Repco Road 700 - spruce up and new cranks?
- X-wing
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Repco Road 700 - spruce up and new cranks?
Postby X-wing » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:13 pm
I picked up my eBay $40 roadbike yesterday, a Repco Road 700, circa unknown. It looks a lot like a bike that used to get me to and from school in the last century, but in less tidy shape.
I need to tidy it up a bit - probably get some new tyres, but I was wondering if anyone could help me with two bits of advice...
1) Cables. The gear selection cables are down on the tube that slopes from the head to the bottom bracket (obvious terminology gap here for X-wing, feel free to enlighten me). They look like they are in good shape, but the selector units themselves have been somewhat exposed to the elements for a while. Does anyone know of a good place to take it to be 'freshened up' and checked for safety? I don't know if the cables need replacement, or if the selectors are dodgy etc... and I don't want to find out 25 kms from home.
2) I think this bike may be just a tad too big for me. The reach to the pedals has me within a smidgen of straightening my leg when I push all the way through the stroke. I am worried that this could be bad for my knees. I have the seat all the way down, so I am thinking of replacing the 170 cranks with something shorter. Is it as simple as that? Part of me thinks that there has to be more to it than that. Other than that, what are my options for sorting out my short-leg shortcomings?
Ok, any help would be much appreciated. This is my first road bike in a long time - I am surprised (after my MTB) just how twitchy and responsive it feels... feels great!
Cheers,
Marcus
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Re: Repco Road 700 - spruce up and new cranks?
Postby heavymetal » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:10 am
These are friction shifters, (down tube mounts) which I still use on my modern bikes. (I know of a secret supply ) They are usually resistant to the elements, and you can clean them up by taking them apart.X-wing wrote:1) Cables. The gear selection cables are down on the tube that slopes from the head to the bottom bracket (obvious terminology gap here for X-wing, feel free to enlighten me). They look like they are in good shape, but the selector units themselves have been somewhat exposed to the elements for a while. Does anyone know of a good place to take it to be 'freshened up' and checked for safety? I don't know if the cables need replacement, or if the selectors are dodgy etc... and I don't want to find out 25 kms from home.
If the levers are the alloy type, they can be shined up with a good toothbrush. There is not much to the internals of the shifter, and I usually put a smear of grease in them when putting them back together.
The cables are usually exposed to the elements on friction shifters and if they look rusty, it's only about $10 to replace them both yourself.
Kev.
- europa
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Postby europa » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:33 am
Rusty cables are easy to change and should be.
Rusty brake cables should definitely be changed.
But you'd be amazed what you can get away with on those old girls and they are amazingly forgiving. The worst thing that can happen with gear changes is that you'll be stuck in one gear for a bit - you won't have to walk home unless you destroy the chain.
Frame size?
My Europa touches my groin when I stand over her flat footed. This has never been a problem. It's only a problem if it presses against your pelvic bone. This flies in the face of modern thinking and what has been preached for many years, but realistically, if you can stand over the top bar without it pressing against BONE, you're okay.
Don't worry about crank size, just ride what you have.
You've bought a bike that will teach you a lot about bikes, about rebuilding and tinkering with them, and which will allow you to make monumental stuffups with little or no drama. It'll also ride well and give you a lot of fun. The only scary bit is meeting Kev on one of your rides
Richard
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:46 am
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- X-wing
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Postby X-wing » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:41 pm
The bike also comes with clips, but I cannot identify them (meaning: no obvious brand splashed on them for me to read). So I will also be looking at maybe buying my first riding shoes! I have had this bike 4 days and already big changes are planned in the X-wing household!
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:00 pm
If you do, do you want to put them in the "You beauty ..." thread?
Some-one might be able to recognise the pedals.
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- europa
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- X-wing
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Postby X-wing » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:59 pm
I took the bike to the lbs yesterday, and they guy behind the counter told me that 'no-one' makes shoes or cleats for 'those old pedals any more'! I was a little surprised, and I had to maintain my smiling face as he then talked to me about new pedals and shoes.
I put it in for a service, and I will take some photos when I get it back... maybe someone out there has a different opinion about just how ancient these things are.
Cheers,
Marcus
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Postby cludence » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:14 pm
But then, I often ride down the shops on my old 40's bike with 3spd sturmey gears and it is a great old bike so most bikes made after this look new to me.
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:28 pm
Send us some photo's - of both the bike and the pedals, especially looking down on the pedals. They're probably generic Look or Shimano SPD-R compatible pedals and there are plenty of cleat options and plenty of shoes that will take them. If you want some pedals in the interim, I'm sure I could get some alloy pedals from that era from one of our recycle centres for about $10 - sorry, I don't have any in my parts box at the moment.
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- X-wing
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Postby X-wing » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:00 pm
Re the bikeshop guy, I have to admit to being a little suprised at his reaction, and it was truly my first ever 'not interested in what the customer is asking' experience at that shop... the guy I normally deal with is very enthusiastic, which is just what a noob like me needs.
I have taken some photos - hopefully there is enough detail here to show you the pedals. If there are better photos needed I may have to wait until daylight...
Any advice, hints, suggestions or treasure maps to where I might source something to go with these would be greatly appreciated.
cheers,
Marcus
- Mulger bill
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Postby Mulger bill » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:43 pm
Maybe it's the (email me) bit?
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
- X-wing
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Postby X-wing » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:53 pm
Ok, I have had to be a bit creative... if you take out the spaces after the word 'photos' it should take you to the site...
http://www.flickr.com/photos / 9865781 (AT) N04/
all being well, you may even see the photos!
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:03 pm
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- X-wing
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Penrith, NSW
Postby X-wing » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:42 pm
The 'gap' between the two black parts is a simple straight 'wall'... it does not follow the inverted L-shape of the black parts. So looking at it from side on, the profile for the middle part is perpendicular to the 'body' of the pedal.
That would be absolutely great if you could send me a set to take to the shops. I might take you up on your second offer, depending upon the reactions I get at the local shops! Naturally they will be returned in good order.
I am excited now... I was worried that I had purchased an example with a rare pedal that was only available in one of the more obscure ex-Soviet republics!
I will pm you with my details!
Cheers,
(a very happy) Marcus
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:38 am
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- X-wing
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Penrith, NSW
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