Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, if you are looking for a solid resource.
replyIt's a rewarding project! I fixed up a freebie old Schwinn roadbike a few years ago and it's so much fun to ride. I have a freebie Nishiki too waiting for a decision on what to do with it--touring bike or fixie conversion. Enjoy the time turning wrenches and then on the road!
replyI added a MIK rear rack with pannier rails. I bought a seat post collar with screw holes in order to attach it, only to realize the bike doesn't have a seat post collar! And the collar was 1/4 inch too wide for the seat post. I wedged some green tire protection strips in there and it works great. I biked home two full panniers and a watermelon in a basket from a farmer's market. Bad idea in retrospect as the whole bike wobbled from being back-heavy. And the kickstand cannot handle even the slightest amount of weight. I might invest in front pannier rails. So I guess I'm going in the touring bike direction!
replyRiding on a wheel you have built from parts is a joyous thing.
replyMy favorite bike was an early aluminum framed Trek that I upgraded practically every part of myself.
replyThe bonded frame creaked but it rode great for thousands of miles.
It got stolen and I haven't felt the same about biking since. Miss the hell out of that bike.