Bike Touring

I was reading and that is the lame reason for not writing here!
I was reading about bike touring. I did consider it last year but after a lot of analysis, I boiled it down to a homeless lifestyle with a bicycle. The way the folks who go on really long bike touring trips, lasting several years, does approach the lifestyle I mentioned. But, there is a big difference. Bike tourists have a plan, a route and a goal and sometimes a way to produce income. Homeless folks don't have any of that. So, I think I will try biketouring pretty soon.

Couple of bikes came and left the stable during the unreported time. A Ross Eurosport, and Raleigh Sprite, which was a bit tall for me.

The GT Windstream is finally ready. It has a steel rimmed rear wheel that an unscrupulous rider of East European origin sold me knowing well that I will not be able to get the free wheel off as it is an outdated rarity. Also paid too much for the wheel and it needs truing. But I rode the bike around the neighborhood for a while yesterday.

The orange MGX MTB went to NYC to Summer Streets on 2 Saturdays in August. It has a broken spoke that I will have to replace.

The Fuji Supreme is ready to be built up. I am not spending any more time on cleaning and polishing it. I think I will put a moustache bar on it, the original stem mounted shifters and a couple of brake levers donated by a forum member. It needs a little truing too.

So many things to do and summer is gone.

Progress on Fuji

Sorry, no pics but the melted tires are off the rims, the brake levers and stem are wire brushed, and the frame and fork are cleaned and treated with an abrasive paint polishing compound. I think I will put a moustache bar on the bike and make touring bike out of it. Have new tunes and tires on hand, too. Am wondering if I should replace the spokes, which were galvanized and have rusted. But, that may be too much work for now.

Did a 20 mile ride on Friday evening, on Sat delivered a sailing book to a guy on the bike, too. It is cloudy today and may rain anytime. Cleaned and repacked the bottom bracket on the Fuji. Now I need to do the same for the hubs.

Fuji Supreme

Bought a Fuji Supreme in terrible condition.
Right now, the entire bike is disassembled and is being cleaned and polished.
Will need a set of 27" tubes and tires. Wondering what will be a good color to go with the maroon frame, if I get colored tires. Not much choice is available for colors in 27" size.
Here is a "before" picture.

Sandy Hook

Went to Sandy Hook, NJ with a couple of friends to ride the trail there. It is about 6 miles long but may be 5.5. from the parking lot. Windy going North and backwind coming south. Riding the bike allows one to view the areas one may miss while visiting the beach on a summer day in a car.

Indian Bikes

Read the long post towards the end of the page.

More Willpower

Yesterday, I went to get a couple of bikes, which were advt. without much info. Not even a name. When i saw the pictures, emailed later, one was a Nishiki and the other was a Randor. Anyway, I wanted the Nishiki, assuming it was a Japanese bike. What I found out in person was that the Nishiki was a Korean made bike, with a strange crank set, riveted 2 speed chain rings, chromed steel stem and bars with a little rust, black plastic stem mounted shifters, etc. The Randor, I did not even look at. After, a few minutes of pondering, I thought it was better to not get any of those. Let us just stick to quality bikes. That was a big improvement in will power.

Correction

I posted the previous post on a bike forum and it was pointed out that the splits in the chain rings were intentional and were designed to aid shifting with indexed shifters. Nevertheless, I don't like the center driven, fused crank set design.