tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post3746180803977541613..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: What's Better Than A New Old Bike Project?Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-76395120494896771942019-04-05T20:02:50.749-04:002019-04-05T20:02:50.749-04:00Nice! I own a 1985 Expedition that I bought for a...Nice! I own a 1985 Expedition that I bought for a cross-country tour. I put 6000 miles on it that year, and but probably only about 4000 since. She is a great bike! I was cruising through San Diego on it back about 2007 and a guy on a motorcycle stopped me and offered $1200 for the bike then. I paid ~$1000 for it in 1985 before accessorizing it for the cross-country tour. She has been a great bike all this years. The headset needs work as it tends to "lock" in the straight forward position, but almost all of the bike is still original. Thanks for posting your rebuild work!John & Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108224389640696972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-78828718894736704982016-05-17T07:38:43.717-04:002016-05-17T07:38:43.717-04:00Forgot to mention this. I seem to remember readin...Forgot to mention this. I seem to remember reading in bicycling magazine in the early 80's that the Allez, Seqouia, Expedition and Stumpjumber were all made of Ishiwata. Hard to prove or disprove, since the decal doesn't say. Perhaps speculation on their part.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07849007956190360786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-38792253895451635502016-05-17T07:35:57.833-04:002016-05-17T07:35:57.833-04:00I have the same bike, also repainted. I got it on...I have the same bike, also repainted. I got it on ebay about 15 years ago. I was looking for a Voyageur SP, and came across this bike for a song, with all original components and a scarred looking paint job. I sent it to be powder coated in orange and it looks fantastic. For some reason the bike manufacturers all seem to think that a touring bike is supposed to look drab and I've never quite figured out why. Even today, they all come in colors like grey, black, olive drab. I get a ton of compliments for the color scheme of mine.<br /><br />As for the front rack bosses, they were specifically designed for low riders, as someone pointed out. They offer plenty of clearance so you can adjust the angle and get them level AND perpendicular to the ground. If they didn't stand out, they would be canted inward with the angle of the blades.<br /><br />A couple of years back, I loaded up the front panniers (no rear bags) and rode the Blue Ridge Parkway on this bike. Screaming down the mountains at 35mph, the bike was steady as a rock.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07849007956190360786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-41814104508224582432016-04-28T09:17:28.241-04:002016-04-28T09:17:28.241-04:00It's done -- the 4/27 post has pictures of the...It's done -- the 4/27 post has pictures of the completed bike! http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2016/04/new-old-bike-project-finished.htmlBrookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-29237572321845349642016-04-28T09:14:52.739-04:002016-04-28T09:14:52.739-04:00I look forward to seeing your Expedition all toget...I look forward to seeing your Expedition all together! I've always wanted one but never had an Expedition, just a couple Sequoias.cobrapatrolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188061128448644738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-63905978352285494722016-04-27T12:23:08.244-04:002016-04-27T12:23:08.244-04:00Justine is correct: those lower bosses are for ins...Justine is correct: those lower bosses are for installing Blackburn Low-riders, Bruce Gordons, or other low-center-of-gravity front racks that help center and stabilize the load at the hub axle. I am still using my 1970s Low-riders on my Peugeot UO-18 mixte town bike and LOVE the way they handle heavy loads (10 pounds of oranges, gallons of paint, etc.)... Jon Spanglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412797306533296414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-14077370652292080152016-04-06T01:29:41.455-04:002016-04-06T01:29:41.455-04:00Just to get you excited about your build, here'...Just to get you excited about your build, here's my touring buddy's immaculate Expedition on a tour in the Sierras from several years ago: <br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/24722971@N05/3694892823/in/album-72157621053287922/ Enjoy. They are lovely machines. Mr. Crankyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08362337902997354490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-7821395117681195032016-04-01T15:03:38.284-04:002016-04-01T15:03:38.284-04:00Brooks--The great minds think alike! ;-)Brooks--The great minds think alike! ;-)Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-91899136227115676152016-04-01T07:25:28.898-04:002016-04-01T07:25:28.898-04:00Now that you mention it, I think the Miyata 1000 m...Now that you mention it, I think the Miyata 1000 might have been available in a similar burgundy color. And if I'm correct about it, there's a good chance the frame might have been built by Miyata, so there would be at least a familial resemblance.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-1255578067686758802016-03-31T21:42:28.547-04:002016-03-31T21:42:28.547-04:00A wonderful repaint. I like that color too. Your e...A wonderful repaint. I like that color too. Your expedition looks much like the 1983 Miyata 1000 I once had. Rest assured you will enjoy the Expedition. I will look forward to seeing the finished bike.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710715433883677736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-82862088196279507222016-03-31T07:27:25.026-04:002016-03-31T07:27:25.026-04:00Here I am trying to tour in Japan and you are thr...Here I am trying to tour in Japan and you are throwing up eye candy, shit I have enough on my plate trying to find a place to sleep and eat and you do this to me . It's like giving me 4 cups of coffee before bed.It'll haunt my dreams tonight, especially putting one of the latest Brooks saddles on the beast ( three to date I rate as rubbish). Don't know what it is about the recent ( last 10 years) of Brooks saddles but the leather definitely ain't coming from cows in Australia , it's as tough as it gets , studs popping out and the flyer I am riding with at the moment has a nose piece that is askew. Find something old , unloved and bring it back to life to butt will love you.llewellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07135629791010166661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-64880638620020279842016-03-31T07:09:35.912-04:002016-03-31T07:09:35.912-04:00Yeah - Jack's a good guy. He's done other ...Yeah - Jack's a good guy. He's done other work for me in the past. His prices are pretty reasonable. I'm surprised you got him talking for that long though. He's struck me as a man of few words.