Day 4, a leap forward

It looks like a bike!

I volunteered for 4 hours at the co-op today, and picked up a few more parts. For a whopping $15 bucks, I got a wheelset with 26/1.95 tires and a 7 speed freewheel. (I think it is a freewheel, I didn't care to check. It is a 7 speed. That is what matters.) The rear needs truing badly, but it should work for now. (Long run, maybe I will upgrade, but I don't see that being a short term thing. I like that they are QR wheels.)

I also got a handlebar, so that is on their now. I might still swap out the seatpost, it is a little high, but that is negligible. I hope to get the brakes, gripshifters, and grips on tomorrow, and then the cockpit will be done. (Sans cables)

This leaves the build almost done, with me still needing a triple crankset, chain, front and rear V-brakes (or linear pull), front and rear dérailleur, cables and housing, and a chain. I could probably use a kickstand too. I do have the waterbottle cages, but I am lacking the bolts for those, not that those are costly. I can take the one I have to Home Depot and get a few for under a buck.

I might just be able to have it done by the end of the month, though progress will take a backseat for a week or two. But today, it looks like a bike.

Day 3, some progress

I did make some progress today, and the bike is beginning to take shape. I went to the LBS (short hours due to be a Saturday during band season) and rummaged around in the back of the shop trying various seatpost and stems, finding ones that would fit.

I ended up needing a 26 mm seatpost, and I got a chrome (or was it cromaly?) seatpost, and the stem installed. There is a little gap at the top of the headset where I assume there used to be a gasket at one point. As long as I do well with maintenance, it shouldn't be a problem.

I have the stem and seatpost as low as I can, I will need wheels before I will be able to adjust the height. Next though, I need to find the brakes and a handlebar. The latter should be easy, ditto for the brakes.

I plan on doing 4 hours volunteering at the non-profit tomorrow, but with the Marathon next weekend, I will have to skip a week.

(In case you are wondering, yes, I put a seat on. I am not counting it for the moment, and plan on swapping it back out soon. I am planning on likely making this my day to day bike, and trading up my KHS. This saddle is the Selle Italia one that cost me well over $100 a few years ago when I had a little more money. I put the OEM back onto the KHS for now.) I might put the original Varsity saddle back and put the replacement onto this one. That may be a better overall match.

I did find a single spot where the headset binds. It just so happens to be in a spot where the wheel would have to be turned 180 degrees. As such, it shouldn't be an immediate problem.