Let’s send this week sailin’ in style. Ed H’s white-on-white Huffy Legrande will certainly fill that role happily. Ed happens to live right down the road from me (so to speak) and even purchased those slick white fenders at my favorite LBS—Main Street Bicycles. Have a great weekend everyone, and if it happens to be warm where you are, go ride your bike; and if it happens to be cold where you are, go ride your bike!
I am back again with another gem, I picked up this Huffy Legrande 12 speed from a thrift store for $7.17! I separated it from it long time mixte frame companion which was next to it for the same price. I took it home and over the weekend tore it down, cleaned, polished, lubed, removed the rotted tires and the dead roaches from the crank housing. The positron shifting works perfectly and the ride is surprisingly good and it feels light. I think it looks great with the white electrical tape on the handlebars and the safety leavers removed. I will be adding some fenders, a rear rack and ride it though the winter.
Thanks Ed
Today’s OTS, a ladies AMF Roadmaster, comes to us from Flash in Alameda, California. Another 10 saved.
Flash here in Alameda, CA. I found this beauty moldering beneath an old Victorian apt. building, weeds growing through her forlorn spokes. Like the Tin Man, she needed an oil can bad. Her tires crumbled to bits, brake cables frozen in time, a chain rust welded into a solid unit. I believe she is from 1974 based on her Shimano Eagle type 3 rear derailler. The lack of cheesy decals on her original brassy paint speaks of her high breeding. Nice original touches include Shimano stem shifters, Mesenger sprung saddle, and made in Japan rims. I will leave the ferrous oxide coating on her parts as the rust speaks of time, aging, and entropy. She’s a nice ride, smooth and composed, a little squeaky, and happy to be alive again.
Thanks Flash
Sorry the OTS have been flowing slowly this week—but hey, if I can’t give you quantity, I can at least offer quality! Today it’s Troy’s Schwinn Caliente. Its showroom condition was all it took to save it from fixtration. Thank Tenvens!
I’ve been looking for an OTS for a donor as a fixie. Seeing a few old bikes in a local garage sale I stopped to investigate. Nothing but rusty department store mountain bikes. It was late and the seller said to make him an offer, any offer. Told him I’m not interested and what I was looking for. He said he has an OTS in his basement he planned on cleaning up and trying to sell on EBay.
He brought this yellow Schwinn out and I couldn’t believe the condition. He said he bought it new sometime in the early 80’s, he couldn’t be sure. He rode it around his neighborhood for about a week. He didn’t touch it again until 1990 when he took it to the local bike shop and had it tuned up and the handlebar tape replaced with this ugly foam for comfort.
It was dusty and the tires were flat but I knew then that I must have it. He said he thought might get a hundred dollars for it on EBay. I said sure, but how much will it cost to ship this? Try to sell it plus shipping cost would be pretty hard in this economy. He said okay then, make me an offer. I pulled out my wallet and showed him that I only had $21 on me and before I could tell him that I would go to an ATM and get more he said SOLD.
I took it home, put air in the tires (it held) and 15 minutes with soap, water and a soft cloth made it shine like new. Rode it on a short 10 mile ride and fell in love. I know it’s not rare or valuable but I’m really happy with my new ride. The only thing I plan on changing is the handlebar tape. Any suggestions on which color tape to use?
Forget the fixie project! How could I chop up my yellow Caliente.
Troy
Thanks Troy
Beutiful Bianchi, courtesy of theEgoist. I wish I had friends like his.
Bianchi Speciallissima?
I bought it from a friend for $100. Campy cranks, derailleurs, shifters. Has a one-piece chrome headset/lug. Original bottle cage. I have the original stem (Ambrosio Record) but I’m a small guy, so I’m using a smaller road stem I had lying around.
I have the original wheelset too, low flange front, High flange rear. Sew-up rims (hence why I’m not using them). I do plan to relace the old hubs on some new clinchers. Any ideas? Anyway. I love the bike, I hope to have it for the rest of my life.
Thanks theEgoist
How is this for an OTSG First! A 1978 Favorit 10-speed from Communist Era Czechoslovakia! Many thanks to Jonathan D in the Netherlands for this mean looking commuter beast.
Hi,
Here are some pics of my 1978 Favorit bike. It’s a brand from former Czechoslovakia (city: Rokycany). The brand doesn’t exist anymore today.
Bought it for 10,- Euros on internet. The front wheel was 27″. Now it has 28″ rear and front again.
Bought it as a “winter bike” cause i don’t wanna ride my beautiful 10-speed Peugeot Supersport in the rain, or on muddy and salty roads.
The 28″ Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires are perfect for slippery bad weather conditions. Originally it had worn down tires from brands “Barum” (Czech) and “Obiliceya” (Yugoslavia).
The derailleur, crankset and shifters are from favorit itself.
The bike is very fast, highest gear is 53×12! I love to overtake 50-year old suburbanites on their 1000,- euro Cannondale and Trek hybrids with my 10,- euro communistic rustbucket.
The geometry is strange and funny. The pedals touch the front fender by 1 millimeter! It’s very agile because of that, and the frame is way more stiff than my Peugeot!
Love your website! Keep up the great work.
Greets,
Jonathan D
Losser, The Netherlands
Thanks again Jonathan
