Vintage bike on a turbo???

outfox

Would it be a shame to put a vintage bike on a turbo? Would the bike stand up to the abuse? Would it even be practical, with the shifters on the down tube and the narrow cassette range?
Opinions appreciated. The bike would sit on the turbo full time, as I'm too lazy to be swapping out wheels etc.

rollingscone

outfox wrote: »

Would it be a shame to put a vintage bike on a turbo? Would the bike stand up to the abuse? Would it even be practical, with the shifters on the down tube and the narrow cassette range?
Opinions appreciated. The bike would sit on the turbo full time, as I'm too lazy to be swapping out wheels etc.

Turbo sweat is supposed to murder steel frames.

Koobcam

Vintage bike on the turbo would be grand, though if it's a particularly nice vintage bike, it would be a shame to only use it indoors. I wouldn't worry about gear ratios, you can just adjust resistance, so the ratio is kind of irrelevant.

kumate_champ07

rollingscone wrote: »

Turbo sweat is supposed to murder steel frames.

only if the steel is exposed, sweat wont go thru lacquer and paint, only thru a light coat of primer

kumate_champ07

what is the bike anyway? might be worth selling and then buying something cheaper for the turbo

outfox

I could use a towel draped on the top tube, or one of those sweat catcher things I've seen online. That should hopefully take care of the sweat. But do you guys think it would put up with the abuse? I use an MTB at present, and I can see the frame flexing at high effort. Some creaking too.

outfox

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

what is the bike anyway? might be worth selling and then buying something cheaper for the turbo

Haven't got one yet. I'm thinking of buying a bike for the turbo, as taking the MTB on and off, and swapping the wheel in and out, is a pain. I'm thinking I could find a relatively cheap vintage bike for the turbo, and this would also satisfy a ridiculous itch to get a vintage bike, to add to the collection.

rollingscone

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

only if the steel is exposed, sweat wont go thru lacquer and paint, only thru a light coat of primer

The headset is vulnerable though and the steerer tube.

outfox

Does the Taxman have any views on this? I understand he's the vintage bike expert around here.

quozl

Are you calling the Taxman old?

07Lapierre

rollingscone wrote: »

Turbo sweat is supposed to murder steel frames.

This is easily solved by putting a towel on the handlebars/crossbar.

Or if you prefer, get one of these:

http://www.wiggle.com/elite-protec-sweat-cover-2013/

cjt156

Will a turbo take a 27" x 2 1/4 wheel? It may even be 2 3/4 I can't remember.
Its on an old steel beater with a 5 speed freewheel that I may dedicate to winter turbo duties.
Do-able or no? I haven't got a turbo yet to try.

outfox

I can't imagine that there'd be a problem with turbo fitting. The adjustment would only be 4 mm. Each time you take a bike off a turbo, you have to adjust it by maybe 20 mm, so 4 mm should be readily achieved.

outfox

Well, I got the vintage bike. She's such a beauty that I don't have the heart to put it on the turbo. After all that.

onthefringe

i wouldnt turbo that either!
what steel is it?
nice seatpost

outfox

I think it's 531. I'm away at the moment, and I forget. It's an early 80s model.
Yeah the seatpost is a work of art. There are some neat touches around the drive-train too.
I can barely pedal it cos of the gearing. Jeez they were strong men back then. I can't believe I rode a bike with similar gearing to school.

A Jeffers

OutFox, I have a set of vintage racing wheels. 27" x 1 1/4". They are missing tyres and tubes, But they are essentially 700x32c, easy enough to find. The spokes seem to be in good knick and the rims are true.

eeeee

A Jeffers wrote: »

OutFox, I have a set of vintage racing wheels. 27" x 1 1/4". They are missing tyres and tubes, But they are essentially 700x32c, easy enough to find. The spokes seem to be in good knick and the rims are true.

I have 27 x 1 1/4" wheel and I can confidently say 700c tyres do not, in any way, shape or form fit on them. I wasn't the only one who tried to make them fit either! I have continental Ultra Sports on it. I think racing wheels were a good bit narrower than the 27 x 1 1/4" though, I think.


We'll wear Outfox, it's a beauty

A Jeffers

gadetra wrote: »

I have 27 x 1 1/4" wheel and I can confidently say 700c tyres do not, in any way, shape or form fit on them. I wasn't the only one who tried to make them fit either! I have continental Ultra Sports on it. I think racing wheels were a good bit narrower than the 27 x 1 1/4" though, I think.


We'll wear Outfox, it's a beauty

I stand corrected then!

eeeee

A Jeffers wrote: »

I stand corrected then!

It was a particularly embarrassing discovery for me!

hesker

That looks in great condition. Definitely wouldn't risk getting sweat all over it regularly. Save it for sunny day rides.

The gearing is known as half-step gearing. Most bikes of this vintage would have come with a smaller small front ring, usually a 42.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-theory.html#halfstep

outfox

A Jeffers wrote: »

OutFox, I have a set of vintage racing wheels. 27" x 1 1/4". They are missing tyres and tubes, But they are essentially 700x32c, easy enough to find. The spokes seem to be in good knick and the rims are true.

Thanks AJ. I don't plan to race on it. Anyway, if I start bringing home accessories for the vintage bike, I'll be shot. I'm pushing it, as it is.

A Jeffers

outfox wrote: »

Thanks AJ. I don't plan to race on it. Anyway, if I start bringing home accessories for the vintage bike, I'll be shot. I'm pushing it, as it is.

No worries!