02/28/2025
🌺 SHINOLA PATH RACER 🌺
This lovely (and built) Shinola frameset came to me by way of at the last year. I really wanted to do it up old school path racer style, and challenged myself to use as much as I had in the parts bin. Flip through for a good look!
I built a shiny wheel set using WORD hubs to tried and true CR18s. (Brass ni***es of course.) I did buy some polished Dia Compe long reach centerpulls, because anytime you can use centerpulls you should. I hacked together a front and rear cable hanger system (quite literally hacked the front, by drilling through my stem!)
The Beacon WCS bars are wide and shallow, perfect for this bike, and I like the contrast of them with the old drillium record levers. My trusty camo bar tape and some vintage Fujita red bar plugs are a good looking pair.
I wrapped the top tube with cotton tape, using a seamless non-overlap wrap. Two coats of shellac and rubbing it with greasy hands make it look like it’s been on there for a few dozen years. A cute brass bell, a vintage brass seat binder nut, and a broken in X2 and it hits the new / old aesthetic nicely.
This frameset is unique in that it takes 135mm rear spacing, which lets me run 42mm Rutlands with plenty of room! Some ENO cranks and freewheel, gold and trusty XT spd pedals make everything move smoothly.
I wanted to build a classy single speed that could go from city cruiser to without changing any parts. It rides wonderfully, and looks sharp to boot.
See you on the trail!
