Mountain Biking - Steel Trek Rescue

The story:
I found a discarded Trek 930 in a rusting heap. I did not know anything about the model at the time, but I wanted to get into mountain biking and did not have the scratch to buy a new bike, so I decided to recondition this bike. I also figured I would learn a lot about bike mechanics as I rebuilt this bike.

It had no chain, fractions of cables, no front derailleur, incomplete shifter pods, and I had to toss the pedals, the rear derailleur, and unfortunately the wheels were shot.

I was able to strip some parts from an old shifter pod I had to save teh STX pods that were on the bike (nicer than the pods I had). It took some sanding and time to saved the cassete and the crankset. I got a deal on a damaged fork (stripped brake bosses) at my LBS, so I decided to upgrade the frame to front suspension, with riser bars a threadless steerer, and I had to put a disk brake on (no bosses). I also bought a Rhynolite wheelset for it.

I stripped the frame and sanded down all of the rust spots. It turned out that all of the rust on the frame was superficial. There was no structural damage. ONce I got the frame stripped, I spray painted it with primer, then flat black. I left three bare spots on the frame, and covered them with clear coat to get a protected bare metal look.

I rode it for a year as a 7 speed, but I wanted a lower gear, so I upgraded this past winter to a 9 speeds. I also got rid of the rear cantilever brakes and added a linear brake (XT).

Here are some photos in its current form. I am pretty happy with how it rides. The frame stickers said True temper OX platinum and hand built in Wisconsin. I figure it is a pretty good frame. This is definitely not the lightest build out there; however I dropped around 3-4 pounds switching to 9 speeds. The whole set up weighs around twenty nine pounds according to my bathroom scale. I added an extra gas tank badge I had as a new headbadge to finish off the build.

The only surprisees I ran into were the brake bosses were a bit tweaked and required some extra care in setting up the rear caliper. There are some dents here and there on the frame, but nothing too distressing.

I used to ride off-road motorcycles a lot, and it has been fun to get back on the trail using this bike.

Here are some photos:

Good job, love the sticker-will send THAT photo to import car\cyclist friend.
Nice.
The rear triangle pipes- are they welded to back or side of the seat tube collar?
If the pipes are to the back of the collar, it may be safe to get some air.
To the side....not as much so IMO.

The 930 is a really sweet frame... good work on the salvage!

Good job, love the sticker-will send THAT photo to import car\cyclist friend.
Nice.
The rear triangle pipes- are they welded to back or side of the seat tube collar?
If the pipes are to the back of the collar, it may be safe to get some air.
To the side....not as much so IMO.

Thanks for the note. I believe the tubes are welded to the rear of the seat tube. I have not gotten too much air on the frame, though I have taken some pretty good crashes. I'll keep your advice in mind. I have used it for rooted single track and dual track mostly. I built it up to ride in a sweep crew for the Vermont 50 (http://www.vermont50.com/) last year, and I had a blast.

Happy riding.

that's a really clean fix up *thumbs up*

Thanks for the note. I believe the tubes are welded to the rear of the seat tube. I have not gotten too much air on the frame, though I have taken some pretty good crashes. I'll keep your advice in mind. I have used it for rooted single track and dual track mostly. I built it up to ride in a sweep crew for the Vermont 50 (http://www.vermont50.com/) last year, and I had a blast.

Happy riding.

Ya.I mean little jumps, the stuff fs bikers do without thinking. Not a cliff jumper by the looks of her. :D

Nice job! I'm going to check out my local scrap heap now. (I'm really considering doing that to find a mechanical thing to work on for a while!)

Dang, and all this time I've been buying my frames, time for some dumpster diving!

L8R

Thanks for all of the kind words.

Does anyone know how this frame compares to more modern offerings.
I only ask because a guy I ride with keeps trying to get me to get a new frame. He rides a sugar, and while full suspension sounds nice, it is nowhere near possible for me at this point (I am a professional student with two kids). I think most of the weight of this build is in places other than the frame (Fork/ wheels). I like the way it rides, but I didn't know if I was missing something.

