I'm feeling more at home on my dear old 83 Trek 760, thanks to a great new country seat.
Long have I lusted after a Stella San Marco Regal saddle. Typically Italian, it incorporates those classic buttons of a Brooks without looking clunky and overweight. Regrettably, the $100 price wedged itself between my fanny and the Regal.
Ahh, but then I ran into Nick Ginster at the Heartland Velo Show last Saturday. Nick owns a company called Fyxation, and he designs and markets cool products for the BMX and Freestyle dudes. To my great delight, Nick also has a saddle which looks surprisingly like the Stella Regal.
Nick's classic button saddle may not be quite as graceful looking as the real Regal, and it doesn't come with titanium rails. And the likes of Greg LeMond, Tom Boonen, and Stijn Devolder haven't ridden the Fyxation Classic Button.
But Nick's saddle was mine for a special Velo Show price. The classic button is a dead ringer for the real Regal. It is also clad in real leather. And most importantly, I have discovered that it is very very kind to me bum.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
ABBANDONATO Schwinn Tiger.
SCOPERTO (Discovered) in the front yard of Lance & Judy Barney.
DORMIRE (Sleeping) as a yard ornament near the Barney’s garage for two years.
RINNOVATO (Renovated) To new luster as a bespoke towne n beach cruiser.
We pulled the Tiger from the hostas and tore into it with WD-40 and my Milwaukee reciprocating saw. The stem was rusted through the head tube, so we sawed it off. The rest eventually came loose thanks to WD and a hammer.
We scoured the frame and then reprimed and finished from a can of Rustoleum's Hammered Metallic Verde Green paint. Other than the frame, nearly everything on this bike was beyond saving. Truth be told, I did have the crank arm, cloverleaf chainring and seat post clamp rechromed, but we'll save those for another project.
We painted over the white background on the head badge with metallic copper to give it that "beach" accent.
In all, about 300 bucks worth of new crank, chainring, bottom bracket, chain, wheels with Shimano built-in three-speed and coaster brake, tires n tubes, chrome fork, stem, handlebars with ergogrips, and a smart looking tan Bontrager saddle. Whew! Restoring an old bike isn't cheap. But we now have a one-of-a-kind beach cruiser to auction off for our community college's foundation.
Ooo, forgot the sweet flat peddles. Whether you ride in town or on the boardwalk, this Tiger will turn heads-- especially with your white standard poodle trotting alongside.
Alas, please take a step back as you admire the paint job.
Our thanks to Joe Dadez, at Freeport Bicycle Company for his collaboration in this renovation.
Also to Checkered Flag Auto Body and Troy Pukoj for a professional clear coat finish on the bicycle frame.
DORMIRE (Sleeping) as a yard ornament near the Barney’s garage for two years.
RINNOVATO (Renovated) To new luster as a bespoke towne n beach cruiser.
We pulled the Tiger from the hostas and tore into it with WD-40 and my Milwaukee reciprocating saw. The stem was rusted through the head tube, so we sawed it off. The rest eventually came loose thanks to WD and a hammer.
We scoured the frame and then reprimed and finished from a can of Rustoleum's Hammered Metallic Verde Green paint. Other than the frame, nearly everything on this bike was beyond saving. Truth be told, I did have the crank arm, cloverleaf chainring and seat post clamp rechromed, but we'll save those for another project.
We painted over the white background on the head badge with metallic copper to give it that "beach" accent.
In all, about 300 bucks worth of new crank, chainring, bottom bracket, chain, wheels with Shimano built-in three-speed and coaster brake, tires n tubes, chrome fork, stem, handlebars with ergogrips, and a smart looking tan Bontrager saddle. Whew! Restoring an old bike isn't cheap. But we now have a one-of-a-kind beach cruiser to auction off for our community college's foundation.
Ooo, forgot the sweet flat peddles. Whether you ride in town or on the boardwalk, this Tiger will turn heads-- especially with your white standard poodle trotting alongside.
Alas, please take a step back as you admire the paint job.
Our thanks to Joe Dadez, at Freeport Bicycle Company for his collaboration in this renovation.
Also to Checkered Flag Auto Body and Troy Pukoj for a professional clear coat finish on the bicycle frame.
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