so...couldn't find pure white handlebar tape in red deer or calgary, so i had to settle with the black/white split. it seems to work because i also couldn't find white cable housing and ended up with black, so it's a three colour deal.
first time out on the sekine medialle. now, the jeremy bouw blue and white something or another. went to calgary today, bow cycle, to get white handlebar tape, but none was available. the thing i have learned about this process is that the little things matter. and white handlebar tape matters.
so.....still trying to get good at the spray paint approach. i think for the next bike i will try something different, especially if going with two colours. i had to hand paint a few sections, especially the heart. the taping is what does it in. it is difficult to get a good finish when paint seeps through a tape job, no matter how tight it is. 
well....the paint was barely dry on the 1975 sekine when i picked up this late 70s (?) Raleigh Royal. it is heavy as all get out. the tires are in pretty good shape and it has classic leather handlebar tape, which will sadly go. looking forward to taking this thing apart. 
i love this blue. i think the blue and white combo that it is going to be will be sweet. it was tricky painting this as it was slightly windy, but even trickier was taping the parts i didn't want painted blue. i'm nervous about pulling the tape off and seeing how bad of a job i did.
well...the frame has been primed. i went for the tremclad grey primer after reading that a grey primer was the best to go with. it was a windy day, so i built this structure in my backyard, tarped it up, and voila...instant garage. sure would be nice to have a real garage, though.
i used spray cans and it tested my patience. a few big globs blew out of the nozzle and landed square on the frame. i will try to delicately sand those out before i do the paint job. i am going with a candy blue/white combo and i am really looking forward to it.
i stripped the paint off the fork using a spray i got at home depot. i was nervous about it, but just took the plunge and it worked out quite well. even the chrome that was originally there came out shinier.
So....this is my thought around making it a single speed. the rear cassette was not coming off in the usual way. the lock ring tools i had would not fit in this cassette as it did not even have any splines. so, what i ended up doing, and what appeared to work really well was using a monkey wrench to hold the larger cog steady while i used a chain whip to get that first cog off. then, the next two just pulled off, and then i had to use my monkey wrench system to remove the cog you see in this picture, and then the last two cogs slid off. 
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Wellness_Ride_hits_the_road_56337987.html
