Rain more than not recently, and I’d been tripping over a set of 650B appropriate fenders that came home with the Quickbeam. Upon getting some time one evening, I began installing them onto the Zeus.
At first it seemed that the paint was interfering with the mounting
bolts, but upon closer inspection, I found that given the opportunity
to use a standard size thread, the hecho-ers in Espana wisely chose a
unique size. I prowled through a couple good hardware stores with no
luck, and then made my way out to Sunshine Bicycles in Fairfax, CA.
After digging through their “bulk and forlorn” dump drawer, they
encouraged me to bring the thing in and get it tapped in a standard
size.
The following day I did just that - a task performed flawlessly and for
moderate cost. They were also able to spread the seat tube “ears” a
bit, allowing the Zeus 25.8 mm seatpost (another standard size, believe
me…) which I’d found to be installed. Another evening later, and the
Zeus now sports a set of natty fenders. Also installed the Soma
toeclips and stylin’ yellow straps I got for a present. Not quite sure
about them right now - they seem suprisingly tricky to get into, but it
might just be the way I have the straps rigged.
I’ve got to do something about the reach - it’s way too short.
I’m leaning towards a moustache bar, as that plus a more recent (and
possibly longer) stem would push everything forward a bit. I managed to
find an inexpensive set of mafac brake levers, so it’ll still have that
old school look.
The bike looks much more finished with the fenders, for some reason
particularly clean to my eye in the area of the brakes. Maybe
it’s just that every other bicycle I have and see use sidepulls, v’s or
canti’s, but the centerpull looks integrated and balanced. (Yeah,
I need to get a photo or two in place…) I’ll probably add the
Planet Bike silver rear rack which I won this weekend - just need to
dig some clamp bolts out of the parts bin (which I upended recently,
hence an organizational step lies before me…)