Since my Columbia Newport project is at a standstill until I get a paint issue resolved, I figured I would show off one of the other bikes to have risen from my garage this summer like a phoenix. This is a 1987 Huffy Capri 10 with 26 inch wheels and a full Sachs-Huret drivetrain. I acquired this pink dandy from my inlaws barn, and while the total project cost me less than $20—for new tires, new chain, brake pads and fresh cables—it cost me about 10 hours of cleaning and scrubbing. As you can see from the before shot, most people would have given up on the ol’ girl, but I saw through the dust and the grime to a young and beautiful soul just waiting to resurface. This bike is one of two, the second is also a Huffy Capri 10 but of the 24 inch variety with a Shimano drive. I will feature it in an upcoming installment.

Before:

After:

I call this series Splendor In The Grass.:)

It has been just over three month’s since my last installment of As God Intended. Half a dozen non-10-speed projects have been keeping the Columbia sidelined. Finally, I got some time this weekend and I have a small report on my progress.

As you may remember(but not likely), I had a broken spoke on the drive side of the rear wheel—a two week stay at the LBS and $35 later, I have a new spoke and two true wheels. With the wheels repaired, it was time to get rid of the 15 years of rust, barn schmuck and buildup. My trusty steel wool, a can of Nevr-Dull and an hour each was all it took to have them looking better than new.

I decided, against my own advice, to do a partial repaint of the frame. I made this decision based on a couple of factors. 1) The paint was badly chipped—and worse—the chips were badly rusted. 2) The frame color was a very generic Kitchen Appliance Almond, and in a trip to the Wal-Mart paint section I was able to find a near perfect(enough) match.

I started the painting process by roughing up the entire frame and took the rusty sections down to bare metal. I left 95% of the original paint intact for a good base. I then taped off the sticker decals to preserve it’s 1978 heritage. I hit it with a couple coats of primer, did a little wet sanding, then hit it with the first coat of color. I will be finishing up the color sometime this week and then I will start(attempt) to retouch the decals. I may clear coat it for good measure, but I won’t decide that until I see how the color and decals come out.

This past weekend I started working on my Columbia Newport 10-speed. First, of course, I aired up the tires and took it for spin. Due to the 15 degree temps, the ride was shorter than I would have liked, but it was long enough to make it painfully apparent that this frame is way too small for me – I felt a bit like an ape on a tricycle.  After my short cold ride, I tore down the bike to a bare frame and evaluated the overall condition.  I only found a few glaring issues that will require a couple new parts. The rear wheel has a broken spoke, one of the stem shifters is broken and the rear brake is missing.  Not bad for a bike that has been sitting in a burn for 15 years.  My projected expenses for this project are as follows:

1. Shifters $10
2. Chain $8
3. Cables $10
4. Tires? $25
5. Spoke Repair $30

Total Investment $83!

Ok, the broken spoke in really screwing up my $50 budget!  I do have an additional rear wheel in inventory, but that will just require a new wheel for a future project. Stay tuned…

Here are some before and after shots of the derailers, a picture of my Sugino crank and my newly acquired shifters.

The light beige finish is complimented nicely by a wide array of chips and scratches.

As God Intended is a new segment on the OTSG where I will document my adventures with old ten speeds. I will be returning would be landfill-fixie-tallbike-bound 10-speeds back to their original department store glory and right in time for riding season.

My first project is this slightly dusty Columbia Newport 10-Speed. This white Columbia was recovered from my in-law’s barn in much the same way as this gallery favorite. However, instead of being hacked into an unbearable fixtrocity, this OTS will be meticulously restored to it’s former greatness. Stay Tuned…