Thanks again

I'm a bit confused... with all the fixin's you added, it seems like you probably spent as much or more than you would for a new hardtail. 'Seems like a sweet ride, though, and something to be proud of!

Those 930 framesets were double butted steel, but I don't remember what kind. I wanna say maybe 853 in the main tubes, but I don't know off hand and could therefore be very wrong. They're great bikes, though. Did you check the inside of the tubes to make sure that all's well? If I were you, I'd spray them all with Framesaver to try to keep the frame alive longer. The 930 was set up similarly to how you have it; it was a budget steel bike when I sold them. But, it had front suspension and a nice frame, so it was an easy sell. If you wanna save weight, you can just start upgrading stuff a bit at a time or save your pennies for a new steelie in the next few years.

hanshananigan, you'd be amazed what the proper dedication to keeping it cheap can get you. There are shops in this world that give away used small parts and sell other used stuff cheap.

I'm a bit confused... with all the fixin's you added, it seems like you probably spent as much or more than you would for a new hardtail. 'Seems like a sweet ride, though, and something to be proud of!

Yeah I ended up spending around what an equivalent hardtail would cost. I was building the bike up for the vermont 50 last summer, so the intial build was not that mcuh money.

Frame - $0
Fork - $50
Wheelset Deore/Rhynolite- $100
Grips, headset, Bars, Stem, Front brake, chain, NOS Bottom bracket $200 (I really took it in the shorts with the front brake, but I got a good deal on the rest of the parts from the LBS)
I also robbed some parts from an old commuter I had in the garage.

so for about $350 I got on a pretty good bike, and learned a lot about bike mechanics.

The second stage of the build came this winter.

Deore Crank and shifter pods,
XT rear linear brake
Shimano chain & rear cassette $180ish

So I have just over $500 invested in it, but the cost has been spread out over a year, and for some reason that has been easier to justify for me. $500 may have gotten me a better bike, but I would not have learned as much.

Thanks again for the kind words.

Those 930 framesets were double butted steel, but I don't remember what kind. I wanna say maybe 853 in the main tubes, but I don't know off hand and could therefore be very wrong. They're great bikes, though. Did you check the inside of the tubes to make sure that all's well? If I were you, I'd spray them all with Framesaver to try to keep the frame alive longer. The 930 was set up similarly to how you have it; it was a budget steel bike when I sold them. But, it had front suspension and a nice frame, so it was an easy sell. If you wanna save weight, you can just start upgrading stuff a bit at a time or save your pennies for a new steelie in the next few years.

hanshananigan, you'd be amazed what the proper dedication to keeping it cheap can get you. There are shops in this world that give away used small parts and sell other used stuff cheap.


Thanks,

The sticker said true temper OX platinum. It had a rigid fork on it when I found it that looked original by the paint. Do you know if that would help me date the bike?

Thanks again for the info.

I remember a blue frameset that came with a suspension fork and a greenish blue that came with a rigid, that was circa 1997 or so.

As for the money you spent, I challenge you to find a $500 bike with anything marked XT on it! Seriously, I think you came out way ahead on the deal. Sure the frame's not the most bling, but it's still a solid bike that you can probably beat the crap out of on the trail until you want something else. And you can build your next bike up from a bare frame, which is more fun than you can imagine.

[QUOTE=ImprezaDrvr]As for the money you spent, I challenge you to find a $500 bike with anything marked XT on it!QUOTE]

Heh heh...I've bought one, but it was $200 off and it was $550 then, anyway. But it was a closeout sale...

Yeah I ended up spending around what an equivalent hardtail would cost. I was building the bike up for the vermont 50 last summer, so the intial build was not that mcuh money...
Sounds like you got some great deals, and are really enjoying your bike- what's better? :)

Thanks,

The sticker said true temper OX platinum. It had a rigid fork on it when I found it that looked original by the paint. Do you know if that would help me date the bike?

