Dadbike’s dadbikes

I think it’s time I consolidate and chronicle the journeys of the ever-changing bikes in my collection. They all get ridden at least a bit, and while I don’t buy new bikes terribly often, the bikes I have change rather frequently with my mood. Bike tinkering is my meditation in a way.

These are the bikes currently in rolling condition. Their stories will follow when I get a chance/motivation to filter through my photo albums. They all currently look as they do in these photos, or at least very close. Per the ‘rules’ of the CP forums, all have been modified from their purchased condition.

Photos:

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All fabulous, but I especially love the monster cross singlespeed thing.

Thanks. The Cross Check is almost too versatile. It currently has smaller tires and fenders for winter duty, but with the Rove now sporting full fenders, there’s less need on the CC. I might put the big knobbies back on the CC and take it back to the dirt.

Looks like a nice stable. I’ve been looking at Bike Fridays recently.. the only vaguely cool folder.

What is the stem on the kona? Looks nice.

Thanks. The Bike Friday is one of s matching pair. My wife and I have flown with them and the small packed size is really nice. They’re somewhere between folding bike and breakaway/S&S in terms of convenience. Still requires some disassembly to pack up, but less than a full size, and the case is checkable as luggage. It rides well.

Stem on the Kona is a re-coated salsa stem that came from a good friend with a deeeep parts bin. (And unusually amazing bike collection)

Some new bits for the Cross Check.

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In keeping with the semi-uselessness of this thread, I installed some gaudy, red ano, Litepro mini Vs on the Cross Check. I ordered them months ago from Ali, they eventually came in, and I promptly forgot where I stuck them. Quality seems pretty good, but theres a funny ‘hitch’ in the action as the return springs… spring. Doesn’t seem to affect performance and can’t feel it at the levers.

Didn’t take any pictures yet, but will post some when I have a sec. Might be taking that bike out on a 40ish miler with some hills later today. Not really in the right sort of shape for a hilly, fixed, ride of that length, but I’ve never claimed to be smart.

Updates.

The Rove took its first more than a few miles ride in it’s current configuration. Everything felt great. Fit is good and I was able to maintain a decent pace trying to stay with my friend who is a stronger rider. As far as all rounders go, the Rove is a pretty great off-the-peg option. Previous version of the Rove below in pictures.

Also finally had a moment to finish the current iteration of the Cross Check. The goal was a worry-free winter bike, and fixed road bike. This is my second CC. My first died when a kid blew a stop sign in her VW back in 2011. That bike saw tons of fixed miles as my daily rider for my 20mi round trip commute to grad school. My current CC sees far fewer miles now, but I’d like to change that. Bad indoor images of the CC below. Soma crank 165mm 46t, 18t All City sprocket with a 22t on the other side. Bars are takeoffs from the Rove. Feel free to call me out for BDHU, but they’re staying as is for now because the tops/hoods are more comfortable this way. Honestly, these bars just have an odd shape. I’d like to find some with more parallel ramps and drops. Unbranded dyno hub appears to be a Kasai. Got it from a buddy, and stuck it in this wheel. It works and will power a light as soon as I get a minute to put it on. Fender lines are not great, but needs to be that way for the rear. Maybe I’ll sort the front eventually. Maybe not.

The litepro brakes seem fine. Updates will come as I get more time on them. Tape is my favorite brown Neebaums over old synthetic cork tape.

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The Cross check looks great!
I think the dynamohub looks more like s Shutter Precision - but they make hubs for others like Contec as well. So could just be an OEM part.

Thanks.

I thought the same at first, too about Shutter Precision. Probably an OEM part either way, but after spending some time looking at SP and Kasai, axle appears more similar to Kasai. It was free and works well enough, so no complaints.

This is what I think it might be.

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I agree it looks very similar to the kasai pictured!

Here’s my favorite bar taping hack. Wrap a zip tie around the roll, but only snug enough to keep the tape roll from coming undone on its own. You should be able to hold the roll in one hand and pull tape through the loop. Keeps things nice nice while you wrap the bars and you can even step away without the tape unspooling itself and becoming unruly. Works best on cloth, but also just fine on cork.

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Mounted the cheap Ali light from the bin. Works surprisingly well, but I haven’t yet put it through its paces in poor weather.

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A bit of tinkering on the Bike Friday. Swapped the quill adapter/threadless stem/31.8 bars for a cleaner looking and more appropriate quill stem and 26.0 bars. Position is improved, and the stiff bars and stem previously overpowered the somewhat flexy steerer mast. Now it all plays a bit better together. Also installed some quicker tyres. Excited to get it out on the road soon.

