Miyata 610

[jrenaut]

Hmm. DismalScientist found you a bike with shifters on the downtube? I don’t believe it for a minute.

Also, the “bar tape” looks like a pool noodle.

[DismalScientist]

Very nice. The only problem is that it violates Rule #48: http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ :rolleyes:

To further inspire any modifications you wish to make, I offer some pictures of my vintage touring machine, a 1984 Trek 620:

This is a before photo from a year ago: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1314[/ATTACH]

That lycra thing was holding my saddle together, but that finally failed (the plastic support broke in two!). Since then, I put on aero levers and a seven speed freewheel. Since the down tube shifters were indexed for six speeds, I replaced them with the old SunTour bar end shifters from my mid 70’s Mizutani Super Seraphe. So here is the latest incarnation:[ATTACH=CONFIG]1315[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1316[/ATTACH]

This baby features a Reynolds 531 frame with the extra long chain stays found only on Trek 620 and 720s. It has a half-step granny crankset with 50, 45 and 24 teeth (as does yours, and yours has biopace oval rings) which allows close spaced gears for general riding and real low gears for fully loaded climbing in the mountains. The cantilever brake pads have been replaced with Koolstop Salmon Mountain pads, which I recommend.

The only thing a true retrogrouch like me am missing is is an old-style brifter like this:http://retroshift.com/ :rolleyes:

[brendan]

Aside from grime and UV-damage, the pie plate looks like it’s not seen too much mileage. That it’s still there and not cracked means I assume the rest of the bike hasn’t seen much mileage either?

[vvill]

@DismalScientist 24391 wrote:

The only thing a true retrogrouch like me am missing is is an old-style brifter like this:http://retroshift.com/ :rolleyes:

I’m not a retrogrouch but I love watching the retroshift video where they dump the whole cassette in one swing.

[Certifried]

@brendan 24428 wrote:

Aside from grime and UV-damage, the pie plate looks like it’s not seen too much mileage. That it’s still there and not cracked means I assume the rest of the bike hasn’t seen much mileage either?

It doesn’t look like it. It is in amazing condition from what I can tell.

[mstone]

40 spoke wheel?

[Certifried]

@mstone 24435 wrote:

40 spoke wheel?

36 spokes

[DaveK]

If you want to replace those old suicide levers I’ve got a set of aero brake levers I’d give you.

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-BL-R400-Brake-Levers-Black/dp/B000F5LLWG

Regardless I wouldn’t use the suicide levers, just take them off.

[eminva]

@DaveK 24443 wrote:

Regardless I wouldn’t use the suicide levers, just take them off.

Wait, can you take them off and leave the rest of the brake intact? I have them on my 1984 bike I use to go to the metro, but I never use them; I brake with the lower levers. I thought they had to stay on as a decorative accessory.

Will have to take a closer look at this later.

Liz

[DaveK]

@eminva 24450 wrote:

Wait, can you take them off and leave the rest of the brake intact? I have them on my 1984 bike I use to go to the metro, but I never use them; I brake with the lower levers. I thought they had to stay on as a decorative accessory.

Will have to take a closer look at this later.

Liz

Yeah you can take them off but the post that they’re mounted to will remain there, somewhat unsafely. You can cut that off and sand it flush if you have a Dremel and some time.

[mstone]

Cross levers are certainly better in a lot of ways, but the old school ones aren’t so bad that you need to fear their presence. Many of us used them for years without dying. I actually miss them in cases like slowly drifting through mobs on the trails or riding on the bends.

[Certifried]

Here’s the latest on the Miyata. I’ve got it all set for commuting, mostly. I do need to upgrade the bars (way too narrow), and I decided to go with aero brake levers, bar end shifters. Eventually maybe some nice velo orange hammered fenders and some other shiny accoutrements

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1481[/ATTACH]

oh, and that’s the Selle An-atomica Titanico X (X is for X-tra heavy people like me) and it. is. an. amazing. saddle!

[Author]

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