Fifty Plus (50+) - N+1 - It IS a disease...

Well, I just bought another bike (project) - at least part of another bike. It's my new long term project. It's an early 90's steel-framed Rockhopper, destined to become a touring bike. The previous owner is going to remove the drivetrain (?) but it doesn't look like anything I would be interested in keeping anyway. We'll see if any of the other equipment is useable. All I really want is the frame and fork. It seemed like a good deal at $30!

Doug

Sounds like a great bike project:thumb: Be sure to take pictures along the way.

I wish I had the skills and place to undertake such a project.

The previous owner is going to remove the drivetrain (?) but it doesn't look like anything I would be interested in keeping anyway.

Doug

Aw golly, the orange chain looks great with the black finish!!!

Like Beverly said, documant the restoration steps and keep us posted.

Gobble Gobble

Yup, you've got BAD - bicycle acquisition disorder.

At least that steel Rockhopper frame is one of the more benign manifestations of the disease. It will be fun to make it into a nice touring bike. I think that's an outstanding find.

Looks like fun. The Rockhopper should make for a nice conversion to a touring bike, assuming it fits. How it fits should be a factor in deciding what kind of handlebars to use. Compare the effective top tube measurement to that of your good fitting drop bar road bike. If it is about the same, then it will be a good drop bar candidate. But if the top tube is more than slightly longer than the road bike, using a drop bar will result in too long a cockpit. In that case, you would need to use some variation of a flat or riser bar.

BTW, to pick nits, this project would be a conversion, not a restoration as some have suggested.

Unable to come up with any nit wit, but yup...you are correct.

Gobble Gobble

Hi Bluesdawg
Actually I plan to use Trekking bars and I am just about to order a set from Nashbar. I think this bike will be a slow build project for this year. My Sirrus will do just fine for the major supported tour that I have planned for July. I am considering, however, trying the Trekking bars on the Sirrus first (if I can come up with a suitable stem) since all the handlebar hardware will be a direct swap.

I've already started cruising CL for hardware for the Rockhopper.:)

Doug

Sounds like a great bike project:thumb: Be sure to take pictures along the way.

I wish I had the skills and place to undertake such a project.

Everything Beverly said.

Sounds like a great bike project:thumb: Be sure to take pictures along the way.

I wish I had the skills and place to undertake such a project.


Everything Beverly said.

There is only one way to learn- Or two if you have maintenance classes in your area.

Just look around for a cheap bike and take it to bits

I started doing this when I was only about 8 or 9 and had to wait for Dad to come home to show me how to put it back together again. At least Yen has a hubbie to show her how to put it back together---The downside is that if he is anything like my Dad- he will tell you to use a spanner instead of a pair of pliers to take it apart.

The previous owner is going to remove the drivetrain (?) but it doesn't look like anything I would be interested in keeping anyway.

All I really want is the frame and fork.


If the previous owner was smart he'd instead keep the frame for himself and get rid of the components.

If the previous owner was smart he'd instead keep the frame for himself and get rid of the components.

SSShhhhhhhh - good thing I seriously doubt that he would read this:)

A chronic and contagious disease! As part of my recovery program I've progressed to N+2.

I have noticed something about n+1, I think. While anyone can succumb to this insidious disease, I think if one is one who enjoys finding bargain bikes and building them up into something special, that person is a bit more likely to be infected and have a multi-bike stable. Those of you who suffer, check out the "drug/Viagra" thread. You may find some solace there. :lol: ;) :thumb:

What's all this nonsense about N+1 being a disease and causing suffering? N+1 is the natural order of things. Living in harmony with the natural order brings happiness. Don't fight it, go with the flow.

What's all this nonsense about N+1 being a disease and causing suffering? N+1 is the natural order of things. Living in harmony with the natural order brings happiness. Don't fight it, go with the flow.

BluesDawg is absolutely right. I learned that many years ago and it has been proven (in my life, anyway) to be the natural order of things. So no worries!

Your latest project bike looks like a great find, Forrester! And you do have a direction (what you want it to be), so you're doing well. My latest project bike (old Performance road frame with GT carbon fork) just got a new headset (the prev. one was SIS indexed!). It will probably be a freewheel single-speed with straight bars, but a lot (direction wise) is as yet undecided.

But anyway, yes, N+1 is not a disease, but is actually quite good for you!

Rick / OCRR