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Fuji Team Issue Build

At the same time that I got the Miyata 210 frame, I purchased a Fuji Team Issue frame with a front fork.  The frame and fork were carbon fiber and had been listed as being repaired.  Since the seller was a bike shop with a very good rating, I crossed my fingers and hoped it would be ok.  From the pictures nothing seemed to be wrong with it.  And when I received it, everything was fine.  This is the frame that I intend to use as the basis for a bike that I would ride in the neighborhood with my family.  Here is a picture of the frame from the eBay listing and a picture of a complete 2008 model.

This build is a nod to the Fuji Finest that I liked back in the 70s.  This build turned out pretty well.

While I still intend on adding the toe clips and straps that I have on hand, the build is pretty much completed.  I didn’t do a build using original components.  I mixed and matched components that I thought would work well.  One component that I didn’t go with, was standard drop handlebars.  This was due to the negative effect that bending down while gripping them would have on my lower back.  So I opted to use Wald 870 high rise handlebars which would allow me to sit fairly upright.  I paired up some Dia-Compe DC188 brake levers (with matching handle grips) along side the Wald 870 handlebar.  Topping that off that setup with an IRD Power Ratchet Thumb Shifter set.  I included a number of Campagnolo components in the build.  The front and rear brakes are Campagnolo Centaur Dual Pivot Caliper brakes.  The front and rear derailleurs are Campagnolo Racing T derailleurs.  Both of the wheels were built using Campagnolo hubs with Mavic CXP Pro 15mm rims.  The tires are 700-28c Panarace Gravel Kings.  I used Velo Orange Cable sets for the brakes and derailleurs.  The saddle is a Fuji Velo which is on a generic compression seat tube.  The seat tube along with a 90mm Cirrus Cycles Suspension Stem dampens the bumps a bit.  The bottom bracket is an IRD QB-55 (127.5mm x 68mm) with English Threads.  The crankset is a triple from a Fuji S10S (most likely from the 80s).  I used a pair of MKS Sylvan Touring (Black and Silver) pedals.  To finish off the bike I used a kickstand that attached to the bike using the quick release on the rear wheel.  The frame, saddle, and crankset all say Fuji on them.

I will be exclusively riding around the roads in my neighborhood.  I don’t intended to ride the bike on the open roads.  It is too bad the roads in my neighborhood aren’t paved, but it is what it is.

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My Miyata 210 310 build

I intended to use a Miyata 210 frame that I got from eBay for a bike build/restoration.  My reason behind a Miyata build, was to pay homage to my first bicycle, a Miyata Sunrise Sport.  But things didn’t go well for my intended Miyata 210 build.  I have been using a freight forwarder in the Miami Florida area to send eBay purchases to me in Chile. When I received the frame in early September, I gave it a quick glance. There was some cardboard around front fork for shipping. But things had come up during that time and I did have the time to really look at the frame. So at the end of December I completely took the frame out of the box and remove the cardboard around the front fork.  There was some cardboard between the fork tips to keep them separated.  I also purchased the original wheels for the frame and started to put the wheels on the frame.  I put the rear wheel on and it seemed fine.  I put the front wheel on and something was seriously wrong.  The fork arms were bent!  I looked at the frame and discovered that not only were the fork arms bent, it seems the frame was bent at the head tube too.

  

Looking at the packing box, it didn’t look like there was any damage to it.  But it kind of looked pushed in on one side.  But really not that bad.

The fork was installed in the frame and it was turned so the front of the arms were pointing backwards.  It seems that something fell on the front end of the frame where the fork is, causing the fork arms and head tube to bend.  From the original pictures of frame on eBay, everything looked fine.  Looking at the frame now, you can see areas on the fork and the head tube when the paint cracked from when the fork and head tube were bent.  Since it had been too long since I received the frame, I can’t really do anything about it.  I didn’t spend a lot for the frame, but still.  I did contact the freight forwarder but they said they could not do anything about it since I didn’t have it packed in a wooden crate (according to the fine print).  I did have them add extra bubble wrap, but that wasn’t good enough.  I really don’t know if it was damaged when it arrived in Miami or in Chile.  The freight forwarder doesn’t do a good enough job of noticing if items are damaged.  Their customer service was lacking too.  Plus they didn’t consolidate your packages either.  I have since changed to a new freight forwarder that has good customer service and consolidates packages.  Plus I can get insurance on my items shipped to me here in Chile.  So all around a better company.

Since I couldn’t use the frame or fork anymore, I went to eBay to see if I could find suitable replacements.  I was able to pick up a Miyata 310 frame, but it didn’t have a front fork.  So I picked up a front fork from eBay too.  It wasn’t from a Miyata, but it is new and fully chromed.  So it will be a nice touch.  This frame also happens to be a 1981 model like the 210 frame.  Both serial numbers start with the letter J which is for the year 1981.  After looking at the frame, I determined that it was ok.  Some minor scratches, but it is in good shape without any bends.

I removed all of the parts from the frame including the headset cups.  Next I will have to remove any stickers.  Can’t sandblast the stickers from the frame.  I also need to remove the Miyata head badge from the frame.

By the way, the 1981 Miyata 310 frames have that geometry of 73 degrees by 73 degrees that I mentioned in my last post.  The color of the frame is Burgundy which is one of the 3 colors available for the 310 in 1981. That’s it for now.