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I’ve watched some videos on bar tape wrapping and it is an art form. As long as it doesn’t come out lumpy I’ll be happy.

Finished some component swapping. Except the planned brifters. The Sora’s will stay. They’re in good shape mechanically. The 105 calipers are a nice upgrade. They “feel” better. On the stand. All new cables while I was at it as well. Bar tape is next.

When you don’t know where to start, go back to the beginning. It was the shifter. I put the original Sora brifter back on and voila, all 8 cogs are accessible. Turns out my ignorance has cost me once again. The Shimano 105 Flight Deck ST-5500 is absolutely in fact a 3X”9” brifter. And is NOT...

I did not even think of that @JohnnyD Thanks!

It's weird. I can get it shifting like a Swiss watch through the first 7 cogs. But the biggest rear cog (8th) eludes me... I shall try it with the cable disconnected. Any chance that it could be a chain issue? It isn't worn to the 50% level yet as checked with the Park Tool chain checker.

Nope. Optical illusion with all the curves. Nothing is bent. I carefully measured and compared to my CAAD4 frame. If there are differences it’s less than half a mm. It’s a bicycle not an airplane. I just don’t know how to dial in a RD apparently….

I replaced my RD on my R400 with a 105 to match the FD. I can not get the L limit screw in adjustment. I’ve watched the Park Tool video multiple times. I do believe I’ve discovered the issue. The first step in the video is to make sure the derailleur hangar is straight. It looked straight...

The picture is of it on my bike stand. I just finished reassembling it as I just received it yesterday. It is pretty nice. If you look close enough its age does show. Needs a tune and lube. Maybe new shift cables. New brake cables for sure. And the dia compe calipers are a pain to center! I...

I am joking. It is ANOTHER Black Lightning. I needed another one to figure out how to assemble the first one. Not really. Joking again. I couldn’t help myself. Another 88 Black Lightning in my size (60cm) came up for sale after buying just a frame. Wish it would have come up for sale first. For...

Well that went together quickly and easily…

Thanks @Peat I took a look at your BL it is a dandy! I wish my paint and decals were as nice.

Verrrry Nice Black Lightning! Cheers Mate

I did some measuring of a couple of new “8” speed chains this past week. A Shimano and a Sram and I came to the conclusion they’d work fine for a 9 and maybe 10. So the reverse would probably work also. Thanks.

One bike out of the stand. Another one in. I hung some parts just for my own gratification. My ok set of bars arrived.

Quick spin through the neighborhood to check the new chain, clean, lube, tune, and different seat. All is well. Hope my Mrs. likes it….

While at my LBS yesterday getting tools, I talked chains with one of the bike mechanics. Other than KMC, which isn’t an option like @kjop mentioned, he didn’t know of any makers of gold chains. I told the mechanic about my project. He‘d never heard of a Black Lightning. He is old enough, a bit...

I sourced a Suntour Sprint 9000 derailleur set. They won’t have the gold color. But they’ll work. Chainrings I got are Suntour Superb pro (black). As of right now the only thing I’m lacking are brake cables. I don’t know interchangeability if any. And a gold chain of good quality. The only...

Paint matching for touch ups is going to be difficult. And decals…well I’ve read enough on here to know that situation isn’t very good. But I don’t expect to be entering any “show and shine” events like a classic car. The idea is to go for a ride.

The CAAD7 version was (my opinion) the pinnacle of The Black Lightning. If I’m not mistaken it is full Campagnolo. Each previous version had their own different set of components. The 88 was a mix of Suntour, Sugino and Dia-Compe. All with different levels of gold accents. Hope you get together...

A beginning. And in that beginning there was light. A heartbeat before the existence of that visible light was….. BLACK LIGHTNING!!