Ok first I have to admit I stole the post title from RVA Bike Commuter but I liked it so much!
Here is my new bike which was $80 on trademe:
Thanks Dad for buying this for me!
It’s a 1981 Centurion Omega, made in Japan. It was an entry-level model and I don’t know whether it was originally a 5 or 10-speed but it’s now 10, somewhere along the line it’s had Shimano biopace chainrings added, the original drop bars have been changed out for a flat bar, both pedals have had the bottom broken off and lost a reflector each, and the front rim has been replaced with a French one and had the wrong cones installed in the hub bearings. But it’s the perfect size for me and I like riding it 😀
Dad got me the racks and stand from Cycle Trading Co in Christchurch who Susan K recommended to me, and I also would highly recommend them. I had to go back a few times – first to look at the racks, then to buy the racks, then to remove the freewheel from the rear hub (so I could repack the grumbly bearings), then for new bearings and cones for the front hub, then to fix the rear derailleur which I stupidly pulled apart to clean then couldn’t retension the spring in the lower pivot bolt (lesson learned!). Dad made me some wooden boxes to go on the racks but we ran out of time to fix them on properly, I’m using bungee cords for now.
So that’s it, I will update again when the weather gets better and I’ve used it more!
That is so cool!! I love the racks, they kick ass 🙂
I see it doesn’t have a chain guard, are you going to get one to protect pants when you’re riding from grease stains & getting caught in the chain? That’s the reason I didn’t wear “normal” clothes when biking to work in Palmy – although skirts were ok.
Ok, not the only reason … I was so unfit I would sweat a fair bit in that 15 mins so needed a change of clothes lol
Yeah I love the racks too, the front one in particular makes it into a “proper” bike! They were actually at the cheaper end of the range but still good and well-made. I think bikes this style look best when they’re either left really clean and simple (no mudguards or other accessories) or when they’re dressed up like touring bikes.
From what I understand chain guards (the case-style ones) aren’t designed for use with derailleurs which makes sense – the front derailleur gets in the way and they may not allow for the movement of the chain side-to-side when in different gears. I guess you could do it you could be bothered fiddling and modifying, but it’s easier for me to wear fluoro velcro straps around the bottom of my trousers, and tuck my shoelaces in tight. You can also get chainring guards which might be slightly better than nothing but I haven’t looked into it, not sure whether you can just add them on or whether it goes on in place of the large outside ring. If I could have a second bike I’d probably get a more upright style step-through with internal gears in the rear hub and a chain case (basically an old-fashioned one which are coming into vogue again now), and use it in wet weather or when I was dressed up more. The idea of a stable of bikes is rather appealing…
I know what you’re sayin’ about being unfit, I don’t want to have to get changed so I’ll just have to make myself take it easy for a start so I don’t sweat too much! I do find that hard though, even when I was biking 9km to school every day and used to it, it still didn’t feel right unless I was pushing myself a bit. But it’s only 4km to uni, and a bit further to the farmers’ market, although it can get really windy going around the edge of the harbour.
How’s the biking going Sarah?
Umm… slowly!
I have been for a couple of rides, but it’s stupidly windy here and I’ve been lazy. I’m hoping the wind is just a seasonal thing and will settle down soon. I also need a spare tube and tyre irons which I have not wanted to spend money on yet. And now there is rain forecast for the next 10 days, grrr.