I had a free day and the parts to use it. My goals were to install the rear brake, shorten the cable housing, and install a new center-pull front brake cables right size. It was mission half-accomplished. The rear-brake installation was rather straight forward. The new center-pull brakes, however, don’t work. They look nice… But…
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Write and ye shall receive. Ken “Why would someone devote a website to an obscure tire size?” Stagg left a very useful comment:“You can fix the large gap between the tire and fender at the bottom bracket with a wine cork and a longer zip tie. Cut the cork to the proper length, drill out…
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It turns out I already have a 14mm socket wrench. It came with a bike toolset. I forgot because I’ve probably never used it. Anyway, I e-mailed Rivendell and told them to cancel that part of the order (I also ordered CDs of all their back Reader issues). I don’t think it will be a…
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After 33 years of never needed a 14mm wrench, I now have two parts on the Bluebird that need a 14mm socket wrench: the old-school crank-arm nuts and the kickstand tighening nut. So I ordered one. $14 from Rivendell.
I had a tough time putting on the kickstand. Zora’s old kickstand turns out to work just fine. I guess new ones just come extra-long to fit all bikes, and you cut it down to size. But, kind of strange for Rivendell to sell them assuming the buyer has a grinder. I mean, I’m building…
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The Bluebird came out fighting today. A trial by fire… and ice. She’s a great bike. Rides well. I’m not quite certain what makes a bike a good ride. So as I’m building her, I can’t help but worry: what if she’s not a good bike? One test of a well riding bike is: can…
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I got the package of fenders and tubes today! This bike reminds me of that old Johnnie Cash song where he builds a car “one piece at time.” Of course, that didn’t cost him a dime. But it’s interesting to see a bike come entirely in the mail. I fixed the bike tire (man, that…
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I put in the tubes (I’m afraid there’s a slow leak already in the rear tube, but I’m not sure. Maybe the valve was just leaking at first, but now it’s fine? But some air was definitely coming out. But now it seem to be fine. I’ll guess I’ll know in the morning). The tires…
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Back from Chicago, the brakes had arrived. But annoyingly, the tubes and fenders weren’t even shipped from Boston. Some screw up on their end. I don’t like putting cables on bikes. I never had. I don’t know why. It always takes longer than it should. It’s hard to cut cable housing. And getting the length…
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