So the three-speed is finished! This is the quintessential Cambridge bicycle. I rode it around Central Sq this evening and it feels great. So upright and proper! I’m going to start commuting on it this week and see how that goes. Here’s a photograph:

I tracked the costs, just to see how much I’d end up spending on it:

total expenses: $449.51!

the cost of basically the same bike, built by someone else: $485.00

So I didn’t save any money doing it this way—but, as Stephen says, at least I know every part of the bicycle now. Oh… I still have to buy fenders and a front basket…

Stephen and I replaced almost everything, from headset to crankset. In fact, the only thing I’m keeping is the frame and the rear hub (it’s almost 60 years old — will it hold up? cross your fingers…). The front and rear wheels are ready, but I still need to get rim tape, tubes, tyres, break cables, and some other minor stuff.

niether pup nor fogey.