Kaya is new to the old ten speed scene, but I can tell already that she has a good eye. This Huffy Pulsar is great bike for a newcomer to the scene—it’s complete and original and it’s free of rust. Kaya, get the new tires and buy a bottle of chain lube and you’re set. Ride it till the wheels fall off. Oh, and try to keep it out of the rain.
I found this bike at the Youth Ranch thriftstore and it spoke to me. I know absolutely nothing about the care and keeping of old ten-speed bicycles and was hoping someone here could give me some links or pointers. I’m headed to the bike shop tomorrow to get new tires and a helmet, in the very least, since I intend to use it for my commute to work. This is a great site you have, I’m glad I found it!
Thanks Kaya
Scott is the proud new owner of this very workable Fuji Sports 10. I don’t know about you all, but I’ve never come home from vacation with anything as cool as this. As for it’s age, I’m thinking mid-70s, and I found this ad from 1976 on this guy’s page to back me up.
I was on vacation in rural Minnesota and biking through farm country when I stopped at a garage sale. There, to my amazement, for $2, I found what I have been looking for in California: a beaut of an old ten speed. Any help in identifying the year of this Fuji Sports 10 would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Scott
I thought that I would take this opportunity to talk a little about the Tour Day France which finished up on Sunday. I managed to watch all but one stage this year. Thanks, in part, to the fact that Mrs. Ten Speed has a crush on sprinter phenom Mark Cavendish. I no longer have to petition her to watch the Tour. Overall, I’m not sure what to make of this year’s tour. I enjoyed it and it was exciting and unpredictable, but there was something missing. I spent every night trying to think about why I wasn’t more excited. Was it the virtual absence of Robbie McEwen in the field sprints? Was it the early abandonment of the awkward and entertaining Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez? Was it the complete lack of a dominating figure that we will either love or hate and sometimes both? I’m not sure, but there were couple things I did get excited about. First, Christian Vandevelde finishing in the top five and a bad stage away from a podium. The guy can even give a good interview. Second, two U.S. based teams to root for with Cavendish’s 4 wins and Will Frischkorn and Danny Pate both in winning breakaways. Third, the French—Chavanel, Auge, Cesar, Dessel, Voeckler or pretty much anyone on Cofidis—really make the tour entertaining. No, they’re never in the top ten on GC, but they are always in the break; I love the break, and it was a good year for the break. The podium didn’t do much for me, I was disappointed Cadel couldn’t hold on to the Yellow, but I suppose Sastre has earned it.
Other notes on the Tour:
- Did anybody like this Craig Hummer guy? I would have liked him more if his name was something a little more fuel efficient.
- I wish Saab would have done a couple of different commercials, so that they didn’t have to run the same one ever single stinking time, “we take energy from exhaust and recycle it…we take energy from exhaust and recycle it…we take energy from exhaust and recycle it…” enough already. Hey wait, they’re owned by the same company as Hummer!
- Did anyone else notice how the bike commuter in the Trek commercial runs a red light?
- What’s with everyone dragging their kids up on the podium with them?
- What’s with Bobke and all this Primordial ooze talk?
- I get the impression Jonathan Vaughters really likes wine, cheese and wooly turtlenecks.
- Can someone tell me where Robbie Ventura learned to interview?
- Does anyone really watch Tapout?
Other loose ends to tie up:
I was very busy last week—staining the deck, sealcoating the driveway, building some rain barrels and watching the tour—so I didn’t post on Thursday or Friday. I have posted for those days today and backdated them, so be sure to check out Bill’s Suteki Track 10 Mixte and Ben’s Street Seen Takara Mixte.
Today’s OTS comes to us from Will in Virginia. The first thing that strikes me about this Azuki—other than its size—would be the Avenir shoulder frame bag. You just never see those things anymore! I remember back in the late 80s and early 90s every department store mountain bike seemed to be equipped with one of those things. The good news is they are still available!
Here is the $8 Azuki I picked up for a daily driver. I had the bike set up with flat bars for comfort and the wheels and guts of the bike came from a $35 Univega Mixte bike that looked barely used. I repacked the bottom bracket and threw on the alloy crank combined with the Araya alloy wheels and the 6(wow) speed cassette from the Univega to cheat and make it a 12 speed. Everything worked great and I inquired to my dad about his old Raleigh Record and he said he had sold it! I was really looking forward to doing a ride together on our old bikes and he said he was interested in riding again so the Azuki will be his now! Sorry for the crummy pics but you can see the conversion taking place (the dirty little world of old bikes!). I threw on some red vinyl bar tape since the picture to keep it old school for him and lowered the seat since this is a massive frame. I am 6′3″ and it feels stout when I ride it. Very nice and you can see for blocks over traffic! Anyhow just wanted to throw another Azuki on here, thanks!
Thanks Will
