This is my commuter here in Manila. It’s a 1971 Fuji Finest that was already pretty beat up and repainted when I found it. The headbadge was the only thing left that told me what it used to be — everything else was already worn off.
I kept the rough, low-key look mostly because it blends in. Under the paint it’s still Fuji’s double-butted chromoly. Most of the parts honor Japanese brands — SunTour freewheel, Dia-Compe brakes, Shimano chain, Nitto stem, SR Sakae bars, MKS pedals, Araya wheels, and Tange BB. The main modern upgrade is an Italian Miche crank for stiffness.
I'm running old Araya 27 x 1¼" wheels with local Leon tires. The larger 27" size (compared to modern 700c) actually handles Manila potholes better than I expected on a vintage frame.
The only modern thing I added is the drivetrain. I put on a Miche Team CPT crank (7075 aluminum) and a Tange Seiki sealed BB. The BB saved the original threads, and the crank just makes the bike feel a bit more solid when pedaling.
A quiet sleeper that survives Manila roads (500km and counting) and rides better than it looks.
by Royal-Emu5226