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-58141848504853678742016-03-30T23:51:11.525-04:002016-03-30T23:51:11.525-04:00Franklin Frame is just about 50 minutes from me; l...Franklin Frame is just about 50 minutes from me; located in the middle of nowhere. I stopped in last summer (got lost) to have a dented bottom bracket fixed, and threads chased on an old frame I was building up. Interesting one man shop. We talked about lugs and stuff for an hour. Beautiful color choice on your frameset:)Chris Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03206266021301909754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-48854109069692233612016-03-30T20:37:44.683-04:002016-03-30T20:37:44.683-04:00Justine - funny you mention the lamp brackets, bec...Justine - funny you mention the lamp brackets, because I'm contemplating using one or both of them for attaching lights.<br /><br />Mike - The Univega you have is another nice bike - well sorted out. Univegas were also built by Miyata in Japan, as I believe this may have been.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-55617377136063909262016-03-30T16:57:25.306-04:002016-03-30T16:57:25.306-04:00My Univega was built for 27" wheels. i found ...My Univega was built for 27" wheels. i found that Tektro 872's had enough adjustment to make the switch to 700c without the headache of going to a frame builder. i don't think the 872 is still in production, but sometimes they appear on the Really Big Auction Site. mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-19133112768184479572016-03-30T16:52:23.178-04:002016-03-30T16:52:23.178-04:00i have a Univega from that era -quite possibly fro...i have a Univega from that era -quite possibly from the same frame maker- that has the same fork bosses. The original decals labelled it "Specialissima" although i've seen other Univegas with that name that were quite different (no cantilever bosses, etc.)mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-62213383807979253772016-03-30T15:16:41.845-04:002016-03-30T15:16:41.845-04:00I think the bosses were made as they were to make ...I think the bosses were made as they were to make it easier to install "low riders", which were being re-discovered by American touring cyclists at the time. At least, that's what I would think if the holes are threaded. <br /><br />It's funny that they make me think of the lamp brackets that were common on British bike forks.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-81940610873932927752016-03-30T15:12:15.719-04:002016-03-30T15:12:15.719-04:00I love the color, and the saddle will look amazing...I love the color, and the saddle will look amazing with it. I can't wait to see the bike.<br /><br />You are right that the workmanship on those made-in-Japan Specialized bikes (and other Japanese bikes of the time like Miyata and Panasonic) were "second to none." One thing that was really nice about Specialized at that time is that they would spec their Japanese bikes with non-Japanese components (such as Mavic rims) when it was appropriate. Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-86211910677631694732016-03-30T13:54:44.737-04:002016-03-30T13:54:44.737-04:00The wheel size was a concern for me, as I wanted 7...The wheel size was a concern for me, as I wanted 700c, and converting from 27" to 700c can sometimes be complicated when a bike has cantilever brakes. So much depends on selecting the right brake, with enough adjustment (not just for pad height, but also for angle) and the rim width, and it can become an issue of trial and error. The Expedition was designed for, and equipped with 700c wheels. That was unusual in the early '80s, so Tim Neenan and Specialized had some good foresight on that detail.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-40966791882252171502016-03-30T13:47:45.943-04:002016-03-30T13:47:45.943-04:00I think I've seen those fork bosses like that ...I think I've seen those fork bosses like that on maybe one other bike model, but don't ask me which one. I'm not sure what the purpose was in having them stick out, but they are NOT drilled through the fork blades. Maybe it was to affect the position of the rack? Or maybe it was to avoid weakening the fork? No idea. Maybe I should email Tim Neenan to ask.<br /><br />I will be using the original wheels, and that means a freewheel hub. I have a couple of nice old 6-sp. freewheels with large sprockets around 30 teeth or so, which is plenty for most of the riding this will see.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-11728150610224232782016-03-30T13:40:07.603-04:002016-03-30T13:40:07.603-04:00Thanks, Wolf. I do love the look of tan brake leve...Thanks, Wolf. I do love the look of tan brake lever hoods and drilled levers. The Tektros are pretty nice (especially for the price) but I have a nice NOS pair of Dia Compe BRS levers that match the age of the brakes and are a set I like a lot. I've used similar ones in the past. Black hoods but I'll get over that.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-28536625342903735652016-03-30T12:23:15.955-04:002016-03-30T12:23:15.955-04:00Beautiful frame. It looks great with the new paint...Beautiful frame. It looks great with the new paint. Love the metallic burgundy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-41850841366404798392016-03-30T10:37:13.896-04:002016-03-30T10:37:13.896-04:00Wow, wow, wow. I have long been a fan of this mod...Wow, wow, wow. I have long been a fan of this model. I am super excited at the prospect of watching you build this one up.<br /><br /><br />Also, I love the metallic burgundy/ honey leather combo. That combo looks so nice on a classic steel bike. <br />I'm assuming that you're probably going to stay vintage, but I will throw out something for you to think about: Those new Tektro/TRP RRL brake levers w/ the gum hoods and drilled levers would look nice on this. I have them on several bikes, and they feel good in-hand, work great, and don't look too anachronistic on the old birds.<br /><br /><br />Wolf.N/Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710395292374599493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-63642317421498286042016-03-30T10:25:55.087-04:002016-03-30T10:25:55.087-04:00Also, just checked out Tim Neenan's Lighthouse...Also, just checked out Tim Neenan's Lighthouse website. So much wisdom! Thanks for pointing the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-35838930289742022672016-03-30T10:02:12.174-04:002016-03-30T10:02:12.174-04:00A labor of love befitting a true retrogrouch! Very...A labor of love befitting a true retrogrouch! Very tastefully done. As a relative neophyte, I have never seen those reinforced mid fork braze-ons that stick out. Do they go all the way through or is the sticking out compensation for them not going through? Also, are you using a freewheel hub? (forgive me if that question is sacrilegious)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com