Vintage Mountain Bike Frame Build-up
 

I've come into a chrome-moly mountain bike frame, year not certain, probably 1987 to 1993 sometime. It's a Nishiki Colorado and it has never been ridden, it's brand new. The bottom bracket and spindle are in and the race / cup are in the headset but that's it. Frame is set for cantilever or V-brakes.

I'm thinking of building it up for street / commuter use (my commute is just 3.5 miles one way). How would you do it? What would you build on this frame? I could put a Sturmey-Archer 3 speed in it, coaster brake, AE3 wheels even? Rigid or suspension fork? Fat tire, slicks, skinny .. what would make a nice comfy street ride? Rat-rod it? You tell me? Let's hear it ....

Does it have horizontal dropouts?

Horizontal Dropouts .. sure does ..

The possibilities are endless.

I recently built a Schwinn High Sierra for pretty much the same purpose. I would still put a full range of gearing on it, because then you can still use it for whatever. If you want to go internal hub, put a 7 speed in. I love the nexus on my folder.

So you like the Shimano Nexus ... any comparisons to the new Sturmey-Archer hubs? I've been told the S-A hubs are more reliable ...?

I've been looking to do a similar build from a late 80's or so frame set. My plan is to use a SunTour Superbe/Cyclone group I've got around here, drop some bar-end shifters on some bars from Velo-Orange (type to be determined). I'd end up with a 52/42 up front, 14-28 in back running on a Cyclone GT rear derailleur. Perhaps throw on a sprung brooks saddle (or maybe not depending on the range of weather to be encountered in your case) for added throw back look.

Your build sounds great. The OP is about a MTB though. Your not going to hang those parts an old MTB frame are you?

I'm riding a re-build with similar parts now - '82 Peugeot PFN10 Vitus 181 frame - SR Apex crank set, Sun Tour Cyclone front and rear (N.O.S.), 13 - 28 6 sprocket on the back and 52 - 42 in front, friction / ratchet Sun Tour Power Shifters on the down tube. But that frame is way way way NOT a MTB .....

Ratiometrically 52-42 / 14-28 works well with a 6-speed freewheel, 14-16-18-21-24-28, but with a 5 speed, I would prefer 52-40 / 14-17-20-24-28.

I have not ridden an S A hub, but that Nexus is a sweet gadget.

if you are stinkin' filthy rich, spec out the 14 speed rolhoff hub.

If you can afford this, then you should adopt me. I need new Formula R1 brakes for my mountain bike. I'm a good listener, too.

:innocent:

The SA 8 speed was designed for bikes with 20 inch wheels. First gear is direct drive, so it's not really suitable for a bike with 26" wheels. The SA 3 speeds don't have enough gears unless you live In Kansas. The bike I'm building now will have a SA 5 speed. Finding shifters for those is nearly impossible. Neal Lerner, whose opinion I respect, tried a Nexus hub and didn't like it.


That's my take on internal gear hubs.

I was thinkin' on a SA 5 speed myself .. haven't looked into finding a shifter though .. the SA website shows one .. nothing special just a handlebar mount lever sort of like the 3-speed trigger. Seek and ye shall find. .. On the other hand - I'm think I'm gong to ship the frame off to my daughter's boyfriend and let him have fun with it. I've two other bikes still in the cue.