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This looks like lots of fun

Thanks, it is. I’ve become a bit of a Bike Friday fan boy since taking ownership of this and my wife’s matching bike. They’re quirky, and unusual, but ride way better than I had expected, and pack up so easily for travel. It’s good enough that I sometimes choose to ride this one over my full size bikes.

Thinking about a spring overhaul of my Honzo led to sanding and some green spray.bike stuff. It’s way not perfect, but now the dings and flaking paint are remedied. I need to get better at applying the clear coat.

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This is going to be an ongoing project, I imagine. This story started many years ago when I found Jobst Brandt's writing on the email lists and found some blurry internet pictures of his tours through the Alps. Those gigantic road bikes on 28s, doing those huge rides with just a saddle bag and not a bottle in sight. For whatever reason those adventures really captured my imagination. And so, I started the long but passive search for the right frameset. I could have gotten a big enough frameset on ebay that satisfied most of my requirements, but I kinda wanted one with nice steel and I didn't want to fork over loads of money. That was the real problem. I'm kinda cheap.

The requirements were:
Big
Nice steel
Lugged or brazed
Room for 28s

Optional:
Rack and fender eyelets
Canti brakes

Earlier this year, a friend sent me a link to an auction for a local bike non-profit fundraiser. A 62cm Schwinn Paramount. Apparently an '85 or '86. These were Schwinn's top of the line frames, made well and with good steel. a complete bike with 105 5600, a mismatched but close modern wheelset, 28mm Roly Poly/Ruffy Tuffy combo, and an Ultegra crank. I won the auction(obviously), and came away with something that hits super close to what I was looking for, and got it really inexpensively.

Now for what to do to it. I pretty quickly stripped off the 5600 shifters, and installed down tube shifters for that analog feel. The stem and bars came off because they're 25.4 and I wanted to use some 26.0 bars I have. The black post and saddle have gone, and I put on the cheap Kalloy post and the Selle Italia that I like. Tried the steel salsa stem on an adapter, but went back to a Technomic for adjustability and aesthetics.

The modern wheels were really too wide and made for limited clearance with the 28s. 7700 hubs on open pros to the rescue. The classic look plays nicely with the big picture and the extra spokes give me confidence at ~200lbs. The narrower rims also open up plenty of space around the tires as well. Win win win.

After a few rides on the down tube shifters, I've pretty much decided on moving to bar ends. I think they hit a nice middle ground of looking classic enough, being simple and long lasting, and keeping the shifting closer to hand. Also, I just like them. I want this to be a rider, not just a looker. I've since installed the right bar end shifter and will likely put on the left soon. Haven't decided about running the housing all the way under the tape or doing the exposed loop. No bar bag or front rack, so interference isn't an issue.

I also switched out the 5600 derailleur to a silver Veloce 10sp with a long enough cage to handle a road triple if I want to go that route. Rides in these parts can exceed 100'/mi elevation, and I'm not nearly as strong as I think I am. Something like the Campagnolo "Racing Triple" would look really good and give decent gearing with 52/42/30 and a 12-28 in the back, or something like that. The goal is an all-day bike.

Not-immediate changes will likely include some new paint. most of the paint is in pristine shape, but there are a few spots of exposed metal with some surface rust. I'd like to get that all taken care of. I don't feel terribly sentimental about the original paint, so I may even sand those spots and spray with some spray.bike that I have around to protect it until I get around to a full, and professional job.

I haven't been able to take the bike too far afield yet, but it rides quite nicely, and while it's obviously a skinny tubed steel bike it's stiffer than I expected. It goes when I want it to. I'll document progress as it happens and hopefully share some photos from the road as well.

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From yesterday's test ride with the Veloce derailleur and bar end shifter. This is a very comfortable bike.

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Glad you levelled the saddle.

Indeed. The pic with the leather saddle has it way too "nose up". I tend to like leather saddles up tilted just enough to keep my bum on them. That one was too much.

Also to be fixed now that I know I'll like it, is the shifter housing. I need to trim the housing loop from the shifter and install the left bar end shifter.

That Schwinn is beautiful, all paramounts were made in Waterford Wisconsin, by the same guys that made Waterford Precision and Gunnar cycles.

Are the bar end shifter cables are going under the tape and out by the stem?
So you don't have the big loop of cable showing?

Yes, if the bar ends stay on. This giant loop is aesthetically unsettling, but allowed me to test ride after a quick install. I am back and forth on what shifting situation to go with.