exfreewheeler

I did a search on BF but did not find anything on this frame.

Does anyone have any experience with this frame?

I read a review of the frame used in a single speed mountain application that was quite positive.

I would like a second opinion if anyone has one.

Thanks in advance

FatBomber

I don't have this frame, but my roadie is made of 853 and it is wonderful material. Light (for steel) and flexy, but not too flexy. I think it would make for a wonderful mtb frame.

JackTheLadd

I have one of these. It's a very sweet frame, especially for what it cost. The construction and finish are nicer than you would ever expect for the price. They are made in Taiwan with butted 853 main tubes and 4130 cromo stays. The geometry is very similar to the Rocky Mountain steel frames.

If you're in the market for a nice steel hardtail frame, these are very hard to beat! Check out the reviews on MTBR: https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Bike_har...t_128520.shtml

exfreewheeler

Thanks for all your replies...

I have an aluminum hardtail and it wreaks havoc on my back. In '89 I had a chromoly MTB that was so sweet, I loved this bike. It got wrecked in an accident. I bought this aluminum MTB thinking that "stiff" was good, and I know that stiffness is important, but I regretted it from the first ride. It had no more than 25 miles on it and has been sitting in my basement collecting dust. I was trying to sell it but no one would give me what "I think" it's worth.

It's got Deore XT/XTR drivetrain, AVID 7 brakes, Ritchie Girder Pro wheelset... it's top-line. I have been looking at the Nashbar frame for a while but needed to make sure it was well-made. The reviews helped alot and the one I read from Bicycling magazine online was good too.

I have several steel frame bikes including a custom lugged cyclocross-fixed gear. The aluminum is just not for me.

Thanks again guys.

Is that your bike Jack? Nice!

sherpaPeak

back pain....it could just be the aluminum or it could be age.......talking from personal experience....what was okay with your back in 1989 (steel) is not necessarily be okay in 2007.......my point is give it a little more thought (if you already have not), before you get rid of a nice bike that fits you.......

exfreewheeler

Oh, no... I am no longer selling the bike. It has great components. I'm just going to swap over the components.

The accident that wrecked the bike in '89 also wrecked my back. And I know there are people who say that aluminum has nothing to do with it, however, my experience speaks volumes about the difference from riding steel and aluminum.

As I said, I have several steel bikes, road, fixed gear-road and fixed gear mountain, and even the hardest rides don't affect me.

Yeah, I am 48 y/o... and I am a self defense instructor. It's likened to the experience of training the incorrect, hard-rough and tumble way as opposed to the correct, internal-properly aligned-body mechanics way. I no longer experience injury with hard training and neither do my students.

I appreciate your input.

BTW, I like your signature

sherpaPeak

as a mountain biker with back problem....I have been trying a lots of different things......its hard though......I go through episodes of severe pain after long rides (5+ hours).

by the way, that 853 frame looks really nice.....price is decent too......good luck.

JackTheLadd

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do, exfreewheeler.

Don't forget, if the back is really getting to you can can always install a suspension seatpost (like a Thudbuster: https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Suspensi...ct_23209.shtml ). Lots of people with back issues rave about 'em!

Cheers,
Jack

exfreewheeler

If you don't mind.. I had a therapy called Vertabral-Axial Decompression... or VAX-D. Man! You have no idea how good it was. My MRI was scary. I had LOTS of pain, all day, all night.

They put a harness on your hips and one under your arms and lay you down. The machine then begins to literally pull you apart!

It was expensive because my insurance covered about 1/3 of the cost. But man was it worth it!!!

I am not affiliated with these people so don't think I'm trying to sell you on it. There are other devices called by different names. Vax-D was the one closest to me at the time. 4 weeks, 5 days a week, then 4 weeks 3 days a week. I couldn't afford any more than that.

I have no more pain associated with that injury.

Look up spinal decompression and you will find a few of these machines around. Sports Medicine and Chiropractic centers will have them. Check it out.

