Hi,
I'm a new list member. I've been silent for about a week, but decided it's time to introduce myself. I'm not an expert or even very knowledgeable like many on the list. But I'm interested and glad to be along with all of you for the ride (so to speak).
I've got a vintage 1974 Jack Taylor (beautiful black and white with the classic Jack Taylor box pin-stripes). I purchased the frame new in the summer of 1974 (I still have to original receipt!) when I was working in a bike shop in Chicago during college. I built it up with a motley assortment of parts I either had on hand or could afford as a poor college student. I scrounged up a Campy headset and seatpost, built wheels with the original version (and very sweet) large flange Dura-Ace hubs and Weinmann 27 x 1 & 1/8" rims, splurged on the first version Dura-Ace brakes (real beauties -- even 28 years later!), settled for a Shimano Crane rear derailleur, Sun-Tour front derailleur, and Sugino Mighty Comp crankset and BB, and added Sun-Tour's excellent bar-end shifters, a Brooks Pro saddle, etc. Over the years, I eventually replaced the Dura-Ace brake grips with Shimano 600 (they were nearly identical to the original "drilled" Dura-Ace, but for the 600 logo) when I took a spill and broke one of the Dura-Ace ones, and I had to replace the Sun-Tour bar-end shifters with newer Shimano ones when the Sun-Tours ceased to work properly. Otherwise the bike was as I built it 28 years ago, until this year.
Last summer I began to get back into cycling after many years with no more than casual rides with family and friends. By fall I decided to challenge myself and did my first ever century ride. There I was riding the Vermont roads on my 28 year old 10 speed trying to keep up with a very friendly crew of younger folks with modern 18 to 27 speed equipment. I did all right -- I felt very proud of making it to the end. But I decided I'd like to try some of the newer stuff. The local bike shop told me it would cost $700 to $800 to buy and install all the modern parts needed. Way more than I was willing to spend.
So this spring I went to a bike swap and bought an eight year old bike with 14 spd Shimano 105 SIS index shifting equipment in excellent condition for $125. I dug out my old bike tools and went to work. I stripped the Jack Taylor bare. It had very badly chipped paint after 28 years use, so I did the best I could touching up the paint at home (It looks fine -- from about ten feet away!). I swapped on the 105 drivetrain and wheels, but kept the original top-side equipment.
The bike was fine before, but what a nice enhancement the newer stuff is. I love it! It's a new ride again. I've never had index shifting before and despite my initial skepticism, I like it. And even after all these years, the frame still has great feel and is relatively easy on my middle-aged body. I just took an excellent ride today with the Green Mountain Bike Club through the Warren-Waitsfield area. Nice.
Some day I may restore my Jack Taylor; who knows? But for now I'm more interested in continuing to use it as my regular ride -- which means newer components -- than I am in keeping it original. If I eventually restore it, I'll probably do it all vintage Campy (as I would have liked to have built it originally, if I could have afforded it), or all vintage Dura-Ace, or a mix of the two, rather than re-install my original parts -- I'd welcome comments on this.
For me, getting a newer bike is both not necessary and not a realistic option. I have very long legs (I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam) which is what led me to buy the Jack Taylor frame in the first place. It is a true 26" frame which would be what, about a 66cm frame in today's sizing? Where would I get one of those without going to a custom frame builder and spending a fortune? And besides, everything I hear, including on the CR list, suggests my Jack Taylor Reynolds 531 double-butted steel frame with Nervex lugs and campy drop-outs is every bit as good as I could buy today for the kind of touring and distance riding I do.
My Jack Taylor is well-used (I have no idea how many miles I've put on in 28 years), has a well worn and badly touched up paint job (but its original beauty still shines through!), and it has a few dings. But it's straight and true and still a great ride.
That's my Jack Taylor story. Thanks for listening.
By the way does anyone know where I can get a complete set of Jack Taylor decals for my future restoration job?
David White
Burlington, Vermont