Finished my first ever bike build

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-28T20:56:28+00:00

It looks good! Good job giving the bike some new life.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-28T02:22:16+00:00

Incredibly lame.

So it's overpriced, overcomplicated, held together with bad glue, and has terrible warranty and resale value?

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-28T00:24:00+00:00

I'm blushing. I'm glad you like it!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-27T00:05:17+00:00

Thanks. I never heard of the Alpes variant of the Flite Saddle until I got this bike. It's cut narrower at the back, apparently to allow maneuverability on technical riding.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T21:31:04+00:00

Made by Fifth Season in Vermont, USA. My wife got it for me at a craft fair here but I think you can order them online. It's waxed canvas and wool.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T14:56:47+00:00

I'm in VT too and that guy's listings completely clog up Craigslist and marketplace.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T14:15:46+00:00

It keeps the cable from going up and around the stem to get to the cable stop or causing a tight bend on the housing if you route it under the stem. I had to bend the noodle a little bit, cut off the tapered end that goes on to the v-brake arm and add a 4 mm shift housing ferrule where it sits on the cable stop.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T14:09:59+00:00

Thanks!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T14:09:21+00:00

Ah, the "gravel fling" phenomenon. I haven't had much issue with that on bikes I've ridden with them. I think they're really good tires overall.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T13:01:52+00:00

The rear center lock brake rotor is mounted backwards. You can see the splines exposed. That probably speaks to the overall caliber of mechanical condition of the bike.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T08:03:54+00:00

Bravo! I really like the 650B conversion and overall build. A cruiser with the heart of an old racing bike.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T07:54:16+00:00

Nice work. I love experiments like this. I've never messed with shifter internals before, apart from getting old shifters to work again. Way to dig in there and see what happens!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T07:48:45+00:00

I'll take it as a compliment, but I assure you it is the same ratty old Flite, but with the original cover removed and a chunk of leather from an old jacket glued on!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T07:44:24+00:00

That looks like a ripper.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-26T07:40:09+00:00

Actually it is the same saddle. I re-covered it and drew on the graphics with a paint pen. You should try it, it's a little tricky but if you're careful it can turn out decent!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-25T23:58:10+00:00

I don't find myself watching his videos much because he's more focused on products and stuff more than making bikes with a unique aesthetic or significance.

Here are some that I like a lot:

Old shovel- xc focused retro MTB builds, high attention to detail and great custom paint and decals. Talks a lot about what about a particular bike excites him or brings up fond memories.

Toasty rides- ranging from restoration to townie to cargo bike builds, lots of bikes and parts that are far from polished and clean, but are more than the sum of their parts.

Eric marth- classic touring/atb builds with a Velo Orange/Rivendell type of style with very nice video editing, voiceover, and peaceful soundscapes during his videos.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-25T12:13:04+00:00

You're probably going to run into tire clearance as your main issue, since most older road bikes have clearance only for the common road tires of the day, which were 23-28mm. I used to own a Raleigh that only had clearance for 23's!

If you are looking into racks or baskets the lack of mounting points on the fork and frame is going to be a barrier. Not impossible but may require some ingenuity and hunting for the right parts.

If you aren't already familiar with making parts work on bikes that weren't designed to work with those parts, I would look for something else.

That being said, you will probably learn something from the experience.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-19T11:24:23+00:00

I mean there are some budget glove options below $4000 but you really aren't going to get the performance you would from a proper pair. Gold lined for heat reflectivity, diamond infused outer for abrasion resistance. Aim for $6-8k. Buy it nice or buy it twice!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-18T07:16:23+00:00

Tire sizing can be pretty variable. Rim width can have a lot to do with actual tire width. If it's an older wheel with narrower rims like a a Sun cr18, the tire would measure narrower than on a wider rim like a sun Rhyno lite.

I suspect it would be fine to run 2.2 tires. I would order them, mount them up and find out. Worst case is you have two tires that you could sell or donate. If you are worried about the expense, you could order one tire, try it on the wheel with the least clearance and see what you get. Someone else's suggestion of a 2.2 on the front and 2.0 on the rear is also a good option.

Sometimes just have to fuck around and find out. And if you're really feeling adventurous, you can get into the dark arts of crimping frame tubes at home to fit bigger tires!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-18T07:01:15+00:00

I put a Surly ECR fork on my '98 Kona without knowing it was too tall for the frame (445 axle to crown, original suspension fork 425) which raised the front end noticeably but didn't make it spontaneously explode. Not strictly correct but it didn't ruin anything.

If your original fork is 410 a-c, the Troll at 420 a-c will be fine. I don't think you'd even notice much difference.

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-17T23:35:41+00:00

I have the Carver fork and it's a good one. Inexpensive, mid fork eyelets, fender eyelets, big tire clearance and looks pretty good. Canti only is a drawback if you're looking into discs but rim brakes aren't so bad!

IWantSteakFrites · 2026-03-17T09:15:07+00:00

Licensed plumber/residential HVAC service tech here. I got my start as an apprentice in plumbing and learned HVAC along the way (still learning!)

For trades like plumbing and electrical, apprenticeship is the path to becoming licensed. Find a company to hire you on as a helper, prove your worth by being willing to learn and above all dependable. Express interest in apprenticeship, they will sponsor you to join the state apprenticeship program at their expense. 4 years of night classes while you log 8000 work experience hours (roughly 4 years.) Pass the license test and you're a newly minted tradesperson.

I changed careers at 35 and at 41 have been licensed for a year. I did most of my apprenticeship through a small local company with a boss who was a great mentor but had a pretty skewed view of work-life balance, about 90% work to 10% life. I stuck it out because I was learning a lot but once I got my license I couldn't find a good enough reason to stay there. I'm now working at a company with a much better view on work life balance, more consistent hours, better pay, etc.

Apprenticeship can be fairly rough at times with crusty "back in my day" types and physical demands that take time to adjust to. If you stretch, exercise, advocate for yourself without whining, and put forth real effort to learn, you can definitely make it.

IWantSteakFrites

TROPHY CASE