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eBay Special - Before & After Pics

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:11 am
by cray-
Thought I'd post up a pics thread for the eBay Special...really need to come up with a proper name for it sometime.....any suggestions?

BEFORE:
Image

AFTER:
Image

Click here to see more detailed pics

A bit of spit and polish and it's come up real nice. Just waiting on some new black Dia Compe hoods from US eBay and I still need to get some straps for the toe clips. I also think I need a slightly taller seat post. That's up at max in the pics but I feel as though I could go up another inch or so, my legs aren't properly straight at the bottom of my pedal stroke.

I've added a Selle Italia Trans Am FK saddle, a pair of Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tyres and some new brake pads. The total of which far eclipsed the original buy price of the bike itself. Hell, one tyre was almost the same price! I'm not entirely sold on the grey with tiny orange speckled bar tape, but it was cheap and I didn't want to stuff up my first application on good stuff.

The downtube friction shifters take a bit of getting used to after coming from indexed mtb shifters. I really have to plan ahead when approaching a change in the road so that I'm not fumbling about at the last second and ruining my rhythm.

So far my longest ride is only 40km but I intend to go out and beat that tomorrow morning. I'm planing on entering The Great Bike Ride 2007 and will probably opt for the single lap and see what kind of time I can set.

So I think that about sums it up. The fixie project is sort of on the back burner while I save up a bit more cash. I've kind of decided to go for some higher spec'd components rather than do it on the cheap. The strong aussie dollar is helping to bring some of the stuff that was well out of reach, back down into a more affordable price range, but we'll wait and see.

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:04 pm
by MountGower
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:32 pm
by McPete
I have those same cranks on the Apollo...

That did come up mightily well! I take it you used car polish or the like? That brought up the Apollo quite nicely. Nice colour that too... I'm quite jealous!

As for a name... currently I'm liking anything with "mega" in it... MegaClean?

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:14 pm
by cray-
Nope, no polish. Used some old rags to get the grime off most of it. Then a pot scourer on some of the shiny bits that where a bit more stubborn. The only bit I don't like is that gouge on the stem. I think its bare aluminium not chromed like the other parts so it won't come up as shiny without a lot more work, but I doubt I can be bothered.

Got some toe straps today and a little baggie to go under my seat. Bloody expensive though! It cost me an extra $30 in the shape of a parking fine for an expired ticket. Stupid bike shop, time just slipped away I guess. Still annoying since it was a Sunday and the bike shop is the only shop in that whole street that is even open, hardly peak hour out there. Haven't they got something better to do?