Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - RIP my old touring bike

...which I'm hoping will be at least partially reborn as a hardtail mountain bike, for towpath/trail riding and bad-weather backpack commuting.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2758383883_9073ffe62a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2758383883/)

drafters65 sold me a Specialized Stumpjumper frame I'm planning to hang all this on, or at least as much of it as will fit. I already know the seatpost and bottom bracket are the wrong sizes for this frame, but I'm hoping to use most of the drivetrain and brakes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2751486490_a7f671d063.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2751486490/)

Once I have both the fork and frame in hand, I'll need to make a decision about whether or not to get a new paint job. I've learned by lurking in the Classic & Vintage forum that, like anything else, you can pay as much or as little as you like to paint a bike. (I'm far too lazy to paint it myself, not to mention fond of my lungs.) My plan at the moment is to strip the frame myself and have a shop do the painting.

I'm thinking shallow riser bars would work well, and I have a mountain bike saddle I just pulled off my touring bike I can use. (That's the saddle my butt spent the 300+ miles of the Shake, Rattle and Roll tour on top of, so I know it's comfortable.)

My mechanic gave the pull-apart job to another mechanic in the shop who I've not seen before. I wonder if he's training the guy? It would make good sense if so.

...which I'm hoping will be at least partially reborn as a hardtail mountain bike, for towpath/trail riding and bad-weather backpack commuting.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2758383883_9073ffe62a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2758383883/)

drafters65 sold me a Specialized Stumpjumper frame I'm planning to hang all this on, or at least as much of it as will fit. I already know the seatpost and bottom bracket are the wrong sizes for this frame, but I'm hoping to use most of the drivetrain and brakes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2751486490_a7f671d063.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2751486490/)

Once I have both the fork and frame in hand, I'll need to make a decision about whether or not to get a new paint job. I've learned by lurking in the Classic & Vintage forum that, like anything else, you can pay as much or as little as you like to paint a bike. (I'm far too lazy to paint it myself, not to mention fond of my lungs.) My plan at the moment is to strip the frame myself and have a shop do the painting.

I'm thinking shallow riser bars would work well, and I have a mountain bike saddle I just pulled off my touring bike I can use. (That's the saddle my butt spent the 300+ miles of the Shake, Rattle and Roll tour on top of, so I know it's comfortable.)

My mechanic gave the pull-apart job to another mechanic in the shop who I've not seen before. I wonder if he's training the guy? It would make good sense if so.

RIP noble BSA bike:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/2499999461_87d801e990_b.jpg

Tossing the frame and fork in the dumpster was oddly anticlimactic and not as big a deal as I thought it would be.

On the plus side, I can get a yellow bike out of this.

Tossing the frame and fork in the dumpster was oddly anticlimactic and not as big a deal as I thought it would be.

On the plus side, I can get a yellow bike out of this.

Unlike me, a guy who forms sentimental attachments to tubes.....

Are you going to paint the bell yellow? :)

Sorry you for your loss.

Have you looked into the 29"? I really am considering one for my commuter/touring bike but I haven't had any dealings with them.

Sorry you for your loss.

Have you looked into the 29"? I really am considering one for my commuter/touring bike but I haven't had any dealings with them.

I already have a good 26" rear rim, but i could always do a 96er build. What's the advantage?

If that is a M2 Stumpy frame, I can tell you it is a stiff SOB. Be prepared to get beat up and feel every bump. It is however one of my favorite bikes I have ever ridden. Might I suggest you look for a Powder Coater in you area. For a single color it is usually around $125 including media blasting to strip the frame.

If that is a M2 Stumpy frame, I can tell you it is a stiff SOB. Be prepared to get beat up and feel every bump. It is however one of my favorite bikes I have ever ridden.

It is an M2. I didn't know that, but fortunately, I like stiff.

I already have a good 26" rear rim, but i could always do a 96er build. What's the advantage?

I have a friend that says he can get a little more speed. I want the speed more for commuting.

It is an M2. I didn't know that, but fortunately, I like stiff.


A 1994 M2... that was the first "real" mountain bike I bought really really solid and super crazy stiff. Anyhoo. From the pics it looks like you might be missing the RD hanger?

Yeah. My mechanic said the RD hanger from the old bike wouldn't work on this frame (or is just in bad shape, I forget which).

Is there a way to use a 1" fork with this frame? I have a Trek 830 fork but it's a hair too small.

Yeah. My mechanic said the RD hanger from the old bike wouldn't work on this frame (or is just in bad shape, I forget which).

Is there a way to use a 1" fork with this frame? I have a Trek 830 fork but it's a hair too small.

I know that Chris King makes a reducing headset to allow the use of a 1" fork in 1 1/8 head tubes but that solution is expensive enough that you could just buy a new fork and headset for less money.

http://www.chrisking.com/headsets/hds_devo.html

QBP also has "Problem Solvers" headset reducers. They press into the frame before you press in your 1" headset. You should be able to special order them from your LBS or check around online and you should have no problem finding them. Cost is significantly less than the Chris King headset. ;)

Also I'd double check the steerer tube length just to make sure it will be long enough, no point going through the trouble and buying the parts just to find out the ST is too short!

You may have trouble finding a new hanger for that frame but I'd check in with a specialized dealer and online. Sometimes you can find some crazy stuff on the bay.

Should be a sweet ride once you get it built up!

Should be a sweet ride once you get it built up!

I hope so! From what everyone's saying, it sounds like I'll enjoy the bike - I'm thinking that I may want to ride someone's Stumpjumper a mile or two, to see if I like the feel of the bike before commiting any more money.

I know that Chris King makes a reducing headset to allow the use of a 1" fork in 1 1/8 head tubes but that solution is expensive enough that you could just buy a new fork and headset for less money.

http://www.chrisking.com/headsets/hds_devo.html

QBP also has "Problem Solvers" headset reducers. They press into the frame before you press in your 1" headset. You should be able to special order them from your LBS or check around online and you should have no problem finding them. Cost is significantly less than the Chris King headset. ;)

Also I'd double check the steerer tube length just to make sure it will be long enough, no point going through the trouble and buying the parts just to find out the ST is too short!

You may have trouble finding a new hanger for that frame but I'd check in with a specialized dealer and online. Sometimes you can find some crazy stuff on the bay.

Whoops, I clicked "Submit Reply" before I was finished.

Thanks for the info; I'll look into all that. I've been checking eBay already.

Hey Neilfein! I think it has been over a year since I've hopped on BF. I did a search to see what you've done to the stumpjumper and I found this thread. So how did the build go? I'm anxious to see what you've done to it.

Hey Neilfein! I think it has been over a year since I've hopped on BF. I did a search to see what you've done to the stumpjumper and I found this thread. So how did the build go? I'm anxious to see what you've done to it.

I've got the wheels and handlebar on the frame, but the drivetrain is still in a box.

Is there a way to use a 1" fork with this frame? I have a Trek 830 fork but it's a hair too small.

Surly 1x1 forks are cheap enough to not worry about the old fork. I put one on my old Rockhopper and it was a great improvement over the old elastomer suspension fork. A friend of mine put one on a Hardrock after he broke the oem fork dirt jumping and likes it too.