very endearing way, again, props for the dedication)

Well this shim arrived. Way shorter than I expected. Haven’t had a chance to install it and try it out with the stem yet though. Hopefully it works, otherwise I’ll be looking for another solution.

Quick test fit. Hopefully this shim works. Seems like it will.

All that is left to buy is cables and a chain and this will be done… once I put it back together.

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So I’m thinking of white cables… but I want to age them slightly. Any suggestions. Rubbing them with coffee? Leaving them out in the sun?

Piss?

I don’t know, I try and stay pretty hydrated.

lt will still stain the cable outer left to dry in the sun.

Might just try coffee. Or beer.

Drink coffee and beer, wait a bit, piss on cables?

Had a little bit of time to myself tonight. Japanese bike = Japanese beer.

Reinstalled headset, fitted shim and installed stem and bars. It seems to be okay, but I haven’t given it a good yank yet. Fingers crossed it holds. Looks cool though!

Also installed shifters and brake levers. Not in correct positions yet, just wanted to see how it looked.

Front brake installed. Glad I went with Dia-Compe canti’s. Suit the bike a lot.

I also cleaned up the seat post and put that in.

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Also, the 26 x 2.4” Maxxis Ardent’s look super tough on there… but way too much overkill for the type of riding I do / planning. The Holy Rollers I have are the same size though and hopefully look just as tough and are more practical.

I also need to figure out the bottom bracket axle length and repack and adjust the rear hub.

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I like where is this is going. Your patience is paying off

Thanks. ☺️

This is amazing! Please keep the overkill tyres. Really into that brutal yet elegant Japanese tractor look.

Beer works great as a diuretic to get those piss stained cables going

My experience of white cables is that, like white bar tape, it don’t stay white for long. They’re a magnet for oil and grime.