1982 bridgestone franken_spica rebuild

just discovered your great site as i was starting to tweak my ride. thanks for the stoke!

i started riding about a year ago when i bought this bicycle, completely ignorant of this bicycle's classic lineage, through craigslist.com.

the bike was immediately fun and i got psyched inspired by one friend's 1981 specialized, and another friend that commutes on an 80's cannondale - who somehow turns out to be the son of a pair of riv-riding ibobz. i'm also inspired by the freedom of the anti-lycra/peloton mentality, anti-carbon fiber, pro-lugged steel, riding hard for fun, possibility/aesthetic/ethic/choice. mostly i am inspired by emigration canyon, utah and the climb that starts from my house at about 4500' above sea level and climbs gradually to a crest at just above 6200'.

with a little guidance from my LBS, and some hands on help and tools from the good folks at: http://www.slcbikecollective.org/, i feel i have been able to put together my dream 'sneaky pete' hill-cruiser. i'm calling the bike a 'franken-spica' because - according to one person - i 'ruined the bicycle' by changing the old chain guard 52/40 crank set and loose-ball bottom bracket to a mail-ordered sram rival compact 50/34 crank set and matching outboard gxp bottom bracket.

personally, my 45 year-old knees are thrilled - who cares what anybody else thinks!

the bicycle now runs more efficient, is faster, smoother and silent like never before.

1982 58cm bridgestone spica
nitto noodle handlebars 44cm
original sc 80mm stem maxed out
cane creek levers
27' quando/sun sealed bearing wheelset
bontrager select gumwall 27 x 1-1/4'
original suntour 13 - 15 - 18 - 21 - 24 - 32 freewheel
original suntour VX front and rear derailleurs
original sc headset
original sc/bridgestone self centering brake calipers
original sc seat post
original suntour skewers
sram rival 50/34 compact 170mm cranks
shimano spd-a520 pedals
specialized alias 143 saddle
fizik perf tape
original paint, stickers, etc.

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