Thanks again for the info.

I have a 1998 forest green 930, twist grip shift with stx originally (I think), and rock shox front suspension. I THINK mine was the last year or close to the last year for the 930. It's a really sweet ride, I have totally upgraded it with XT parts, ritchey crank, better rock shox fork, and a new wheel set. FYI, I have never weighed my frame but it's not heavy at all (for a steel frame), the OX platinum is drawn pretty thin in the middle. I have one slight ding in the top tube from the handlebars hitting it.

Sounds like you got some great deals, and are really enjoying your bike- what's better? :)

I agree. I have had a blast with it so far, and I am sure I will enjoy it more. I will probably try the framesaver treatment. Recomended in an earlier post.

I seen where GreenFix described a Trek frame as "true temper OX platinum."

I found a used crome-moly Trek frame (Single Track 930) that says " OX comp II" on the sticker.

Could anyone tell me about this frame, or what the difference is than the "OX platinum" frame?

Back off on the size - it's the same as yelling around here.

And I clicked this thread thinking someone was going to tell me about my old frame.

It was size #3, and that's not big or a problem on most message boards.

Anyway, you didn't think it was yelling; you're just being bossy with a newbe. I want you to know that I feel small because of it, so if you don't like my letters, then go work in the bike department at Wal-Mart ;o)

Do you see anyone else using the giant font? No you don't. I'd also watch who you insult here. Just a friendly suggestion

Keep it civil guys. Font size is 'usually' used in direct relation to a feeling. The bigger the more ANGRY you feel. Its an online thing. Lets all try to keep it normal.

Crash, no need to yell. We see your post ;)...

Back off on the size - it's the same as yelling around here.

Raiyn uses a T.V for a monitor, and there is lots of yelling already in the background.

" *&^%$# BRATS!, get that hog offa tha CHAIR!" ..."that's the GOOOD chair,..the one autie Flo won't break wen she sits onnit."


Raiyn "Do you see anyone else using the giant font? No you don't. I'd also watch who you insult here. Just a friendly suggestion"

Flatline 'em, black ice, total William Gibson Nueromancer\ dark emperor hand acrosss the internet choke hold !!!!!!

Bully to you.

crashbandit
Newbie


Registered: Oct 2004 I seen where GreenFix described a Trek frame as "true temper OX platinum."

I found a used crome-moly Trek frame (Single Track 930) that says " OX comp II" on the sticker.

Could anyone tell me about this frame, or what the difference is than the "OX platinum" frame?


Start a thread. ?

And no I cannot, am interested..somewhat.

Raiyn uses a T.V for a monitor, and there is lots of yelling already in the background.

" *&^%$# BRATS!, get that hog offa tha CHAIR!" ..."that's the GOOOD chair,..the one autie Flo won't break wen she sits onnit."


Raiyn "Do you see anyone else using the giant font? No you don't. I'd also watch who you insult here. Just a friendly suggestion"

Flatline 'em, black ice, total William Gibson Nueromancer\ dark emperor hand acrosss the internet choke hold !!!!!!

Bully to you.O'tay :rolleyes:

O'tay :rolleyes:

Ya, it was supposed to be funny, didn't see where the newb was insulting? Yes big fonts are annoying...( so is blue).

You are the official mall cop of the BF community. I hope that they consider you as a moderator sometime.

Thanks for not jumping on me when I post crank...


AHHHH....
Sorry Raiyn, I didn't see this part of the post- print was too small I guess.

"Anyway, you didn't think it was yelling; you're just being bossy with a newbe. I want you to know that I feel small because of it, so if you don't like my letters, then go work in the bike department at Wal-Mart ;o)"

Well, 'nough said.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7297&item=7110368921&rd=1 Obnoxious, I was hung and got a migraine instantly.