What Pleased You Today!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Thanks Carl and Ray. 

[oldscool]

Took a day trip from Jacksonville to Ocala and back today. Very enjoyable drive. No idiots tried to wreck me for a change and stayed off the Interstate. Took US 17  down and 301 back. Recommended for those who like short road trips.

[John1955]

This may sound minor, but what pleased me today was seeing some prices actually lowered at my grocery store. Most prices had been going up slightly in the last few months, so seeing beef and pork prices back to normal did please me. And the store offered eggs for 79 cents a dozen (large size) when you purchased $25 worth of other groceries (limit: 2 dozen at that price). I love eggs. 

And finally, it also pleased me that locally grown peaches have ripened now and are plentiful and 99 cents a pound. The weather here has been nearly perfect this year for area farmers, and that's meant big harvests and low prices. Unfortunately it also means I'm eating too much fresh fruits and vegetables. That would be healthy except that I'm making a pig of myself. 
 

[89AKurt]

I was pleased to clean up this 1970 Raleigh Chopper today.  Acquired it about 35 years ago, when I worked a short time at a bicycle shop, someone brought it in asking about fixing the bent gooseneck, I asked to buy it.  I had a 5 speed with high sissy bar, when I was a kid.  Wish I didn't trash it riding in the desert, it was before BMX bikes came out, today they are worth some money.  Not this one, it's the same condition as my pickup.  It's been hanging from the rafters of my shop, almost hurt myself getting it down, weighs a ton because zero aluminum was used.   Fabricated a chain guard from a range front I scavenged, goes with the cheapskate theme of the pickup.  Have a car show coming up beginning of August, wanted to accessorize.

[TonyK]

Your pickup and bike bring back some memories for me. Interesting little mirrors on the pickup.

[Tom Geiger]

8 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I was pleased to clean up this 1970 Raleigh Chopper today. 

I’m jealous!  I’ve been looking for a decent Chopper for years! This is me on Christmas Day 1969 with my new Chopper.

This orange one got stolen and I replaced it with a yellow one. My sister got a red girls model.

They were stored in my fathers garage. I was severely upset when I found out he gave them away! I definitely wanted to keep it!

There is a big restoration following for these today. You can get nearly anything including the decals and new seats. The chain guard is easy to find.

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Tom Geiger

[Snake45]

Kurt, that bike is just BADASS! Reminds me I have an early '70s 5-speed Sting Ray that needs a new seat, rear tire, and some cleanup to look great. Bought it at a yard sale for $35 back in the '80s and I've seen similar stuff going for 10X that on eBay lately. 

[89AKurt]

6 hours ago, TonyK said:

Your pickup and bike bring back some memories for me. Interesting little mirrors on the pickup.

Hope good memories!  A friend got a motorcycle, got billet mirrors, gave them to me.  Enough convex curve to be useful.

5 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

I’m jealous!  I’ve been looking for a decent Chopper for years! This is me on Christmas Day 1969 with my new Chopper.

This orange one got stolen and I replaced it with a yellow one. My sister got a red girls model.

They were stored in my fathers garage. I was severely upset when I found out he gave them away! I definitely wanted to keep it!

There is a big restoration following for these today. You can get nearly anything including the decals and new seats. The chain guard is easy to find.

Very cool to see a picture.  Total bummer about losing so many!  I've learned what a following they have, didn't know.  My bike would require major restoration, the frame is slightly sagged, chrome fenders and rims very rusty, etc.

5 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Kurt, that bike is just BADASS! Reminds me I have an early '70s 5-speed Sting Ray that needs a new seat, rear tire, and some cleanup to look great. Bought it at a yard sale for $35 back in the '80s and I've seen similar stuff going for 10X that on eBay lately. 

Thanks Richard!  My older brother had a Sting Ray.  Shoot, everything on eBay is ridiculous now, need to be lucky.

[cobraman]

Just saw one of those bikes on the bay. Asking over a grand for it.

[426 pack]

Test fitted the first of the two front frame rails that I’ve been working on for the past month for my 71 Plymouth valiant, the car has a sunroof and has sat for the past 20 years so the original frame rails were very bad.

the new frame rail, it’s 2X4 1/8” tubing with a 1/8” plate on one side. 

the original frame rail. 

[slusher]

It’s rewarding work. I alway enjoyed it and always had the radio going..

[slusher]

Had a wonderful day with my 17year old son.  We had a lot of laughs and took him to hobby lobby. Teaching him about cars and older music I like. Just a great hump day..

[89AKurt]

Local long-time bike shop got the Chopper running good.  The 3-speed hub was full of gunk and a broken spring, he had the parts and knowledge to get it to shift.  He also replaced the brake cables and routed them correctly, with a flex noodle added.  They also had tires in stock that aren't knobbies, I looked on eBay and found some in Australia for stupid money plus stupid shipping, so am very pleased.  Shop owner enjoyed working on it, brought back good memories.

So of course took more pictures.  Cruised around Prescott's Plaza, because it's level ? and makes a good city setting.

Stopped at the skate park too, to see how the tonnage spins in the air. ?

Just kidding, no way would I attempt that!

[Snake45]

Very cool! Kurt, for some reason your bike always reminds me of this car: 

[cobraman]

That is one of the cooler bikes from back in the day.

[espo]

Great looking bike restoration. 

[TonyK]

Didn't they offer a "slick" tire for the rear back then? Seem to remember that. Wouldn't want to ride it in the rain.

[Dave Ambrose]

8 hours ago, TonyK said:

Didn't they offer a "slick" tire for the rear back then? Seem to remember that. Wouldn't want to ride it in the rain.

Yes, they did. Us kids in CA, where it never rains during summer had them. 

[slusher]

Kurt,  fantastic looking bike ?…

[TonyK]

Updating my "irked" subject about Salvino's wanting me to pay $10 to replace a cracked window in their kit......They said they had mixed up my replacement window with a guy who broke his window so never mind about the charge.

[Snake45]

54 minutes ago, TonyK said:

Updating my "irked" subject about Salvino's wanting me to pay $10 to replace a cracked window in their kit......They said they had mixed up my replacement window with a guy who broke his window so never mind about the charge.

That's some Olympic-level back-pedaling right there! 

Anyway, glad it all worked out for you. Model on! 

[slusher]

5 hours ago, TonyK said:

Updating my "irked" subject about Salvino's wanting me to pay $10 to replace a cracked window in their kit......They said they had mixed up my replacement window with a guy who broke his window so never mind about the charge.

That makes more sense. 

[oldscool]

I got a new part time job.? Not working at all was just too boring.

[NYLIBUD]

So my wife asked me to grab a few things at the supermarket today,and I found this .So I Had to buy it,and I gotta give it to the people at the “Post”cereal company to come up with this….And I gotta say it actually tastes a lot like the cereal.Fruity Pebbles ice cream,yes ice cream.?Yum!!!

[OldTrucker]

On 7/23/2021 at 10:00 AM, TonyK said:

Didn't they offer a "slick" tire for the rear back then? Seem to remember that. Wouldn't want to ride it in the rain.

It was fun on the ice here in IL in the winter!LOL