Trying to "fix" something: 1977 Takara 10 Speed to FG/SS project

About 2 months ago I started working out seriously--my weight was higher than it should be.  Type II diabetes runs in my family and I was showing symptoms.  My workout of choice was getting one of my bikes down from the garage rafters and plop it on an old magnetic trainer that I have.  The pounds have shed nicely--I'm down over 30 pounds since Thanksgiving and I feel better.  

As I became reacquainted with my bikes (a 92 Cannondale  2.8 and a 1993 Trek 930 Singletrack), the idea of building a FG/SS bike out of a 70's era frame began eating at me.  As I was looking for a suitable frame/bike (around Christmas) I stumbled upon a deal on Amazon.  I could not pass it up.  I got a 2018 Raleigh Back Alley ($399 MSRP) in my size, shipped, for about $80.  I did a few alterations--grips and bar ends to it.  It's cool to look at and built like a Centurian Tank. But I still wanted to make something out of an old bike...so the looking for a frame continued.

I came across a 25" Takara frame/fork.  The price was right and the size was right to fit my 36" inseem.  I brought it home.

I began stripping the frame using a razor blade.  It took a few hours, but was not bad at all.

The frame then got sanded, and some chemical stripper was used around the lugs and bottom bracket. 

In GRM fashion, this is a "budget build".  That means paint by me.  No bodyshop.  No powdercoater.  Rustoleum had the colors I wanted and the price was right.  So off to primer the frame went.

Prep is the key to a good paintjob--even with rattlecans.  So the frame got wetsanded, primed, wetsanded and set for the first coat of color.  Which also got wetsanded...

...and eventually, it came out like this.  The scratched Red gave way to Rustoleum Spa Blue.

And then the rest of the livery was applied...

Real Orange.

And then Gloss White

From here you can probably smell what I got cookin'.  Going for a Gulf Racing livery.

Here is the fork--painted and cleared.

Carryon - what are your plans for modern shiftgear?  This cost has kept me from a much needed resto of my first gen Cannondale...

In reply to 84FSP :

The Takara will be FG/SS.  I will likely ride it single-speed.  FG kind of scares me...

Ah crap. Now I want to paint my bicycle. Maybe I could go John player special...

Lookin' sharp!  

With those dropouts I would recommend sticking to single speed, fixed gear braking could snatch the rear wheel forward and that would be bad.

Looks great!

I'd recommend a flip-flop rear hub so you can change your mind if FG isn't for you. I found it fun and novel, but riding one can be hard on your knees.  Clipless pedals or strong toe clips are a necessity. Pretty much impossible to ride (re: brake) with flat pedals.

In reply to FSP_ZX2 :

Very cool!

Thoughts on what you are doing for running gear?  I've been considering a resto mod on my first gen cannondale.  There are some really nice upgrades I think you can do without too many modifications.  I've been considering picking up a second bike just to steal the running gear, hubs, etc.

84FSP said:

Thoughts on what you are doing for running gear?  I've been considering a resto mod on my first gen cannondale.  There are some really nice upgrades I think you can do without too many modifications.  I've been considering picking up a second bike just to steal the running gear, hubs, etc.

The Takara is going to be an eBay/Amazon/bike-shop-parts-bin special.  It's a nearly valueless frame collector wise--I just wanted a project tolearn on.  I have everything waiting to go once the paint is done and will post as it goes together.

As for the Cannondale--I have one of those too.  1992 2.8 Frameset with S105 hardware and Mavic wheels...

FG/SS = fixed gear single speed?

stuart in mn said:

FG/SS = fixed gear single speed?

FG=Fixed Gear.  SS=Single Speed.  Most rear hubs are "flip flop" style, meaning they have a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel cog on the other, meaning the bike can be set up to preference.

The black around the headtube lugs and on the chainstays was added.  The color work is done.

Those tiny black accents really add a lot, especially on the chainstays.  Any reason you didn't do the same on the seat tube?  You could Cut some narrow strips of electrical tape and use them as a trial.  I think that might look sweet.

Very nice on the paint.  I really dig the Gulf livery tribute.  

Any chance you can save that lovely period crankset from the first couple of pics?   

AngryCorvair said:

Those tiny black accents really add a lot, especially on the chainstays.  Any reason you didn't do the same on the seat tube?  You could Cut some narrow strips of electrical tape and use them as a trial.  I think that might look sweet.

The original intent was to paint the "tips" of the seat stays black (they taper to nearly a point)--but I really like how they look as-is.

SEADave said:

Very nice on the paint.  I really dig the Gulf livery tribute.  

Any chance you can save that lovely period crankset from the first couple of pics?   

 

I did.  I agree--it looks cool!   However, I'm not planning on using it.  It was just the outer ring...and I bought a nice looking purpose-built single ring set with a smaller ring (for the gearing). 

I appreciate the compliment.  Thank you!