New Project: A Shop Update

Things are moving along nicely with Ginger's '82 Motobecane Super Mirage.  We've been discussing a number of functional and aesthetic ideas for this bicycle.  Ginger has veered me away from the plan that I initially had for this bike, but some of her thoughts have been bold and impressive.  And now I'm really excited to see how it turns out.

After I brought the bike home, the first step was to take the machine apart.  I pulled all of the components off the frame and found that some of the parts were likely not original - most notably the mismatched brakes.  I decided to go ahead and trash the calipers and install a whole new brake system; a decision that will enhance both the look and the safety of the bike.  I also made a list of parts that were missing, such as chain ring bolts, shifters, and decent wheels.  Then I cleaned and polished all of the components, taking care to carefully remove surface rust, and made sure the frame was clean and the bearing cups and races free of old grease and debris.

Once I had a full inventory of any parts that were missing or needed to be replaced, I made a run to a couple of the nearby bike shops in town.  I also put in a few orders for parts that weren't in stock at my LBS.  When I got home, I bolted on the parts that I had available and made sure any moving parts were lubricated and functioning properly.  Now all that's left is to wait for the orders to arrive at my home or at my LBS so I can get the thing assembled.  Speaking of which, here's a little sneak peek at one such order that was waiting for me when I got home from work today: