StreetFighter Road Bike Restoration Build - Lemond Nevada City

[@props651]

I've come back to watch this 4 or 5 times now. I've become quite addicted to collecting and rebuilding bikes. It all restarted since March 2019. This video inspired me to build a street fighter / commuter. I found myself an old '88 Schwinn Circuit with the original Sente group, minus the brake levers. I removed most of the group and left the downtube shifters. I spaced and aligned the rear to accommodate a 130 wheel spacing. Tiagra 4700 front and rear derailleurs, friction shift, flat bar. It turned out perfect.

[@Postfrogish]

It's funny to have found your "streetfighter road bike" builds just now. I've just finished a build for myself comprising of old parts and a steel road bike frame. I have always leaned towards putting mtb parts on my road bikes. This one even more so with 1x9 narrow-wide setup and a downhill straight bar with a little rise. Its great to see a kindred spirit out there.... I just love to build up these old frames and making them my own. Mostly I love to ride them hard in the streets. They're lightweight, fast and very maneuverable machines. And I can fix anything on it. I'd hate to buy more new aluminum frames when these old steel beaut's are still around.

[@oldshovel]

🙌 was totally feel the same my friend.

[@christophermiel]

What I love about your chanel is that you keep old parts from other projects and reuse them on new ones, like the Shimano 105 brakes this time.

[@christopherwebb3517]

I've watched a bunch of these bike build videos. This is definitely my favorite.

[@michaelharrisson1683]

This might be my favorite bike build on the internet

[@oldshovel]

It’s definitely one of my favorites also.

[@michaelharrisson1683]

@@oldshovel my gramps and I are r interested to know how well it's holding up ( the gun Blu/ clear coat)

[@shortcyclingtrips]

Whenever I hear myself catching my breath after a bike work out, I remind myself that's a good workout..... great build, great workout too.

[@pauldelarzac615]

Officially inspired. I built what I’m calling an “urban mtb” from a 2014 Felt 7sixty frame. Parts bin and ultra budget used parts. Had a lot of fun doing it and learned a lot. Next project I might even be brave enough to paint!

[@urbanrider429]

My favourite channel on KZbin

[@urbanrider429]

Also you inspire me to fix up and clean old bikes.

[@mikegleim5241]

Now THAT is a proper rat ride! Just the right thing to do with a classic 853 frame! Lovely

[@cd0u50c9]

The finish on that bike is absolutely fantastic..

[@blende5.693]

Fantastic , I love vintage bikes, perfekt work

[@carlitoxxe0]

OMG, goosebumps at everything! I did a light restoration to my dad's old '78 roadbike and now I can't stop riding it everywhere, so lightweight and stylish... I love it. Back to the video, I am kind of purist with these old road bikes, but your work on this one is next level. I LOVE what you did with the frame, and the flat bar is a reality check that now you can be more comfortable than those years... Seriously, awesome work!

[@nilsalbroscheit1692]

Just happened to come across a giant vintage steel "dad bike", originally a trekking bike, but I find it to be a road bike in disguise. Funny enough I decided to go for a road&mtb hybrid build yesterday - now I learned I am building something very similar to this. This video is perfect to get some valuable inspiration! Keep up your great work, greetings from Germany!

[@mattcarver7070]

As a mountain biker I find myself super attracted to this build! My fav one of yours so far!

[@erikgiggey4783]

was a bit nervous seeing a lemond frame being modified but then i remembered who was doing it, awesome job.

[@layspeed]

One of my favorite builds to date! I believe you in that those tires are probably the most costly part of this build. 😃 I really enjoy the riding parts you've added to your videos.

[@onebackzach]

I have a very similar build from a 78" Hunter road bike, but I kept the original drivetrain, and man is it a fun bike. I love how the old road bikes handle, and it's harder to take myself too seriously when I'm riding flat bars and flat pedals vs drops and being clipped in.

[@oldshovel]

Totally agree.

[@ipodgolfer13]

Is the sound of the decal plastic as satisfying in person as in the video?

[@oldshovel]

Lol. I’m not sure.

[@thefranconian6087]

Awesome build love the mix of components you used. Looks great. Tried bluing a steel bmx frame as a test, didn’t realize how quickly you need to clear coat it, I left it to sit overnight and entire thing rusted up. I had to re-sand and start over, wound up painting it. Will try again on another project, this build is the inspiration! 🙌

[@aidanoc19]

I saw a Le Mond of a very similar style and vintage just this week near my home in South Wales. Very classy looking bikes, what a great build.

[@johnnydoe66]

I think the bluing of frames is my favorite finish you've done, especially with a hint of color.

[@jonmopar7917]

Yay an OldShovel video! Christmas arrived early. Great video Rob!! Happy holidays to all my fellow bike lovers!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks John

[@steventharalson]

You should do a video just on how you remove paint from a frame. Is it just hours of sanding or do you use a chemical agent as well? The welds have always been what get me.

[@hareebalzak3681]

I second this

[@MrJonas2255]

Wire wheel attachment on a drill can help get the tricky spots

[@oldshovel]

I’ve tried chemicals and don’t like them much. On this one I just did hours of sanding while thinking I need to get a sand blast cabinet that fits a bike frame…😁

[@steventharalson]

@@oldshovel the easiest solution always ends up being the most expensive

[@JohnPilling25]

I get my frames blasted at a local powder coating shop. $25 a frame and there is absolutely no paint left. Then 400-600-800 wet sand. It’s worth it.

[@anielyantra1]

I love watching your builds! 1x's are definitely the way to go. I prefer toeclips, friction thumb shifters, and I cut a 600mm down to 555mm.

[@LuisVazquezS]

Saludos desde España, que bicicleta más bonita le ha quedado, es usted un maestro restaurador. Gracias

[@hardtailjefe]

Man that Bluing really set it off! Love it

[@reberlin]

I was watching and saying to my self how cool would a Lemond look blued! Bravo!!!

[@AdamQueen]

Mind to share the chain install procedure? It's pretty different from the common method used in Shimano 1x/2x docs, which is large chainring + largest sprocket + 2~4 links. The final result looks good and seems to have less stress on the RD.

[@oldshovel]

I just set the chain initially to the most links that work on the smallest rear cog and front chain ring that engages the rear derailleur sufficiently. If after that I need to shorten it I haven’t gone too far too soon. It can also slow me to go to a bigger rear cassette without swapping the chain.

[@easye97401]

As a guy with and old 80’s road bike who has wanted to do this since I got it last year thank you for the video.

[@evgenyuspenyev7887]

I love the way you ran shifting cable through the left frame guide so whole front end now looks really neat and natural,cheers

[@quijadriss7650]

So I was watching this ony phone while cleaning up around the house. I was convinced you put the bike in the fire at the beginning. Had to go back and rewatch. Thought you were tempering the steel or something.

[@oldshovel]

Lol 😂

[@bosanderspublictheology]

Great watch. Thank you. I almost skipped this one but in the first 30 sec your smirk let me know that you were up to something ! I have to admit that I was really digging that lime green when you starting blueing and I did not have the vision at that point. Glad you are a sort of genius when it come to layer and paint. Turned out great.

[@isaachazim3589]

Didn't think I would like this build, but end result looks awesome ! ( Bars a little to wide for me. ) 👍 Love your work. Bikes and axes !

[@oldshovel]

I had first tried (in an initial mock up of the bike) some 560 bars but they seemed too narrow, I had these 720 bars that at first I thought would be too big, I wanted something around 660 ish but now hat it’s been built it feels awesome and feels more like my mtb builds.

[@Korina42]

@@oldshovel Do you actually find straight bars comfortable? I've tried it, and after five minutes my shoulders, elbows, and wrists start complaining. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. Beautiful and innovative build, as always.

[@Repiiv88]

@@Korina42 Maybe try some ergonomic handlebar grips, my hands still numb after long rides but wrist and shoulder okay.

[@Korina42]

@@Repiiv88 Nope, I'm happy with my swept bars that keep my hands & arms in a more natural position. Thanks, though. :-)

[@donl3248]

I have a LeMond Zurich that I built and use for triathlons 15 years ago. I need to get it out again.

[@glennpettersson9002]

The shots above the city are amazing 😯

[@clauderose9507]

I love Vintage Frame steel Awesome 👏👏

[@filibertosantiago5701]

Tengo una Lemond idéntica desde hace 16 años. La utilice muchos años todos los días y aún la tengo muy bien conservada. Saludos y buenas rodadas desde Cd de México!

[@aaronbruckelmeyer]

I have an old late 60s early 70s Juventus Bergamo frame in brown that I put a 3 speed 26" IGH on. Running a 54/22 gearset on it with the original wedged crankset. Might have to replace my wedged crankset for the 44 tooth sealed bearing BB and add a flat bar and some gravel tires to it if I can find some in 26" diameter.. any recommendations?

[@irvhh143]

Too beautiful to actually use on the street.

[@tyler.london]

Makes me miss mine. 1992 Panasonic PICS frameset with polished everything, 650b rims, 38c Panaracer GravelKing tires. It was such a headturner

[@btafurious]

I just picked up a '97 LeMond at a pawn shop for a song. I was already planning to strip and blue the frame. You sir have shown me that I should follow through. I am a leather worker however so I plan to give the seat a new look and whip the bars with leather strap

[@26ozkan]

Beautiful as always. I really like how you do harmonize the classic and the modern equipments on your projects. Styling with decals and painting, in an artistic way in a fluent asmr kind video, awesome.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

The value of things. Maybe where you are those frames aren't worth much but living here in the Philippines that frame alone would easily fetch $300 . It's a cool looking build, I really want to try the blue finish on my own projects now, but maybe better suited to a no name frame. A LeMond 853 tubed frame surely deserved a better fate?....drop bars forever 🤟✌️

[@oldshovel]

Don’t get me wrong the Lemond frames are valued over here, on eBay or on the local classifies $300 would be a fair price to pay for it. The Salt Lake Bicycle Collective has bikes, frames and parts at a low price helping to encourage biking.

[@cristianlozasaravia6994]

Exelente trabajo mi amigo. Tengo una consulta la horquilla es 1" o 1" 1/8. Saludos desde Perú

[@oldshovel]

1”

[@AlexdaCunha]

The frame is awesome!!!

[@jasonyates3311]

I'm wondering how much of the liquid blue was required for the whole frame and fork, if just one of the 3oz bottles (at ~$8 each) it could be fun to try, I'd be curious how it held up under the clear on this build...

[@oldshovel]

I’m still on my first bottle of super blue and I’ve done 3 and a half bikes and several axes and tools with it. It does not take much. On this build I did just one application though. On the club ride gift bike it did 3 and then did 6 coats of clear. Both the gift bike and this one have been ridden a lot and the clear coat is holding up well.

[@darreningle7618]

True artistry. I have an old Trek 2000 that I ride as is but would love to do something like this with it.

[@alancastro4134]

What a brilliant idea, Its simple and rare. Nice one, oldshovel...

[@mikegeary8056]

That’s what I’m talking about. That is a fun whip right there

[@oldshovel]

Totally. I can’t wait to get out on it again.

[@danielmagana5125]

A brand new bike after a well performed transformation… Cheers from NYC

[@MaximvanWijk]

I love the look of raw steel. I once had a steel frame sanded and clear coated. It looked fabulous, but in time specs of rust started to show all over the frame. Apparently, the clear coat I had used didn't seal enough to protect the raw steel. Make sure you protect this beauty well!

[@SHWELL11]

I have yet to build one of these that isnt extremely twitchy compared to oem ride.. And I love building and riding them.. My next one will be a Streetfighter Gravel aka Dirt Fighter..

[@henryoddsball2164]

Turned out great! Looks like a fun ride

[@gregmerner3632]

Whoooo that bike is the HOTNESS. Nice work!

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

That really is a lovely bike.

[@Raleighthechocolatelab]

Awesome choice on the levers!

[@johnyork6955]

I think this might be my favorite build you’ve done! 😊

[@jackhenrykotnik1593]

Awesome work! What is your rec for vintage decals and/or custom decals? Restoring an old steel frame Bianchi Tangent and have found most of the old Bianchi decals but no "Tangent." Any suggestions?

[@BernieHoule]

I love that finish! I will try that on my next steel build.

[@BloodyClash]

What a beautiful bike. And yes: the frame color looks just awesome. Just the handlebars look like they can become painfull after a long trip

[@The6698Clown]

Hi! I love this build and am trying to emulate it. I know you have a list for some of the parts in the description, but could I ask for a complete parts list?

[@rodjonsson813]

a while back I gave up on the new bikes and went back to riding my 90s steel bike. i've collected 3 lemonds since. after the cf and disk brake experiment has passed, we might look back on lug-less steel with 1" steerer as a zenith in design

[@robertmyers5269]

Nice video. I did a bike conceptually similar this year, and I was fun watching your build. I had a '70s vintage Jack Taylor tourer that I never liked the handing of, but liked the general setup of. I transferred most of the parts to a frame of mine (I used to build, also '70s vintage 2x5 gear, 120mm hub). New brakes, new 32mm Gatorskins, and I now have a good handling 'round town flattie.

[@jjonesmtb]

Hope you are making a museum for all of your builds!

