Converting for light/moderate trail duty...?
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Converting for light/moderate trail duty...?
So, I was given a Giant Sedona LX for free and I want to see if it's possible to switch out a few things to make it capable, for a total newb, on some trails and whatnot. The bike is a comfort bike, so it has very tall handle bars that I was thinking about changing out for some flats. I searched around in here and didn't find much about converting a comfort bike, so I figured I should ask.
If it is at all possible, could you let me know where to start, or what kind of things I could do to make it a little more off-road worthy? I really appreciate your time guys and gals! Thanks for looking.
-Jared
If it is at all possible, could you let me know where to start, or what kind of things I could do to make it a little more off-road worthy? I really appreciate your time guys and gals! Thanks for looking.
-Jared
#2
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Originally Posted by pirate golf
So, I was given a Giant Sedona LX for free and I want to see if it's possible to switch out a few things to make it capable, for a total newb, on some trails and whatnot. The bike is a comfort bike, so it has very tall handle bars that I was thinking about changing out for some flats. I searched around in here and didn't find much about converting a comfort bike, so I figured I should ask.
If it is at all possible, could you let me know where to start, or what kind of things I could do to make it a little more off-road worthy? I really appreciate your time guys and gals! Thanks for looking.
-Jared
If it is at all possible, could you let me know where to start, or what kind of things I could do to make it a little more off-road worthy? I really appreciate your time guys and gals! Thanks for looking.
-Jared
You might want to look into another crank because a 48 tooth crank is kinda big for a mountain bike. You don't have a lot of clearance for rocks and stuff.
Get rid of that sofa it has for a saddle. Don't invest a lot of money on a new saddle but get rid of that one.
That's about all I'd do to it. Then ride it. Try to break it. Don't expect too much out of it...it is a pig after all ...but have fun and learn how to ride. Then get a better bike. If you haven't broken it by that time, pass it on to someone else.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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So, after some reading around on here, it seems like I might be losing some power from the suspension forks. Since this bike is 99% commuter, this is an issue for me. I'm getting some kevlar-lined slicks in a few days and I will be getting a rack and pack for it a week or so after that. I figured a good upgrade for this thing will be to get rid of the mushy front suspension. I really don't need the dampening because my 'off-road' adventures will be very light.
Also, I'd like to change out the stem (I think that's what it's called... sorry I'm a newb) to something that will set the handle bars a bit lower. I want to be able to lean forward a bit more.
I was searching around on here and I found a post that said this particular bike ('04) was very upgradeable. Where the hell do I look for these 'upgrades'? How would I go about finding out what will fit and what won't? What specs (lengths, diameters, etc.) do I look at when changing out these two things?
I really appreciate all of the help man! You've been great so far!
Also, I'd like to change out the stem (I think that's what it's called... sorry I'm a newb) to something that will set the handle bars a bit lower. I want to be able to lean forward a bit more.
I was searching around on here and I found a post that said this particular bike ('04) was very upgradeable. Where the hell do I look for these 'upgrades'? How would I go about finding out what will fit and what won't? What specs (lengths, diameters, etc.) do I look at when changing out these two things?
I really appreciate all of the help man! You've been great so far!
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Originally Posted by pirate golf
So, after some reading around on here, it seems like I might be losing some power from the suspension forks. Since this bike is 99% commuter, this is an issue for me. I'm getting some kevlar-lined slicks in a few days and I will be getting a rack and pack for it a week or so after that. I figured a good upgrade for this thing will be to get rid of the mushy front suspension. I really don't need the dampening because my 'off-road' adventures will be very light.
Also, I'd like to change out the stem (I think that's what it's called... sorry I'm a newb) to something that will set the handle bars a bit lower. I want to be able to lean forward a bit more.
I was searching around on here and I found a post that said this particular bike ('04) was very upgradeable. Where the hell do I look for these 'upgrades'? How would I go about finding out what will fit and what won't? What specs (lengths, diameters, etc.) do I look at when changing out these two things?
I really appreciate all of the help man! You've been great so far!
Also, I'd like to change out the stem (I think that's what it's called... sorry I'm a newb) to something that will set the handle bars a bit lower. I want to be able to lean forward a bit more.
I was searching around on here and I found a post that said this particular bike ('04) was very upgradeable. Where the hell do I look for these 'upgrades'? How would I go about finding out what will fit and what won't? What specs (lengths, diameters, etc.) do I look at when changing out these two things?
I really appreciate all of the help man! You've been great so far!
For example, this bike would probably make a great commuter bike. It'd be worth a relatively inexpensive new rigid fork (along with the other stuff you plan on changing). It would give you years of good solid service as a commuter with some light duty trail riding thrown in.
But, if you want a bike that will work as a mountain bike and a commuter, or if you want one that will let you do rugged off-road riding, you'll find that you'll need to spend a bunch of money to get this one up to snuff. Probably much more then what you'd pay for a whole new, off-road worthy, mountain bike. I've got lots of bikes at home that I have done the 'great grandpappy's axe*' thing to. But I started with a good frame. The Sedona just isn't that great a bike to begin with.
Like I said, change some stuff. Don't spend a lot of money doing it ($200 would be almost too much) and ride the bike. It'll do for that. Anything more, look at a new bike.
*Great Grandpappy's axe: That axe has been in my family for 10 generations. It belonged to my great grandpappy. He cut down whole forests with it. It's had 8 new handles and 3 new heads but it's great grandpappy's axe alright
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!