Rebuild!!

Cycling is not just about riding bikes. It's also about maintaining them. Afterall, you spend the money on a sweet ride, you love riding it, it only makes sense to maintain it. What also makes sense is knowing how to fix your rig when you are miles away from home, broken down. It's a form of empowerment of sorts - facilitating independence. And working on bikes can be relaxing and rewarding.

Unfortunately, I've been so busy, all of my bikes have gone down hill.

As a part of a recent photoshoot, the Serotta got some soapy lovin.


she emerged looking shiny and new. well as new as a 12+ year old lugged steel rig can look.

Unfortunately, the shiny orange beauty was only skin deep.

years of riding in rain and sleet have taken their toll. Alas, there was maintenance i'd missed. (Thanks Billy for cleaning & for showing me the maintenance I should have been doing all this time!)

The bars were locked in but we managed to release them revealing rust and a gritty headset.

I knew the cable and housing were shot. Why not take care of the rust and bars too.

So i stripped it clean in hopes of framesavering its rusted steel insides. (this prevents / minimizes future corrosion).


The overhaul began at home...

And continued at FreezeThaw!! Justin and Sparking at FreezeThaw have taught me almost everything I know at this point. Thanks guys!!!

I pulled everything - headset, bars, bottom bracket...

The bottom bracket was a sight for sore eyes. But on a positive note, if i had the tools, i can now do all this work myself easily - well with a little elbow grease that is.

Once the framesaver love was complete, reassembly, complete with fresh grease and lube began.

Fresh cables / housing.

Fresh tape. This stuff (LizardSkin) is pretty sweet if you haven't tried it. She is tuned and just about ready to go...


ready to roll...