[@BanjoLuke1]

This is an excellent build. It will be both useful and huge fun. I love the way recent evolutionary steps in chain/sprocket/shifter design rendered feasible many more gear set-ups. This will be am excellent street warrior. I confess (although they lack a little lightness) I prefer a modded hybrid or rigid-fork MTB in this rôle, as the frame allows a fatter tyre and the brakes are normally a more effective Canti or linear-pull type. But caliper brakes are not a crime either, and this will be a wicked toy. Chapeau.

[@markianwoodbury]

Man - I've seen you do the bluing a few times, but on the Lemond it looks incredible. The care, patience and excitement you show for these older bikes is fantastic. Thank you for the content and the hard work.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

I used to have those CODA (dia-compe) brake levers. I had used them back in the late '90's on my Cannondale CAAD 3. They look great, but are pretty flexy.

[@joebikeguy6669]

Very, very nice job. Plus I learned a few things about decal application.

[@767bob]

This came out great looking, Love It! I’ve built up many bikes in my life and your videos is like watching a Bob Ross painting in action.

[@ElFurioso]

You could start using and angle grinder with a wire brush to remove the paint. Way easier than sand paper.

[@kolian98]

Awesome pain job , as usual .I did simular build with flat wide bars and Lemond Zurich frame and was finding that frame had too much flex while pedalling from that long leverage of wide bars ,so had go with shorter bars.

[@pierrorider]

Awesome look but won't the frame rust where there is only clear coat ?

[@zdravo4]

Hello and thank you for this very nice and great video. The color and label thing looks great for me.

[@kevinbagukchannel]

please make a video on how to remove paint because i like restoring old bicycles

[@sebkombley]

Juste magnifique cette transformation !

[@josemiguelcanales]

woaahh i really really like that blueing finnishing!!

[@davetbassbos]

The end result looks awesome, I would love that as a commuter!

[@jmsaltzman]

This is my kind of bike, love the blued steel look esp with the Reynolds masking :)

[@camdaddymcpimperson]

Love the song and the bike.

[@YerDad632]

Such a rad build! I love seeing lemond frames getting turned into cool rigs and getting a new lease on life!

[@emilysrokagrove]

I love the bluing soooo much!

[@ozenfant_ozn]

this is totally epic!! love the blueing! and i bet that's a quick ride on tarmac..!

[@MarcDuchesne]

Truly awesome build. Thanks for the ideas, especially this raw frame.

[@Jaydad4701]

Thank you sharing! I think this is my favorite build you’ve done so far , ride safe and enjoy that bad boy!

[@Sir_Arlin]

I was so excited to see a Lemond in your last video- Im so pleased to see youve brought a Lemond back into service again, they really are great bikes, probably the best production steel bikes ever made. nowdays to get a similar quality steel frame your option is a custom bike. it looks fantastic, well done!!!

[@bigmikeshooter]

Another great job. Greetings from Greece...

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks

[@johnthemainguy9059]

Great bike! I especially love the blued steel frame. I would have cut the handlebars way, way shorter, but I'm an old school East Coast guy. 😎 Keep up the great work!

[@miniac60]

Such a gorgeous bike build! The width of those bars, try shooting any gaps in NYC traffic!

[@dominicwalker9947]

Really dig what you do.

[@cgrocho47]

I recently did a very similar build with my 631 Bianchi Imola. Same 1x10 SRAM X9, but with riser bars and 28c Schwalbe Marathons. My around town bike.

[@tjohnson200]

Stunning. Well done.

[@Серпантин-к2э]

Hello. I love these bikes.

[@loganswartzentruber2744]

Performs well. Very pleased

[@cubic11]

hows the performance of the gravel kings 28c on the dirt road? really awesome build by the way really a big fan on turning the blue of the lemond into something raw!

[@oldshovel]

Totally! The gravel kings were great except on the soft loose deep gravel then they were totally scary😳 but all around super fun.

[@fredschwarz9502]

Nice build. Spectacular headlight!

[@bikenraider99]

Nice video. I love Lemonds, much my better half's dismay. I turned my Nevada City into a Campy Record all arounder.

[@saidcidsaid]

Woww felicidades... quedo buenísima!

[@grumpynerd]

I'm glad you kept the original fork. I'd consider trying narrower flat bars -- it's easy enough to swap. Back in the pre-suspension mountain bike days bars got very narrow and head angles were steep; that's because you couldn't roll over everything, quick handling was prized. The same logic applies to a flat bar gravel bike, I think, and since you're using an old road frame you're stuck with the steep head tube angle anyway.

[@richardcunningham5540]

What a stunner!

[@Hallerov]

I love this bike! 😍

[@totsamyaleks]

Awesome) The metal of the frame looks brutal, but everything together looks elegant and light)