Good luck!

sherpaPeak

thanks man.....I will check it out......can you use this therapy for as a preventive measure or is it just for treating the pain...

exfreewheeler

It's the type of thing that won't really help you if you do it once a month, unless you have gone through a regimen of treatments. Once the pressure is relieved and the subluxations are corrected, then you can go once a month for maintenance. But I was in pain for 13 years. I needed to go through with it. I should have done more. But couldn't afford it.

The problem is, when your lower back is in deep pain, your whole body is constantly tense. Like when you sprain a wrist, your first reaction is to tense-up.

So if you go once a month, or even once a week, that tension from holding in the pain... like I did... will just put you back to square one.

That's just my take on it, from my understanding of the body and pain from my martial arts education.

jimx200

FWIW...I rode a Specialized Allez, made of aluminum, and after 10-15 miles, I felt numbness creeping into my wrists, hands, and fingers. Chip seal roads were agony. Last spring I bought a new Bianchi Eros with Reynolds steel...wow, what a difference. I have ridden up to 60 plus miles in a day and no pain or numbness. I am 56, damn good shape from lots of gym time and riding to keep my lower back strong (due to old injuries)...never be the bucking bronco when you kids get over 40 lbs...lol.
Yeah, I really like my steel Bianchi.

exfreewheeler

That's a good testimony. There are some, even among the "experts", that say this is a myth. But like we both experienced, is it in our imagination? I don't think so! My steel MTB was plain ol' sweet!

One of my bikes is a Raleigh that was what you call "new old stock", a TI Raleigh made in Nottingham. Using the old tubing of the(possibly) 1960's, know as "gas-pipe" today. Even that is a beautiful ride. When I go over cracks or whatever is on the road that I can't avoid... I don't feel it in my body. The frame absorbs it and almost vibrates. It's great!

I have a custom lugged frame made of Dedacciai tubing. I can't ride it yet, I need a few more parts for it... but I can't wait to feel that ride!

Xterradork

I have this frame. I bought it in October and have ridden it extensively since then, including last Saturday on snow covered singletrack. It is really sweet. Stiff, yet compliant. I was on an Alu hardtail (ironic that the brand name was Ironhorse) prior to that and felt it was too twitchy and harsh. The Nashbar is really nice. Put the whole thing together in less than two hours. Everything was well made, threads were right on the money. The only thing I've changed from the picture attached is I put on a Marz EXR Pro Air fork.

mikejo

How about a Gunnar?

exfreewheeler

Looks great even in that color. I was thinking of repainting it but I like the bright orange with the dark components... nice contrast.

As for the Gunnar, I don't want to spend that kind of money, I just bought a custom Fixed-Gear Cyclocross frame. My wife doesn't even know I got it. It's hidden in the basement She'll kill me when she finds out. Plus I have a Fixed-Gear Track frame coming too

I just want something nice on a budget that I could just swap the components to. And I'll be selling an aluminum frame for cheap if anyone is interested

It's also good to know that I don't have to have the threads chased... Thanks!

BluesDawg

I like that frame but I don't do orange.

Have you tried a Thudbuster? It really helps lessen the irritation to my back a lot.

exfreewheeler

I've seen the thudbuster.

I rather just stay riding steel. I just love the ride.

I am a drummer/percussionist. I have several hand-made cowbells that I use on my kit. These bells have great tone and vibrance. Thats because of how they vibrate. I liken the steel frame bike to my cowbells. They are springy enough that I don't need any dampening device.

I don't care for orange either, but it looks good with black components. Nice contrast.

IAMTB

I need more cowbell.

JackTheLadd

Well, I got a fevah...!

soreyes

Is that a 15.5"?

probable556

I wish I had one of those. Any more pics?

soreyes

more pics here. I just got my 17.5 in the mail this week. I took some pictures of frame details that were not well photographed elsewhere. Beefy stays, neat welds, ritchey dropouts:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/soreyes...7600318479875/

Raiyn

Be sure to hit that with some Frame Saver to protect the inside of the frame.

jimx200

sore, those a nice pics and the welds on that frame look darn smooth...now you got me thinking about a ht build....hummm..