Vanmoof No. 3

Vanmoof No. 3 spotted near the Bike Boom shop. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.
I have seen this unique Vanmoof a few times but only managed to take photos of it recently as I was shoppping for groceries in Porter square. Vanmoof is a dutch company making dutch style urban bicycles  with aluminum frames and unique features such as the integrated front and rear lights in the oversized top tube. they also have another bike the Vanmoof No. 5 with an integrated lock. both of these bikes have a solar powered LED light system built in the tubes and they can also be charged using a USB cable. WOW!
I think this is their OTT or over the top model with the 3 speed shimano nexus transmision, coaster brake, and roller brake in the front.
With Trek integrating bicycle computer sensors in their frames and shimano's DI2systems, it seems like the bicycle world is finally embracing technology. I wonder how well these gizmos will survive years of use (or lack of) and whether they will be adopted by other bicycle manufacturers. 

late 80's Schwinn Paramount

Welcome to the Bike Boom blog. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bike repair services.
Today we chose to show a beautiful bike that belongs to a fellow biker who came by the shop to inquire about a "snow bike". In Boston, it's quite common for bikers to have a nice bike for the sunny months and a winter beater for the snowy, freezing salty, grimy months. When you own a bike of this caliber you can appreciate why it's smart to buy another one to ride only 3 or 4 months a year.
This red beauty is a waterford made schwinn paramount made with columbus SLX tubing and fully equipped with vintage Dura ace, according to the owner, he pieced it together from parts he found on the web, mainly Ebay. Paramount was schwinn's high quality division for many years until in 1992 schwinn lost it's assets including the paramount name. More about schwinn paramounts from the waterford website , form sheldon brown here and classic rendevouz here. I forgot to ask the year and model but I think it's a late 80's, early nineties model. 

1990 Trek 330

Are you looking to repair this bike?

Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 

Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 

We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Parts list for 1990 Trek 330

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Tape (for handlebar): https://amzn.to/2Pui9FM

Rear Wheel (good) https://amzn.to/2PRn7wF

Rear Wheel (better) https://amzn.to/2M2l2wI

Front Wheel (good) https://amzn.to/38IK1ip

Front Wheel (better) https://amzn.to/2rJm6in

Tires: https://amzn.to/2RyE41x (similar look, basic casual use):  (choose 700x25)

Tires: https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling):  (choose 700x25)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/2qv5J8e

Rear Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose direct attachment)
Rear Derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/355knC6 (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (Basic, choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Crank: https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ 

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC 

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/2LZrNzo (Improved performance and wet/cold

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/35uStQh (casual use)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/38gCY05

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2E1gu5y

Brake levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc 

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn (basic, casual street riding,)

Saddle: https://amzn.to/2Yt2R8u (light weight high performance)

Handlebar: https://amzn.to/2LCgH34 (choose 25.4 clamp)

Stem: https://amzn.to/38mMmiL (choose 80mm length x 25.4 clamp)

1990 Trek 330 bike we refurbished here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bike repair services.

Here's the original brochure from vintage-trek.com a great website for info on classic steel treks.

We replaced the rear wheel, seat, bottom bracket, crankset (shimano 105) and the brake hoods and the standard stuff, tires, brake pads, chain and cables. it has a nice indexed handlebar shifter which was popular in that era and works great, I wish we could get these today. Even though it was is an entry level trek, it has  a Tange chromoly double butted frame.It is very light and nimble and gives a great ride especially due to the upgraded crankset. It was bought by a guy who's girlfriend bought a road bike from us earlier in the season. really nice couple. 

1984 or 1985 Shogun 1500 touring

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)Beautiful Shogun 1500 touring bike we refurbished Here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer competitively priced bike repair services. 

Shogun was a bicycle company who operated during the 80's and manufactured bikes in japan to be sold strictly in the US, similar to Takara, Univega and many others.

A classic touring bike with a long wheel base and multiple brazeons for carrying heavy weight. Bicycle touring was very popular in the late 70's and early 80's. Every respectable brand built touring bikes at that era some of the famous models include the Trek 520, 620 and 720,miyata six ten and one thousand, univega grand tourismo, and motobecane grand touring, but also the raleigh alyeska, Bridgestone RB-T, T500 and T700. What makes a touring bike different from a road bike? the long wheel base and relaxed geometry plus a heavy duty frame, rear hub and rim which usually had a higher spoke count. In the early 80's they were the first bikes to be equipped with a triple crankset. Later, towards 1984, with the introduction of cantilever brakes, all  touring bikes were equipped with them to allow the use of fenders and wider tires. This beautiful, very good condition shogun 1500 had the Tange 2 chromoly tubing, and came with the shimano Deer head group which basically was the first shimano Deore XT (700 series). Bought from a gentleman who toured with it across Europe in the late 80's and decided to sell since he wasn't using it anymore. 

Very cool bike, bought by a Belgian students who came to study for a semester in Harvard.   

1986 Nishiki Olympic

A very unique Nishiki olympic we refurbished here at bike boom. More information about nishiki here and here If you're not familiar, Bike boom is a used bicycles shop in somerville MA, close to Cambridge and Boston. the bike has a 27" rear wheel and 24" front wheel to accomodate the 46cm frame. In the late 80's and early 90's many small bikes were produced in this manner mainly because the lugs used to make the small bikes were identical to larger ones. the size of the frame would mainly change according to length of tube but the lugs dimensions and geometry remained the same. Since there is just not enough room and toe clearance for a standard size road wheel, builders had to use a smaller wheel. later, in the late 90's and today, the slanted top tube and compact design were introduced due to the enhanced use of TIG welding which allowed many more versatile bicycle geometries. Terry is also famous for using this funny bike or clown bike geometry and small front wheels as they were marketed for women who often need smaller sized bikes.

.

1987 Lotus Excelle

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Beautiful Lotus Excelle, Ishiwata triple butted chromoly lugged frame.

Lotus was an american brand selling japanese made bikes (Tsunada and Ishiwata), to be sold only in the US, similar to Shogun, Univega and many others.More about lotus here and a 1981 catalogue here, and a great lotus fan page here.

they started making bikes in the late 70's and stopped in the late 80's. they are usually mid to high end bikes and this is a beautiful example. sold to a student in boston college who came with his friend, who bought a Fuji del rey. 

Mid nineties GT Force

Pretty rare bike from GT, before they were bought by Pacific who owns schwinn as well

GT were and still are well known for their unique looking triple triangle frames, featured on their mountain bikes.

Early welded aluminum triple triangle frame with an 80's road bike geometry and chromoly fork.

We refurbished it with new tires and tubes and new lines and were even able to find an original 3 speed RSX shifter since the one that came on it was broken. pretty common on Early shimano STI systems 

The bike has full Shimano RSX group, even the hubs. From an era where bikes were equipped with full groups from shimano, Not like nowadays where only the Derailers and sometimes the shifters are shimano and the rest is cheaper or lower quality brands, especially on the more expensive parts like the shifters and crankset. RSX was later discontinued and replaced by sora and tiagra which are of much less quality. 

RSX had also relatively small Chain rings, the largest being 46 teeth. 

We also installed the rack for the customer who was looking to replace a beat up Univega. 

A very nice and light bike overall.